The Delatite River, an inland perennial river of the Goulburn Broken catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower South Eastern Highlands bioregion and Northern Country/North Central regions of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Delatite River rise on the western slopes of the Victorian Alps and descend to flow into the Goulburn River within Lake Eildon.

Delatite
Devil's
Delatite River near Mirimbah
Delatite River is located in Victoria
Delatite River
Location of the Delatite River mouth in Victoria
EtymologyAboriginal Taungurung: derived from Beolite[1]
Native nameWappang, Callathera, Kalylatherer, Kay-lath-er-rer, Pappang, Wapping[1]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionSouth Eastern Highlands bioregion (IBRA), Northern Country/North Central
Local government areaMansfield
TownsMerrijig
Physical characteristics
SourceVictorian Alps, Great Dividing Range
 • locationbetween Mount Stirling and Mount Buller
 • coordinates37°08′39.5″S 146°29′43″E / 37.144306°S 146.49528°E / -37.144306; 146.49528
 • elevation1,490 m (4,890 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Goulburn River
 • location
Lake Eildon
 • coordinates
37°10′3″S 145°59′57″E / 37.16750°S 145.99917°E / -37.16750; 145.99917
 • elevation
260 m (850 ft)
Length85 km (53 mi)
Basin features
River systemGoulburn Broken catchment,
Murray-Darling basin
Tributaries 
 • leftLanky Creek
 • rightPlain Creek, Stony Creek (Delatite River), Devil Plain Creek, River Creek, Howes Creek, Burnt Creek, Ford Creek, Brankeet Creek
National parkLake Eildon National Park
[2]

Location and features

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The Delatite River rises in Howqua Gap, between the ski resort mountains of Mount Stirling and Mount Buller, of the Great Dividing Range. The river flows generally westwards, initially through rugged national park and state forests and, as the river descends, through more open woodlands. The river is joined by nine tributaries, passing north of the town of Merrijig before reaching its confluence in Lake Eildon, an impoundment formed on the Goulburn and Delatite rivers, just east of Eildon. The river descends 1,230 metres (4,040 ft) over its 85-kilometre (53 mi) course.[2]

Etymology

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In Australian Aboriginal languages, the river is variously named Wappang, Callathera, Kalylatherer or Kay-lath-er-rer, Pappang, and Wapping with no defined meanings for each of the words.[1]

The name of the river is derived from the name of the wife of a former local indigenous leader Beolite, the leader of the yowung-illum-baluks of the Taungurung people, in the Taungurung language.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Delatite River (entry 615534)". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Map of Delatite River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
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