Mulgrave River

Mulgrave River
Mulgrave River in the Goldsbrough Valley
Origin	Bellenden Ker Range
Mouth	confluence with the Russell River
Basin countries	Australia
Basin area	1315 km²[1]

Catchment south east of Gordonvale

The Mulgrave River is a river in Far North Queensland, Australia. It flows in a northerly direction through Gordonvale and the southern outskirts of Cairns, after rising in the Bellenden Ker Range. Some of the 1315 km² catchment area is protected with the Wooroonooran National Park and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

The Mulgrave River empties into the Coral Sea 30 km south at the southern extremity of the Yarrabah Hills range where the Mulgrave meets the Russell River. The Trinity Inlet was once the river mouth of the Mulgrave River.^[2] Volcanic activity that resulted in the rise of Green Hill in the Mulgrave Valley blocked the river from entering the sea near present day Cairns.

The Mulgrave River runs through the Goldsbrough Valley south of Gordonvale. Gold was discovered in the river in the 1870s, bringing considerable change to the Goldsbrough Valley. Gravel is now extracted from the riverbed.^[1]

Freshwater stonefish and crocodiles are found in the river, so caution is advised if swimming in the river. The pest fish tilapia have been discovered in the river and been the target of eradication efforts.^[3]

See also

Queensland portal

• Kearneys Falls
• List of rivers of Australia
• Desmond Trannore Bridge

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Water resources - Overview - Queensland - Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Musgrave River". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/qld/swma-mulgrave-river.html. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
2. ^ "Chapter 2:The Cairns Setting" (PDF). Geoscience Australia. http://www.ga.gov.au/image_cache/GA4166.pdf. 
3. ^ Adam Stephen (2009-09-14). "Terminating Talapia". ABC Rural. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/qld/content/2007/s2033175.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 

Coordinates: 17°13′S 145°58′E / 17.217°S 145.967°E / -17.217; 145.967