River Derwent (Tasmania)

For other rivers called Derwent, see River Derwent (disambiguation).

‹ The template Geobox is being considered for deletion. ›

Derwent
River
Sunrise over the Derwent River
Country	Australia
State	Tasmania
Tributaries
- left	Nive River, Dee River, River Ouse, Clyde River, Jordan River
- right	Repulse River, Tyenna River, Styx River, Plenty River, Lachlan River
Cities	Derwent Bridge, New Norfolk, Hobart
Source	Lake St Clair
Source confluence	Narcissus River Cuvier River
- location	Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
- elevation	738 m (2,421 ft)
- coordinates	42°7′12″S 146°12′37″E / 42.12000°S 146.21028°E / -42.12000; 146.21028
Mouth	Storm Bay
- location	Hobart
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	43°3′3″S 147°22′38″E / 43.05083°S 147.37722°E / -43.05083; 147.37722Coordinates: 43°3′3″S 147°22′38″E / 43.05083°S 147.37722°E / -43.05083; 147.37722
Length	239 km (149 mi)
Basin	9,832 km2 (3,796 sq mi)
Discharge	for Storm Bay
- average	90 m3/s (3,178 cu ft/s)
- max	140 m3/s (4,944 cu ft/s)
- min	50 m3/s (1,766 cu ft/s)
Natural lakes	Saint Clair Lagoon; Lake Saint Clair
Reservoirs	Catagunya; Cluny; (Echo;) King William; Liapootah; Meadowbank; Repulse; (Tungatinah;) Wayatinah
National park	Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair
Dams	Catagunya; Clark; Cluny; Meadowbank; Repulse; Wayatinah
Power stations	Butlers Gorge; Catagunya; Cluny; (Lake Echo;) Liapootah; Meadowbank; Repulse; Tarraleah; (Tungatinah;) Wayatinah
Location of the river mouth in Tasmania
Wikimedia Commons: River Derwent (Tasmania)
[1][2]

The Derwent River is a river located in Tasmania, Australia. It is also known by the palawa kani name timtumili minanya.^[3] The river rises in the state's Central Highlands at Lake St Clair, and descends more than 700 metres (2,300 ft) over a distance of more than 200 kilometres (120 mi), flowing through Hobart, the state's capital city, before emptying into Storm Bay and flowing into the Tasman Sea. The banks of the Derwent were once covered by forests and occupied by Tasmanian Aborigines. European settlers farmed the area and during the 20th century many dams were built on its tributaries for the generation of hydro-electricity.

Agriculture, forestry, hydropower generation and fish hatcheries dominate catchment land use. The Derwent is also an important source of water for irrigation and water supply. Most of Hobart's water supply is taken from the lower Derwent River.^[4] Nearly 40% of Tasmania's population lives around the estuary's margins and the Derwent is widely used for recreation, boating, recreational fishing, marine transportation and industry.^[2]

Contents

• 
  1 Etymology
  


• 
  2 History
  


• 
  3 Geography
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 River health
    
  
  
  • 
    3.2 Flora and fauna
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 Bridges
  


• 
  5 Cultural references
  


• 
  6 Panoramas
  


• 
  7 See also
  


• 
  8 References
  


• 
  9 External links
  

Etymology

It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria, by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks".^[5][6]
John Hayes placed the name "River Derwent" only in the upper part of the river. Matthew Flinders placed the name "Derwent River" on all of the river.^[7]

History

The Derwent River valley was inhabited by the Mouheneener people for at least 8,000 years before British settlement.^[8] Evidence of their occupation is found in many middens along the banks of the river.^{[citation needed]} In 1793, John Hayes named it after the River Derwent, which runs past his birthplace of Bridekirk, Cumberland.^[9]

When first explored by Europeans, the lower parts of the valley were clad in thick she-oak forests, remnants of which remain in various parts of the lower foreshore.^[10]

There was a thriving whaling industry until the 1840s when the industry rapidly declined due to over-exploitation.^[11]

Geography

Formed by the confluence of the Narcissus and Cuvier rivers within Lake St Clair, the Derwent flows generally southeast over a distance of 187 kilometres (116 mi) to New Norfolk and the estuary portion extends a further 52 kilometres (32 mi) out to the Tasman Sea. Flows average in range from 50 to 140 cubic metres per second (1,800 to 4,900 cu ft/s) and the mean annual flow is 90 cubic metres per second (3,200 cu ft/s).^[10]

