The Macquarie River or Wambuul is part of the Macquarie–Barwon catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is one of the main inland rivers in New South Wales, Australia.
The river rises in the central highlands of New South Wales near the town of Oberon and travels generally northwest past the towns of Bathurst, Wellington, Dubbo, Narromine, and Warren to the Macquarie Marshes. The Macquarie Marshes then drain into the Darling River via the lower Barwon River.
Lake Burrendong is a large reservoir with capacity of located near Wellington which impounds the waters of the Wambuul Macquarie River and its tributaries the Cudgegong River and the Turon River for flood control and irrigation.
Name The Wiradjuri are the people of the three rivers, Wambuul, Kalare (Lachlan) and the Murrumbidjeri (Murrumbidgee). Wambuul means winding river, and included the tributary Fish River. It has also been spelt Wambool.
The river was first documented for the British crown near Bathurst by European explorer, George Evans in 1812, who named the river in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel Lachlan Macquarie, who served as Governor of the Colony of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821.
In December 2021, Wambuul was recognised as an official dual name by the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales after support from a local movement and the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council. Either or both names may be used and both are given equal status.
Geography From its origin the Wambuul Macquarie River flows for and drops around over its length. Lake Burrendong at is the only dam along the length of the river. Windamere Dam, on the Cudgegong River, is operated in conjunction with Burrendong.
Sources The Macquarie River starts below the locality of White Rock near Bathurst at an elevation of . It is a combination of two water systems which are the overflow from Chifley Dam which is fed by the Campbells River, and the Fish River which flows into and out of the Oberon Dam.
Tributaries A number of rivers and creeks flow into the Wambuul Macquarie River, with descending elevation as follows: TributaryElevation at junctionFish RiverQueen Charlotte's CreekWinburndale RivuletTuron RiverTambaroora CreekLewis Ponds CreekPyramul CreekCurragurra CreekCudgegong RiverTriamble CreekWuuluman CreekBell RiverLittle RiverWambangalong CreekCumboogle CreekTalbragar RiverMogriguy CreekWhylandra CreekCoolbaggie CreekBrummagen CreekGin Gin CreekGreenhide CreekBulla Bulla CreekFive Mile CowalMarebone BreakBulgeraga CreekOxley Break
Communities and bridge crossings along the river
LocationBridge nameComments/useImageNotesBathurstRailway bridge, Main Western line This bridge served the Main Western and Broken Hill railway lines from 1876 to . The wrought iron lattice girder bridge was constructed to the design of John Whitton, the Chief Engineer of the New South Wales Government Railways, and is listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register. The railway bridges at Wellington and Dubbo (see below) are to the same design. A concrete girder bridge replaced the 1870 bridge in . Evans Bridge, Great Western HwyA road and pedestrian crossing for the Great Western Highway/Sydney Road. The Evans Bridge is Bathurst's main traffic thoroughfare across the Macquarie River, linking the central business district with Kelso, and hence, Sydney. Denison Bridge Constructed between 1869 and 1870, this bridge replaced a bridge at the same location that was washed away by floods in 1867. It is the second oldest metal truss bridge remaining in New South Wales and now serves pedestrian traffic only. Gordon Edgell BridgeA low level road and pedestrian bridge, north of George Street, this bridge is often subject to localised flooding. Rankens Bridge, EglintonConstructed circa 1856 to serve road traffic, to a design by Mr George Ranken and funded with his support. It was damaged in the floods of 1867, but subsequently restored. The restored bridge was dismantled and a new concrete bridge erected a few hundred metres downstream, just prior to the floods of 1998. A pillar of the old bridge still stands. WellingtonRoad bridge, Mitchell Hwy One span of the previous bridge collapsed in February 1989 due to a truck damaging a truss. A temporary pontoon bridge was installed about downstream by engineers from the Army's 17th Construction Squadron, and used until the current bridge was completed in 1991. Temporary pontoon bridge, Mitchell HighwayLight Assault Floating Bridge (LAFB) constructed in 1989 by Sappers from 9 Troop, 17 Construction Squadron at Wellington NSW; Troop Commander Lieutenant Andrew Stanner. Railway bridge, Main Western lineOpened in 1881 and built to the same design by John Whitton as the Bathurst and Dubbo railway bridges. GeurieScabbing Flat BridgeA Dare type timber truss bridge, it was completed in 1911 and serves road traffic only. DubboRawsonville BridgeA Dare type timber truss bridge that was completed in 1916, the bridge serves road traffic only. Dundullimal Railway Bridge Opened in 1925 as part of the loop railway from Molong to Dubbo. LH Ford Bridge, Mitchell HwyThis bridge was completed in 1970 and replaced the Albert Bridge that originally operated as a toll bridge, was constructed of timber, and featured three arches. The L H Ford Bridge is Dubbo's main traffic thoroughfare across the Macquarie River, linking the central business district with West Dubbo. It provides both road and pedestrian access. Emile Serisier Bridge, Newell HwyA low level bridge built for the Newell Highway to bypass Dubbo city centre. Railway bridge, Main Western lineCompleted in 1882 to a standard design by Chief Railway Engineer, John Whitton. The same design was used for the Bathurst and Wellington railway bridges over the Macquarie (see above).Troy Bridge Located north of Dubbo TrangieGin Gin BridgeA standard Callendar-Hamilton truss bridge, prefabricated in England for the Department of Main Roads. The bridge was opened in February 1963. WarrenSturt Bridge Bells Bridge
Catchment
The Macquarie system covers an area of more than . Over 72% of land is flat, with an additional 17% undulating to hilly. The remainder is steep to mountainous, rising progressively to elevations above . To the east the boundary is formed by the Great Dividing Range. This boundary extends from near Oberon in the south to Coolah in the north. A well defined ridge extends north-west from the Great Dividing Range for around , then the boundary turns north.
