Where did the Murray Darling Basin get its name from?

Answer 1

There is no such river as the Murray Darling River. The two rivers are quite separate and distinct, with the Darling a tributary of the Murray.

The Darling River was named by Charles Sturt early in 1829. During an expedition in which he traced the Macquarie River, Sturt arrived suddenly at what he described as "a noble river". This was the Darling, which he named after Governor Darling.

The Murray River was originally called the Hume when it was discovered by Hume and Hovell in 1824. (Whether it was named by Hovell for his partner Hume, or by Hume for his father, remained a point of contention between the two for some time.) It became the Murray late in 1829 when Sturt discovered that the Murrumbidgee flowed into it, and charted the river. Sturt named it the Murray after Sir George Murray, Secretary of State for the Colonies at that time.

Answer 2

From the two rivers that drain into it - the Murray and the Darling.

The Murray River was named by Charles Sturt in 1829. Originally named the "Hume" by explorers Hume and Hovell in 1824, Sturt renamed it the Murray after Sir George Murray, Secretary of State for the Colonies at that time.

The Darling River was named by Charles Sturt in 1829. During an expedition in which he traced the Macquarie River, Sturt arrived suddenly at what he described as "a noble river". This was the Darling, which he named after Governor Darling.

Answer 3

The Murray-Darling basin was named for the two major rivers which feed into it - the Murray River, Australia's longest river, and its largest tributary, the Darling, which is Australia's second-longest river.

The Murray River was named by Charles Sturt in 1829. Originally discovered by explorers Hume and Hovell in 1824 and named the "Hume", Sturt renamed it the Murray after Sir George Murray, Secretary of State for the Colonies at that time.

The Darling River was named by Charles Sturt in 1829. During an expedition in which he traced the Macquarie River, Sturt arrived suddenly at what he described as "a noble river". This was the Darling, which he named after Governor Darling.

Answer 4

The Murray-Darling Basin, which is fed by the Murray River, the Darling River and their numerous tributaries, extends 1250 km wide, from the most easterly point at Killarney, near Warwick (in southern Queensland) to north-west of Goolwa (South Australia), the most westerly point.