The large estuary forms the Port of the City of Hobart – often claimed^{[by whom?]} to be the deepest sheltered harbour in the Southern Hemisphere; some past guests of the port include HMS Beagle in February 1836, carrying Charles Darwin; the USS Enterprise; and USS Missouri. The largest vessel to ever travel the Derwent is the 113,000-tonne (111,000-long-ton), 61-metre (200 ft) high, ocean liner Diamond Princess, which made her first visit in January 2006.^[12]

At points in its lower reaches the river is nearly 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) wide, and as such is the widest river in Tasmania.^{[citation needed]}

Until the construction of several hydro-electric dams between 1934 and 1968, the river was prone to flooding.^{[citation needed]} Now there are more than twenty dams and reservoirs used for the generation of hydro-electricity on the Derwent and its tributaries, including the Clyde, Dee, Jordan, Nive, Ouse, Plenty and Styx rivers. Seven lakes have been formed by damming the Derwent and the Nive rivers for hydroelectric purposes and include the Meadowbank, Cluny, Repulse, Catagunya, Wayatinah, Liapootah and King William lakes or lagoons.

River health

The Upper Derwent is affected by agricultural run-off, particularly from land clearing and forestry. The Lower Derwent suffers from high levels of heavy metal contamination in sediments. The Tasmanian Government-backed Derwent Estuary Program has commented that the levels of mercury, lead, zinc and cadmium in the river exceed national guidelines. In 2015 the program recommended against consuming shellfish and cautioned against consuming fish in general. Nutrient levels in the Derwent between 2010 and 2015 increased in the upper estuary (between Bridgewater and New Norfolk) where there had been algal blooms.^[10]

A large proportion of the heavy metal contamination has come from major industries that discharge into the river including the former Electrolytic Zinc^{[13][14][15][16]} and now Nyrstar smelter at Lutana established in 1916,^[17] and a paper mill at Boyer which opened in 1941.

The Derwent adjoins or flows through the Pittwater–Orielton Lagoon, Interlaken Lakeside Reserve and Goulds Lagoon, all wetlands of significance protected under the Ramsar Convention.^[2]

Flora and fauna

Little pied cormorants on the River Derwent

In recent years, southern right whales finally started making appearance in the river during months in winter and spring when their migration takes place. Some females even started using calm waters of the river as a safe ground for giving birth to their calves and would stay over following weeks after disappearance of almost 200 years due to being wiped out by intense whaling activities. In the winter months of 2014, humpback whales and a minke whale (being the first confirmed record of this species in the river) have been recorded feeding in the Derwent River for the first time since the whaling days of the 1800s.^[18]

Bridges

Several bridges connect the western shore (the more heavily populated side of the river) to the eastern shore of Hobart – in the greater Hobart area, these include the five lane Tasman Bridge, near the CBD, just north of the port; the four lane Bowen Bridge; and the two lane Bridgewater Bridge and Causeway. Until 1964 the Derwent was crossed by the unique Hobart Bridge, a floating concrete structure just upstream from where the Tasman Bridge now stands.^[19]

Travelling further north from the Bridgewater crossing, the next crossing point is New Norfolk Bridge, slightly north of the point where the Derwent reverts from seawater to fresh water, Bushy Park, Upper Meadowbank Lake, Lake Repulse Road, Wayatinah, and the most northerly crossing is at Derwent Bridge, before the river reaches its source of Lake St Clair. At the Derwent Bridge crossing, the flow of the river is generally narrow enough to be stepped across.

Cultural references

The river is the subject of the multimedia performance "Falling Mountain" (2005 Mountain Festival), a reference to the mountain in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park from which the river rises.

The Derwent is mentioned in the song, Mt Wellington Reverie by Australian band, Augie March.^[20] Hobart is located in the foothills of Mount Wellington.

Panoramas

The River Derwent (facing south), at the Bridgewater causeway.