From Bathurst, near the formation of the river, it passes through the following geographic areas: Bathurst Plains, undulating country of elevation surrounded by high tablelands on all sides. This includes an extensive floodplain around Bathurst past Hill End Plateau, where it is joined from the east by the Turon River, the river drains a plateau extending from near Portland to Sofala. The elevation is around in the south and in the north. This area is predominantly rugged slopes. Burrendong Dam, the Macquarie River is joined from the east by the Cudgegong River, which rises in the hills around Rylstone with a general elevation around through Wellington and Dubbo where the river is joined by the Bell and Little Rivers. The Bell River rises in flat to undulating country of the Orange plateau, which has a general elevation of with the highest point being the extinct volcanic peak of Mount Canobolas at roughly . Between Wellington and Dubbo extensive flat areas are evident. north of Dubbo, the Talbragar River joins the Macquarie. The Talbragar is the most important downstream tributary. This river rises in mountainous country at the junction of the Great Dividing Range and the Liverpool Range. The country through which the Talbragar River runs is broad and flat, bordered by undulating hills that disperse as the river nears Dubbo. north of Dubbo, the river passes through flat plains flowing north-west through Narromine and Warren. A complex series of effluent creeks connect the Macquarie, Darling and Bogan Rivers. Macquarie Marshes lie at the end of the river channel proper. Near Carinda, the Macquarie is joined by Marthaguy Creek which drains an area and carries spill-over water from the Macquarie and Castlereagh Rivers during floods.
Rainfall Rainfall varies across the catchment of the Macquarie River. Generally the peaks and tablelands receive higher rainfall due to the shadowing effects of the surrounding ranges. The Great Dividing Range area receives between and annual median rainfall. This is distributed relatively uniformly throughout the year. Where breaks in the Dividing Range allow the intrusion of moist easterly air streams inland, annual median rainfall of or more is experienced further westward. Further north-west in the Castlereagh and middle portions of the Macquarie valleys the annual median rainfall is to .
Rainfall can vary dramatically over several years. For example, records show a variation from >200% to <50% of the average annual figure. Evaporation varies from less than south-east of Bathurst up to more than at Bourke.
Statistics + River catchment statistics (May 2009)Area totalTotal storage volumeTotal surface water use406,840 ML/yrDevelopment categoryoverdevelopedMean annual run-off0 ML/yr
History Aboriginal history The Wiradjuri people are the original inhabitants of the area that includes the Macquarie River catchment. The Wiradjuri knew the river as the Wambool, which means "winding river". The noted Wiradjuri warrior Windradyne came from the upper Macquarie River region, and was fatally wounded from a gun shot after a man hunt was commissioned by the crown in 1829.
Also, near Brewarrina, there are at least two sites of significance to Aboriginal people along and within the river and these are Cuddie Springs and the Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps.
Cuddie Springs Archaeological Site, contains the oldest evidence of bread making in the world with some sections being dated as being 30,000 – 36,000 years old. Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps, also known as Baiame's Ngunnhu, which are estimated to be 40,000 years old which is significantly older then other traps found in Australia.
European history The upper reaches of the Macquarie River were first seen by Europeans in 1813 and the river was named in honour of the then Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, Lieutenant-Colonel (later Major-General) Lachlan Macquarie. In 1813 Deputy Surveyor of Lands and explorer, George Evans wrote in his journal: 30 November 1813: I have at length reached the Ridge I so much wished to do after walking about 2 Miles, where I had a prospect to the North for a great distance; A Mist arises from a part I suppose to be a River or a large Lagoon about 20 Miles Off; and on 9 December 1813: I have called the Main Stream "Macquarie River".
Two years later Governor Macquarie inspected the country surrounding Bathurst and the Macquarie River and wrote on 10 June 1815, on his return to Government House in Sydney: