Mulgrave River

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River in Queensland, Australia

title: "Mulgrave River" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-far-north-queensland", "bodies-of-water-of-the-coral-sea"] description: "River in Queensland, Australia" topic_path: "general/rivers-of-far-north-queensland" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulgrave_River" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary River in Queensland, Australia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]

FieldValue
nameMulgrave
imageGoldsbrough.jpg
image_size280
image_captionThe Mulgrave River in the Goldsbrough Valley
pushpin_mapAustralia Queensland
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Mulgrave River river mouth in Queensland
subdivision_type1Country
subdivision_name1Australia
subdivision_type2State
subdivision_name2Queensland
subdivision_type3Region
subdivision_name3Far North Queensland
length70 km
discharge1_locationNear mouth
discharge1_avg86.4 m3/s
source1Bellenden Ker Range
source2West Mulgrave River
source2_locationwest of
source2_coordinates
source2_elevation376 m
source3East Mulgrave River
source3_locationbelow South Peak
source3_coordinates
source3_elevation665 m
source_confluenceWest and East branches of the Mulgrave River
source_confluence_locationsouth of Little Mulgrave
source_confluence_coordinates
source_confluence_elevation120 m
mouthCoral Sea
mouth_locationMutchero Inlet
mouth_coordinates
mouth_elevation0 m
basin_size1,315 km2
tributaries_rightRussell River
custom_labelNational parks
custom_dataWooroonooran National Park; Russell River National Park
extra
::

| name = Mulgrave | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = Goldsbrough.jpg | image_size = 280 | image_caption = The Mulgrave River in the Goldsbrough Valley | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Australia Queensland | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Location of Mulgrave River river mouth in Queensland | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Australia | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Queensland | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = Far North Queensland | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = 70 km | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= Near mouth | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = 86.4 m3/s | discharge1_max = | source1 = Bellenden Ker Range | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = | source2 = West Mulgrave River | source2_location = west of | source2_coordinates= | source2_elevation = 376 m | source3 = East Mulgrave River | source3_location = below South Peak | source3_coordinates= | source3_elevation = 665 m | source_confluence = West and East branches of the Mulgrave River | source_confluence_location = south of Little Mulgrave | source_confluence_coordinates= | source_confluence_elevation = 120 m | mouth = Coral Sea | mouth_location = Mutchero Inlet | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = 0 m | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = 1,315 km2 | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = Russell River | custom_label = National parks | custom_data = Wooroonooran National Park; Russell River National Park | extra = The Mulgrave River, incorporating the East Mulgrave River and the West Mulgrave River, is a river system in Far North Queensland, Australia. The 70 km-long river flows towards the Coral Sea and is located approximately 50 km south of .

Location and features

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Walsh's-Pyramid-view-from-summit-2008-10-02_at_08-27-22.jpg" caption="Gordonvale}}"] ::

Sourced by runoff from the Bellenden Ker Range, the headwaters of the Mulgrave River rise as the east and west branches of the river below South Peak and west of , respectively. The two branches form their confluence within the Wooroonooran National Park and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The Mulgrave River flows generally north towards Little Mulgrave, through the outskirts of , and continues through the Goldsborough Valley. From Gordonvale, the river flows east by south and then south, eventually emptying into the Coral Sea 30 km south at the southern extremity of the Yarrabah Hills range, where it meets the Russell River. The Trinity Inlet was once the river mouth of the Mulgrave River. Volcanic activity that resulted in the rise of Green Hill in the Mulgrave Valley blocked the river from entering the sea near present-day Cairns. However, further research has shown river sediments above the basalt flows, suggesting that other factors, such as alluvial sediments, may have altered the river's course, possibly causing it to alternate between the two mouths over time. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Looking_upstream_on_the_Mulgrave_River_from_under_the_Desmond_Trannore_Bridge,_2018.jpg" caption="Looking upstream on the Mulgrave River from under the Desmond Trannore Bridge, 2018"] ::

The river has a catchment area of 1315 km2. From source to mouth, incorporating the east and west branches of the river, the river descends 665 m over a combined 78 km course. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Looking_downstream_along_the_Mulgrave_River_from_the_Desmond_Trannore_bridge,_2018_01.jpg" caption="Looking downstream along the Mulgrave River from the Desmond Trannore bridge, 2018"] ::

The river is crossed by the Bruce Highway south of Gordonvale via the Desmond Trannore Bridge.

History

Gold was discovered in the river in the 1870s, bringing considerable change to the Goldsborough Valley. Gravel is now extracted from the riverbed.

Together with the Russell River, the Mulgrave River has a well-recorded flood history with documented evidence of flooding beginning in the late 19th century.

Fauna

Freshwater stonefish and crocodiles are found in the river, so caution is advised if swimming in the river. The pest fish tilapia have been discovered in the river and have been the target of eradication efforts.

Language

Yidinji (also known as Yidinj, Yidiny, and Idindji) is an Australian Aboriginal language. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Cairns Region and Tablelands Region, in such localities as Cairns, Gordonvale, and the Mulgrave River, and the southern part of the Atherton Tableland including Atherton and Kairi.

References

References

  1. "East Coastal Watersheds".
  2. "Map of Mulgrave River, QLD". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.
  3. "Map of East Mulgrave River, QLD". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.
  4. "Map of West Mulgrave River, QLD". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.
  5. "Water resources - Overview - Queensland - Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Musgrave River". [[Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts]].
  6. "Chapter 2: The Cairns Setting". Australian Government.
  7. "17°S 146°E Cairns – Queensland by Degrees". [[Royal Geographical Society of Queensland]].
  8. "Chapter 2: The Cairns Setting". Australian Government.
  9. (6 March 1880). "CAIRNS.". [[The Queenslander]].
  10. "Flood Warning System for the Mulgrave and Russell Rivers". [[Australian Government]].
  11. (9 July 1988). "SATURDAY MAGAZINE". [[The Canberra Times]].
  12. Stephen, Adam. (14 September 2009). "Terminating Talapia". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].
  13. "Yidinji".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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