The River Derwent as seen from Poimenna Reserve, Austins Ferry

See also

• 
  Tasmania portal
  


• 
  Water portal
  


• 
  Environment portal
  

• Bridgewater Jerry


• Ferries in Hobart


• Hydro Tasmania


• List of rivers of Tasmania

References

1. 
   ^ "Map of River Derwent, TAS". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ ^abc "Derwent Estuary and its catchment". Department of the Environment. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
   


3. 
   ^ "Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre – nipaluna". tacinc.com.au. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
   


4. 
   ^ "Catchment and flow". Derwent Estuary Program. 16 October 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
   


5. 
   ^ Names of Rivers Archived 18 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine. web.ukonline.co.uk
   


6. 
   ^ Celtic Place Names Archived 6 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine. www.yorksj.ac.uk
   


7. 
   ^ Observations on the coasts of Van Diemen's Land, on Bass's Strait and its islands, and on parts of the coasts of New South Wales; intended to accompany the charts of the late discoveries in those countries. By Matthew Flinders, second lieutenant of His Majesty's Ship Reliance.published by John Nichols 1801* page 5
   


8. 
   ^ Parliament of Tasmania – House of Assembly Standing Orders Archived 4 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine. "We acknowledge the traditional people of the land upon which we meet today, the Mouheneener people."
   


9. 
   ^ Roe, Margriet (1966). "Hayes, Sir John (1768–1831)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
   


10. 
    ^ ^abc Shannon, Lucy (23 April 2015). "River Derwent: Heavy metal contamination decreases, effluent increases, report finds". ABC News. Australia. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
    


11. 
    ^ "A History of Shore-Based Whaling". Parks.tas.gov.au. 25 July 2008. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
    


12. 
    ^ "Shipping Movements List for Hobart". TasPorts. Australia. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
    


13. 
    ^ Environmental Geochemistry Services; Tasmania. Dept. of Environment and Planning; Menzies Centre for Population Health Research; John Miedecke and Partners (1991), Investigation of heavy metals in soil and vegetation around the Pasminco Metals-EZ refinery, Hobart : stage 1, Dept. of Environment and Planning, retrieved 12 June 2015
    


14. 
    ^ Environmental Geochemistry International; Tasmania. Dept. of Environment and Planning; John Miedecke and Partners (1992), Heavy metals in soil and vegetation in the vicinity of the Pasminco Metals-EZ refinery, Hobart, Dept. of Environment and Planning, retrieved 12 June 2015
    


15. 
    ^ TASUNI Research. Aquahealth Division; Jeffries, Maria; Tasmania. Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries; Australian Government Analytical Laboratories; Tasmania. Department of Environment and Land Management; Lutana Soil Contamination Working Group (Tas.) (1995), Investigation of heavy metals in indoor dust, soils and home-grown vegetables : investigations in the vicinity of the Pasminco Metals-EZ refinery, Hobart, Dept. of Environment and Land Management, retrieved 12 June 2015
    


16. 
    ^ Dames & Moore; Pasminco Metals - EZ; Pasminco Australia Limited (1995), Development proposal & environmental management plan : a proposal to implement the paragoethite co-treatment process at Pasminco Metals-EZ, Pasminco Ltd, retrieved 12 June 2015
    


17. 
    ^ Ruth Barton. "Communal life, common interests and healthy conditions". Archived from the original on 14 February 2012.
    


18. 
    ^ "It's mighty mouth: Whales feeding in River Derwent". Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
    


19. 
    ^ "Parliament of Tasmania History site – Hobart to Tasman Bridge". Parliament.tas.gov.au. 5 January 1975. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
    


20. 
    ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2010.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link) augie-march.com Retrieved 6 January 2013
    

External links

• Derwent Estuary Program


• Upper Derwent Issues


• 
  "Upper Derwent Catchment: Land Tenure and Water Uses" (PDF) (Map). Environment Protection Agency. Tasmanian Government. December 2000.
  


• 
  "Derwent River Catchment: Environmental Management Goals" (PDF). Environment Protection Agency. Tasmanian Government. April 2003.
  

