Johnstone River

Johnstone River
Johnstone River at Innisfail, 2006
Origin	Atherton Tableland
Mouth	between Flying Fish Point and Coquette Point
Basin countries	Australia
Basin area	2325 km²[1]

The Johnstone River is a river in North Queensland, Australia. The river has two main branches called the North Johnstone River and the South Johnstone River. The town of Innisfail is the largest settlement in the catchment and is built on the banks of the lower Johnstone River where the two branches split. Other towns in the catchment include Millaa Millaa and Malanda.

There are no dams or reservoirs in the catchment area, however water is taken from the river for town water supply, dairy farming and sugar cane production.^[1]

History

The area was first explored by Europeans in 1872. Robert Johnstone was searching for survivors of a shipwreck when he named the river after himself.^{[citation needed]}

In 1881 the first sugar cane plantation and mill were established at Innisfail after G. E. Dalrymple reported suitable land on the Johnstone River.^[2]

North Johnstone River

The Beatrice River is the main tributary of the North Johnstone River.^[1] This branch is the longest and passes through the Malanda Environmental Park, Wooroonooran National Park and Palmerston Rocks National Park.^{[citation needed]} Malanda Falls is located on the upper North Johnstone River.

See also

Queensland portal

• List of rivers of Australia
• Syzygium erythrocalyx (Johnstone River satinash)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Water resources - Overview - Queensland - Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Johnstone River". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/qld/basin-johnstone-river.html. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
2. ^ Munns, Cec F.; A. McLay, J Sparkes, W. Logue, S. Paul and B. Short (1987). The way we were. Volume 3 (2 ed.). South Melbourne, Victoria: Brooks Waterlook Publicaters. pp. 274. ISBN 0855685077. 

Coordinates: 17°31′S 146°04′E / 17.517°S 146.067°E / -17.517; 146.067