Paroo River
River in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia
title: "Paroo River" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-queensland", "ramsar-sites-in-australia", "tributaries-of-the-darling-river", "south-west-queensland", "far-west-(new-south-wales)"] description: "River in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia" topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paroo_River" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary River in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Paroo |
| name_other | Paroo Channel, Paroo River Channels |
| image | Paroo River Wanaaring-2001-07-01.jpg |
| image_caption | Paroo River at Wanaaring, New South Wales |
| map_size | 250 |
| pushpin_map | Australia New South Wales |
| pushpin_map_size | 250 |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location of the Paroo River mouth in New South Wales |
| subdivision_type1 | Country |
| subdivision_name1 | Australia |
| subdivision_type2 | States |
| subdivision_name2 | Queensland, New South Wales |
| subdivision_type3 | Region |
| subdivision_name3 | South West Queensland, Far West, New South Wales |
| length | 1210 km |
| discharge1_avg | 15 m3/s |
| source1 | Mariala National Park |
| source1_location | west of Augathella, Queensland |
| source1_coordinates | |
| source1_elevation | 336 m |
| mouth | confluence with the Darling River in wetter seasons |
| mouth_location | north of White Cliffs, New South Wales |
| mouth_coordinates | |
| mouth_elevation | 94 m |
| river_system | Darling River catchment, |
| Murray–Darling basin | |
| basin_size | 60095 km2 |
| custom_label | Reservoirs |
| custom_data | Buckenby Waterhole, Humeburn Waterhole, Corni Paroo Waterhole, Caiwarro Waterhole, Thoulcanna Dam, Talyealye Billabong and Budtha Waterhole |
| extra | |
| :: |
| name = Paroo | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = Paroo Channel, Paroo River Channels | name_etymology = | image = Paroo River Wanaaring-2001-07-01.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Paroo River at Wanaaring, New South Wales | map = | map_size = 250 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Australia New South Wales | pushpin_map_size = 250 | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Paroo River mouth in New South Wales | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Australia | subdivision_type2 = States | subdivision_name2 = Queensland, New South Wales | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = South West Queensland, Far West, New South Wales | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = 1210 km | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = 15 m3/s | discharge1_max = | source1 = Mariala National Park | source1_location = west of Augathella, Queensland | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = 336 m | mouth = confluence with the Darling River in wetter seasons | mouth_location = north of White Cliffs, New South Wales | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = 94 m | progression = | river_system = Darling River catchment, Murray–Darling basin | basin_size = 60095 km2 | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = Reservoirs | custom_data = Buckenby Waterhole, Humeburn Waterhole, Corni Paroo Waterhole, Caiwarro Waterhole, Thoulcanna Dam, Talyealye Billabong and Budtha Waterhole | extra =
The Paroo River, a series of waterholes, connected in wet weather as a running stream of the Darling catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the South West region of Queensland and Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Paarkantji people.
Paroo is the local Aboriginal word for the bony bream fish, which are common in the river.
Course and features
The river rises in the gorge country of western Queensland south of the Mariala National Park, and flows generally south and spreads into the vast floodplains of New South Wales, eventually reaching the Paroo overflow lakes. Most commonly, the Paroo River terminates on the floodplain south of Wanaaring; and only reaches the Darling River in the wettest of years, otherwise spilling into the Paroo River Wetlands. The river is joined by forty-three minor tributaries; as it descends 242 m over its 1210 km course.
The Paroo River is the last remaining free-flowing river in the northern part of the Murray-Darling basin, and is impounded by the natural formation of the Buckenby Waterhole, Humeburn Waterhole, Corni Paroo Waterhole, Caiwarro Waterhole, Thoulcanna Dam, Talyealye Billabong and Budtha Waterhole.
Wetlands
The Paroo River wetlands in north-western New South Wales are important for threatened species such as the freckled duck and the Australian painted snipe. The wetlands lie within the Paroo Floodplain and Currawinya Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance, when conditions are suitable, for large numbers of waterbirds.
On 20 September 2007, Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, announced that the Paroo River Wetlands in north-west New South Wales would be listed under the Ramsar Convention as wetlands of international importance, making them Australia's 65th Ramsar site.
Cultural references
Henry Lawson described the ephemeral nature of the Paroo River in a poem, "The Paroo 'River'" (1894): But soon he saw a strip of ground That crossed the track we followed— No barer than the surface round But just a little hollowed.
Gallery
Paroo River Dry-2002-05.jpg|The dry Paroo River, near Wilcannia Paroo R.JPG|Road sign by the Paroo River bridge, near Wilcannia
References
References
- (6 May 1977). "Paroo River".
- "Map of Paroo River". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.
- (6 August 1923). "The Story of John Conrick, Pioneer". [[The News (Adelaide).
- (13 December 2012). "Paroo catchment". Commonwealth of Australia.
- "IBA: Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya". Birds Australia.
- Turnbull, Malcolm. (20 September 2007). "Outback NSW westland internationally recognised". [[Commonwealth of Australia]].
- Lawson, Henry. (1894). "The Paroo 'River'". The Bulletin.
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