Georges River
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Coordinates: 33°57′50″S 150°58′52″E / 33.964°S 150.981°E
| Georges River | |
|---|---|
 The lower reaches of Georges River |
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| Origin | Appin |
| Mouth | Botany Bay |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Length | 96km[1] |
| Source elevation | 350m[1] |
| Basin area | 960km2[1] |
The Georges River is a waterway in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It rises to the south-west of Sydney near the coal mining town of Appin, and then flows north past Campbelltown, roughly parallel to the Main South Railway. At Liverpool it then turns east and flows past the suburbs of East Hills, Lugarno, and Blakehurst, before emptying into Botany Bay at Taren Point in the southern suburbs of Sydney.
Major tributaries include O'Hares Creek, Bunbury Curran Creek, Cabramatta Creek, Prospect Creek, Salt Pan Creek and the Woronora River. The Georges River is popular for recreational activities such as water skiing and swimming. The banks of the river along the lower reaches are marked by large inlets and indentations overlooked by steep sandstone ridges and scarps, many being home to expensive residential properties.
The Georges River features some artificial lakes in the suburb of Chipping Norton, near Liverpool. These lakes, known as the Chipping Norton Lakes, are the result of sand mining and quarrying operations in the twentieth century. The Lakes are now a popular watersports and recreational facility for the residents of the south-western suburbs of Sydney.
Liverpool Weir now forms the uppermost tidal limit and presence of salt water on the Georges River.
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[edit] History
The Georges River was named after King George III, by Governor Arthur Phillip.[2]
The river was first explored by Bass and Flinders in 1795 on their first voyage on the Tom Thumb after their arrival in New South Wales. The exploration led to the establishment of Bankstown .
A dam was constructed by David Lennox using convict labour at Liverpool in 1836, as a water supply to Liverpool.[3]
[edit] The Upper Georges River
.JPG)
The Upper Georges River originates 5 km south-east of Appin within heath habitat of Wollondilly Shire. The river flows north through rugged sandstone gorges until it reaches the urban environment beginning at Glenfield and then travels to the Liverpool Weir where it joins with the estuarine catchment. In total, the Upper Georges catchment is approximately 360 square kilometres (140 sq mi) and falls across the Wollondilly, Campbelltown and Liverpool local government areas.
The bushland adjoining the river is some of the most pristine in Western Sydney. From Appin to Glenfield, a large corridor has been protected as part of the Georges River Regional Open Space Corridor. Simmo's Beach Recreation Reserve,[4] Ingleburn Reserve, Keith Longhurst Reserve,[5] Frere's Crossing Reserve[6] all allow for access to these pristine areas.
In February 2007, Liverpool and Campbelltown City Council were awarded a $2 million grant from the NSW Environmental Trust under their Urban Sustainability Initiative.[7] The grant was to allow the councils, in conjunction with Wollondilly Shire Council and the Georges River Combined Councils Committee, to develop a Comprehensive Strategic Plan focused on the rehabilitation of the catchment area.[8]
[edit] Crossings
Bridges over the Georges River include from east to west:
- Captain Cook Bridge (connecting Sans Souci to Taren Point), for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
- Tom Uglys Bridge (connecting Blakehurst to Sylvania), for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
- Como old rail bridge, now for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Como rail bridge on the Illawarra Line, connecting Oatley to Como, for trains.
- Alfords Point Bridge (connecting Padstow Heights to Alfords Point), for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
- East Hills rail bridge, for trains.
- Voyager Point footbridge, for pedestrians and cyclists.
- M5 South Western Motorway Georges River East Bridge
- Newbridge Rd
- Liverpool footbridge (utilises the footing of the decommissioned railway bridge to Holsworthy).[9]
- Newbridge Rd
- M5 South Western Motorway Georges River West Bridge
- King Falls Bridge [10]
[edit] Fish
The Georges River is a popular area for recreational fishing. Species present in the river include bream, whiting, yellowtail, jewfish and flathead. The river is also host to a number of commercial oyster farms. The upper ends of the Georges River are abundant with Bass during the summer months and during the winter months these bass migrate down to the lower ends of the river towards the salt water to breed. Waste water inflows to the river are carefully managed to maintain the estuarine habitat.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Georges River information page, Campbelltown City Council
- ^ The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 107
- ^ "Liverpool Weir". Heritage Branch, New South Wales Department of Planning. http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_02_2.cfm?itemid=5060394. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
- ^ http://www.npansw.org.au/br-macarthur/Activities/macarthur_walks/simmo_beach.shtml
- ^ http://www.npansw.org.au/br-macarthur/Activities/macarthur_walks/basin.shtml
- ^ http://www.npansw.org.au/br-macarthur/Activities/macarthur_walks/Freres_Crossing.shtml
- ^ http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/2006USMSummary.htm
- ^ http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/getfile.asp?fileId=13828&cacheDefeat=0.4095564579588126
- ^ "Georges River Bridge". Roads and Traffic Authority, New South Wales. http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=heritage.show&id=4305035. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ "Kings Falls Bridge over Georges River". Roads and Traffic Authority, New South Wales. http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=heritage.show&id=4309611.
