Acheron River (Victoria)

The Acheron River, a minor 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 Acheron River rise on the north–western slopes of the Yarra Ranges, below The Knobs and descend to flow into the Goulburn River near Alexandra.

Acheron
Acheron River (Victoria) is located in Victoria
Acheron River (Victoria)
Location of the Acheron River mouth in Victoria
EtymologyGreek Akheron or akhos, meaning "distress"[1]
Native nameAgaroon, Nyaggeron[1] (Woiwurrung)
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionSouth Eastern Highlands bioregion (IBRA), Northern Country/North Central
Local government areaMurrindindi
TownsBuxton, Taggerty
Physical characteristics
SourceYarra Ranges, Great Dividing Range
 • locationbelow The Knobs
 • coordinates37°30′04″S 145°40′30″E
 • elevation637 m (2,090 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Goulburn River
 • location
at Acheron near Alexandra
 • coordinates
37°14′39″S 145°42′24″E
 • elevation
190 m (620 ft)
Length84 km (52 mi)
Basin features
River systemGoulburn Broken catchment,
Murray-Darling basin
Tributaries 
 • leftRobbie Creek, Mill Creek (Victoria), Health Creek, Connelly Creek
 • rightDip Creek, Little Steavenson River, Steavenson River, Cerberus Creek, Little River (Cathedral Range)
National parkYarra Ranges National Park
[2]

Location and features

The river rises below The Knobs on the north–western slopes of the Yarra Ranges, part of the Great Dividing Range, within the Yarra Ranges National Park. The flows generally north by west, much of its course following the path of the Acheron Way, through rugged national park as the river descends, then north, joined by nine tributaries including the Steavenson, Little Steavenson, and Little Rivers, before reaching its confluence with the Goulburn River at the settlement of Acheron, south of the town of Alexandra. The river descends 447 metres (1,467 ft) over its 84-kilometre (52 mi) course.[2]

The river is crossed by the Maroondah Highway north of the locale of St Fillans, and again at the settlement of Taggerty.

Etymology

In Australian Aboriginal languages, the river is variously named Agaroon, Nyaggeron, Ngaragon, and Niagaroon with no defined meanings for each of the words.[1]

The origin of the river's current name is thought to be derived from the Latin spelling of Greek Akheron or "River of Woe", from akhos, meaning "distress". The Acheron was one of the rivers of the underworld or Kingdom of Hades, and also the name of a river in Epirus, Greece.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Acheron River: 9154: Historical Information". 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  2. "Map of Acheron River". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
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