v t e River systems and rivers of Tasmania, Australia
Rivers flowing towards the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean Anne Apsley Arve Blythe Broad Browns Carlton Cascade Clyde Cracroft Cygnet Dee Denison (Little) Derwent Gawler George Harcus Hobart Huon Jordan Lachlan Leven Little Swanport Lune Maurice Medway Mountain Nive North West Bay Ouse Picton Plenty Ringarooma Russell Snake Styx Swanport (Little) Welcome Weld Wye
Rivers flowing towards the Southern Ocean Achilles Adams Albert Andrew Anthony Badger Blackman Bluff Boyd Boyes Braddon Break O'Day Cockle Collingwood Crossing Davey Denison De Witt Donaldson Eldon Eldon (South Frankland (South-west) Franklin Fury Gell Gordon Governor Hardwood Heemskirk Henty Holley Huskisson Jane King Loddon Lora Lucan Mackintosh Marionoak Murchison Nelson Old Olga Orange Owen Meredith Paradise Pery Pieman Pokana Princess Queen Ring Savage Serpentine Smith Sophia Sorell South Eldon Southwell Spence Spero Sprent Stanley Stitt Surprise Tofft Tully Wallace Wedge Whyte Wilson Yolande
Rivers flowing towards Bass Strait Arm Arthur Bird Black Blackman Blythe Break O'Day Calder Cam Don Dove Duck Dukes Elizabeth Emu Esk (North) Esk (South) Flowerdale Ford Forester (Great) Forth Frankland (North-west) Hellyer Inglis Isis Julius Keith Lake Lea Liffey Lyons Nile Macquarie Meander Mersey Nile Pipers Rapid Rubicon Salmon St Patricks St Pauls Supply Tamar Tooms Tyne Wandle Waratah
Category

v t e Central Highlands region of Tasmania, Australia
Settlements	Bronte Park Derwent Bridge Gretna Liawenee Miena Tarraleah
Governance	Lyons (federal) Lyons (state) Western Tiers (state) Central Highlands Council Meander Valley Council
Mountains	Artillery Knob King Davids Mount Olympus Du Cane Range The Acropolis Castle Crag Geryon Gould Ossa Thetis Cradle Cirque - Bluff Cirque Barn Bluff Cradle Smithies Cathedral Cathedral Great Western Tiers Ironstone Mother Cummings Quamby Bluff Pelion Range Pelion East Pelion West
National parks Other conservation areas	Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair Mole Creek Karst Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Walls of Jerusalem Central Plateau Conservation Area Interlaken Lakeside Reserve
Rivers	Derwent Meander
Lakes	Arthurs Bronte Great Mackenzie St Clair
Dams	Meander
Power stations	Butlers Gorge Catagunya Cluny Lake Echo Liapootah Meadowbank Nieterana Poatina Repulse Tarraleah Tods Corner Tungatinah Waddamana Wayatinah
Transport	Lake Highway Lyell Highway Marlborough Highway
Landmarks	El Grande Horseshoe Falls Lady Barron Falls Overland Track Pelion Gap Russell Falls Waterfall Valley Hut
other	Central Highlands (bioregion) 2016 Tasmanian bushfires

v t e Southern region of Tasmania, Australia
City Other settlements	Hobart List of Hobart suburbs Adventure Bay Alonnah Barnes Bay Cockle Creek Cygnet Dennes Point Dover Electrona Franklin Geeveston Glen Huon Grove Howden Huonville Kellevie Kettering Lunawanna Magra Margate Mountain River New Norfolk Oyster Cove Ranelagh Sandfly Snug Southport Westerway Woodbridge
Governance	Denison (federal) Franklin (federal) Denison (state) Franklin (state) Huon Valley Council Kingborough Council Buckingham Elwick Huon Nelson Pembroke Rumney
Mountains	Hartz Wellington Wellington
Protected areas, parks and reserves	Hartz Mountains National Park Hastings Caves State Reserve Port Cygnet Conservation Area South Bruny National Park South-east Tasmania Important Bird Area Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
Rivers	Arve Derwent Garden Island Creek Huon Styx
Harbours, bays, inlets and estuaries	Adventure Bay Barnes Bay Cloudy Bay D'Entrecasteaux Channel Recherche Bay Storm Bay
Coastal features	South Coast South East Cape
Transport	Bruny Island Ferry Channel Highway Ida Bay Railway Sandfly Colliery Tramway South Line Westerway railway station
Landmarks	Natural Coal River Valley Huon Valley Styx Valley Upper Florentine Valley Weld Valley Man-made Buckland Military Training Area Cape Bruny Lighthouse South Coast Track Tahune AirWalk
Islands	Boomer Bruny des Phoques Eddystone Egg Friars Garden Green Hope Images Nuggets Partridge Pedra Branca Picnic Satellite
Books and newspapers	Tasmania's offshore islands The Mercury
Flora, fauna, and fishlife	Centurion Triarius
Bioregions	South East (bioregion) Southern Ranges (bioregion)
Indigenous heritage	Bruny Island language Truganini
Other	Cygnet Folk Festival
Category

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