| Campaspe River | |
|---|---|
 The Campaspe River at Elmore |
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| Origin | Great Dividing Range |
| Mouth | Murray River |
| Basin countries | Australia |
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The Campaspe River is a river in Victoria, Australia, and was named, by Major Mitchell for Campaspe, a mistress of Alexander the Great. The river was known as yalooka by the local aboriginal people.[1]
Contents |
Course
From its source in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, the river flows north and joins the Murray River.
Upper Catchment
The Campaspe River begins in the Wombat State Forest northwest of Bullengarook and southwest of Macedon not far from Firth Park a local camping ground and historical area. it then flows west of the township of Woodend and then through the town of Kyneton. The Calder Highway crosses the river at this point.
Middle Catchment
The middle reaches of the river are dominated by Lake Eppalock, a man-made reservoir. The Coliban River, the most significant tributary of the Campaspe, also flows into Lake Eppalock.
Towns located on the river in this area include Redesdale located just above Eppalock and Axedale, located just below Eppalock, where the McIvor Highway crosses the river.
Lower Catchment
The towns of Elmore and Rochester lie on the river's lower reaches. The Midland Highway and the Northern Highway cross the river at Elmore.
The river meets the Murray River near the town of Echuca.
Natural History
Kyneton area
After European settlement, native vegetation was removed from part of the area[citation needed], which was replanted with willow trees and hedgerows of hawthorn bushes, some of the latter remaining today.
Over a number of years the willow growth has been progressively cleared and eradicated by local groups of volunteers. The willow-free parts of the river have been subsequently replanted with indigenous species. Walking routes and cycle tracks have been installed along one bank of the river, creating a sustainable leisure resource for the town.
History
Aborigines lived in the catchment for millennia.
Europeans arrived in the upper catchment area in 1834.
References
- ^ Blair's Guide, Travel Guide to Victoria and Melbourne, ed. 6. Victoria: Universal Press. 1994. pp. 301. ISBN 0-7319-0608-X.
External links
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