Roper River

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River in Northern Territory, Australia

title: "Roper River" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-the-northern-territory"] description: "River in Northern Territory, Australia" topic_path: "general/rivers-of-the-northern-territory" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_River" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary River in Northern Territory, Australia ::

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

FieldValue
nameRoper
native_namerop
imageStateLibQld 1 113736 Goodwill (ship).jpg
image_size280
image_captionGoodwill on the Roper River
map_size250
pushpin_mapAustralia Northern Territory
pushpin_map_size250
pushpin_map_captionLocation of the Roper River mouth in the Northern Territory
subdivision_type1Country
subdivision_name1Australia
subdivision_type2Territory
subdivision_name2Northern Territory
length400 km
discharge1_locationLimmen Bight (near mouth)
discharge1_avg5,540,000 ML/year to (Period: 1971–2000)296.9 m3/s
discharge2_locationNgukurr (105 rkm; Basin size: 69,553.2 km2
discharge2_avg(Period: 1971–2000)253.5 m3/s
discharge4_locationRed Rock (161 rkm; Basin size: 47,400 km2
discharge4_min0 m3/s
discharge4_avg(Period: 1966–1999)88.8 m3/s to (Period: 1971–2000)106 m3/s
discharge4_max1,395 m3/s
discharge5_locationMataranka (Confluence of Waterhouse River and Roper Creek, 400 rkm; Basin size: 5,950.6 km2
discharge5_min0.7 m3/s
discharge5_avg(Period: 1961–1999)20.5 m3/s to (Period: 1971–2000)22.2 m3/s
discharge5_max182.5 m3/s
source_confluenceWaterhouse River and Roper Creek
source_confluence_locationeast of Mataranka
source_confluence_coordinates
source_confluence_elevation126 m
mouthLimmen Bight
mouth_locationGulf of Carpentaria
mouth_coordinates
mouth_elevation0 m
river_systemRoper River
basin_size81,794 km2
tributaries_leftWaterhouse, Chambers, Maiwok Creek, Flying Fox Creek, Jalboi, Wilton, Phelp
tributaries_rightRoper Creek, Elsey Creek, Strandways, Hodgson, Mountain Creek
custom_labelNational park
custom_dataElsey National Park
extra
::

| name = Roper | native_name =rop | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = StateLibQld 1 113736 Goodwill (ship).jpg | image_size = 280 | image_caption = Goodwill on the Roper River | map = | map_size = 250 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Australia Northern Territory | pushpin_map_size = 250 | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Roper River mouth in the Northern Territory | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Australia | subdivision_type2 = Territory | subdivision_name2 = Northern Territory | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = 400 km | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= Limmen Bight (near mouth) | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = 5,540,000 ML/year to (Period: 1971–2000)296.9 m3/s | discharge1_max = | discharge2_location=Ngukurr (105 rkm; Basin size: 69,553.2 km2 | discharge2_avg =(Period: 1971–2000)253.5 m3/s | discharge4_location=Red Rock (161 rkm; Basin size: 47,400 km2 | discharge4_min =0 m3/s | discharge4_avg =(Period: 1966–1999)88.8 m3/s to (Period: 1971–2000)106 m3/s | discharge4_max =1,395 m3/s | discharge5_location=Mataranka (Confluence of Waterhouse River and Roper Creek, 400 rkm; Basin size: 5,950.6 km2 | discharge5_min =0.7 m3/s | discharge5_avg =(Period: 1961–1999)20.5 m3/s to (Period: 1971–2000)22.2 m3/s | discharge5_max =182.5 m3/s | source1 = | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = | source_confluence = Waterhouse River and Roper Creek | source_confluence_location = east of Mataranka | source_confluence_coordinates= | source_confluence_elevation = 126 m | mouth = Limmen Bight | mouth_location = Gulf of Carpentaria | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = 0 m | progression = | river_system = Roper River | basin_size = 81,794 km2 | tributaries_left = Waterhouse, Chambers, Maiwok Creek, Flying Fox Creek, Jalboi, Wilton, Phelp | tributaries_right = Roper Creek, Elsey Creek, Strandways, Hodgson, Mountain Creek | custom_label = National park | custom_data = Elsey National Park | extra = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Jessie_May_Gunn_044.tif" caption="The Roper River in 1946"] ::

The Roper River is a large perennial river located in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory of Australia.

Location and features

Formed by the confluence of the Waterhouse River and Roper Creek, the Roper River rises east of Mataranka in the Elsey National Park and flows generally east for over 400 km to meet the sea in Limmen Bight on the Gulf of Carpentaria. The river is joined by fifteen tributaries, including the Chambers, Strangways, Jalboi, Hodgson and the Wilton Rivers. The river descends 126 m over its 400 km course The Roper River is navigable for about 145 km, until the tidal limit at Roper Bar, and forms the southern boundary of the region known as Arnhem Land. Mataranka Hot Springs and the township of Mataranka lie close to the river at its western end. Port Roper lies near its mouth on Limmen Bight.

The river has a mean annual outflow of 5.54 km3/year. It is one of only few major rivers in the Northern Territory that flows all year round sustained by groundwater.

Annual flooding is essential for the health of its nationally significant coastal wetlands and seagrass beds of Limmen Bight, that are habitat for turtles and dugongs, as well as the barramundi, prawns and crabs that are fished recreationally and commercially.

History

The traditional owners of the Roper River are the Ngalakgan, Alawa, Mangarrayi, Ngandi, Marra, Warndarrang, Nunggubuyu, Ritharrngu-Wagilak and Rembarrnga peoples.

The first European to explore the Roper River was Ludwig Leichhardt in 1845 as he made his way from Moreton Bay to Port Essington. Leichhardt crossed the river at Roper Bar, a rocky shelf which conveniently lies at the high tide limit on the river. He named the river after John Roper, a member of the expedition stating: "I found myself on the banks of a large fresh water river from 500 to 800 yards broad, with not very high banks... it was the river Mr Roper has seen two days before, and I named it after him, as I had promised to do."

Tributaries

The largest tributaries of the Roper River: ::data[format=table]

LeftRightLengthBasinAverage
Roper400*81,794296.9
Phelp1235,30540
Mountain Creek633.63.65
Hodgson23014,10989.6
Wilton22512,69485
Jalboi902,2718.6
Flying Fox Creek1783,03712
Maiwok Creek1672,77010.2
Strangways1856,14218
Chambers701,0514.1
Elsey Creek21,21023.8
Waterhouse1993,64914.8
Roper Creek1102,108.77.4
::

*Roper River (400 km with Waterhouse River (199 km is 599 km long; Roper River with the Roper Creek (110 km is 510 km long;

Roper River Mission

The Roper River Mission was established by the Church of England Missionary Society in 1908. After it was closed in 1968, the government took over management of the community. In 1988, control of the town was handed to the Yugul Mangi Community Government Council, and the township was renamed Ngukurr.

References

References

  1. "Roper River".
  2. "Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Roper River".
  3. "Darwin-Arnhem".
  4. "Roper River Catchment".
  5. "Map of Roper River, NT". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.
  6. (January 2001). "Overview of the Roper River Catchment". Northern Territory Government, Department of Land Resource Management.
  7. (2009). "Roper River". TRaCK.
  8. Booth, Carol. (February 2024). "Free-flowing Rivers of Australia's North". Territory Rivers: Keep ‘em Flowing.
  9. (1976). "Roper, John (1822–1895)". [[Australian National University]].
  10. "Place Names Register".
  11. "Profile".
  12. (14 May 2015). "Roper River Mission - Place". The Australian National University.

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