Howqua River

Howqua (Pyerlite)
River
300px The Howqua River, upstream of the Howqua Inlet and the settlement of Howqua, in 2012.
Name origin: multiple possible derivations
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Regions	Alpine bioregion (IBRA), Victorian Alps
Local government area	Shire of Mansfield
Part of	Goulburn Broken catchment, Murray-Darling basin
Tributaries
- left	Lickhole Creek
- right	Black Dog Creek, Little Buller Creek, Stockyard Creek, Dungeon Gully Creek
Landmark	Mount Howitt
Source	Victorian Alps, Great Dividing Range
- location	below Mount Howitt
- elevation	1,680 m (5,512 ft)
- coordinates
Mouth	confluence with the Goulburn River
- location	Lake Eildon
- elevation	265 m (869 ft)
- coordinates
Length	65.6 km (40.8 mi)
National park	Alpine National Park
Reservoir	Lake Eildon
Location of the Howqua River mouth in Victoria
Wikimedia Commons: Howqua River

The Howqua River, a minor inland perennial river of the Goulburn Broken catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Howqua River rise below Mount Howitt in the western slopes of the Victorian Alps, and descend to flow into the Goulburn River within Lake Eildon.

Location and features

The river rises below Mount Howitt on the western slopes of the Victorian Alps, within the Alpine National Park in the Shire of Mansfield. The river flow generally west, joined by five minor tributaries, before reaching its confluence with the Goulburn River within Lake Eildon, created by the Eildon Weir. The river descends 1,410 metres (4,630 ft) over its 66-kilometre (41 mi) course.

Cultural references

The Howqua valley was seasonally occupied by the Taungurong people with the valley being a major route for trade or war between tribes in the area. The Howqua River valley contains a number of archaeological sites of significance including at least two quarry sites for greenstone, an exceptionally hard rock used for stone axes, spears and other cutting tools which the Taungurong traded with other tribes.

The character of Billy Slim in Nevil Shute's 1952 novel The Far Country was based on Fred Fry, a notable fly fisherman, who constructed several huts along the Howqua River and eked out a quiet existence in the river valley.

The Howqua River was one of just thirteen locations worldwide featured on the fly fishing documentary television series A River Somewhere.

File:Howqua River tunnel bend panorama.jpg

Howqua River at Tunnel Bend.

Etymology

In the Aboriginal Woiwurrung and Daungwurrung languages, the river is named Pyerlite, with no clearly defined meaning.

There are four possible origins of the river's current name: firstly, after John "Howka" Hunter (1820–68), a pastoralist; secondly, a portmanteau name from Mount Howitt, where the river rises, and aqua; thirdly, after Howqua, a popular brand of Chinese tea in the early nineteenth century; and fourthly, after Akin Howqua (Ah Kin Wowqua), a Chinese surveyor and early resident of Melbourne.

See also

• List of rivers of Victoria
• Tunnel Bend diversion tunnel, Howqua River