The Molonglo Plain generally refers to the flood plain of the Molonglo River and specifically the one located in the Australian Capital Territory that was inundated during the mid-1960s in order to create Lake Burley Griffin . This plain was one of fours plains - the Ginninderra Plain , the Limestone Plain, and the Tuggeranong Plain (Isabella's Plain) are the others - upon which the city of Canberra is situated.
22-657: The term Molonglo Plains refers collectively to the flood plains along the entire length of the Molonglo River , including the flood plain located north-east of Queanbeyan on the Molonglo River. The upper Molonglo Plain sometimes referred to as the Hoskinstown Plain is bordered to the east by the low ridges of the Turallo Range, Forbes Creek Ridge and Thurralilly Hill before the steep rise up to
44-574: A year. It was, however, only an outstation formed by an overseer and a few convict stockmen. Moore's property took in the present sites of the hospital, of Civic Centre and of the Australian National University and the portions of the Molonglo Plain In 1843, during a depression, he sold the land to Lieutenant Lieutenant Arthur Jeffreys , R.N., son-in-law of Robert Campbell . Of the original buildings situated on
66-855: Is called the Molonglo Plain . From source to mouth, the river is traversed by the Captains Flat Road at Captains Flat , Briars-Sharrow Road in Carwoola , the Kings Highway between Queanbeyan and Bungendore , the Yass Road, north of Queanbeyan, the Monaro Highway at Pialligo , the Commonwealth and Kings Avenues as Lake Burley Griffin between Parkes and Acton , Lady Denman Drive at Scrivener Dam, and
88-773: Is located in the Monaro and Capital Country regions of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory , in Australia . The river rises on the western side of the Great Dividing Range , in Tallaganda State Forest at 1,130 metres (3,710 ft) and flows generally from south to north before turning north-west, through Carwoola and the outskirts of Queanbeyan , where it has confluence with its major tributary ,
110-602: The Queanbeyan River , and then continues through Canberra , where it has been dammed by the Scrivener Dam to form Lake Burley Griffin . The river then flows to its confluence with the Murrumbidgee River , near Uriarra Crossing . Over its 115 kilometres (71 mi) course , the Molonglo River alternates several times between long broad floodplains and narrow rocky gorges. One of the floodplains
132-703: The Tuggeranong Parkway south of the Glenloch Interchange . The river's name was recorded as the "Yeal-am-bid-gie" in 1820 by the explorer Charles Throsby . This was probably the collective local Moolinggolah name for the river. (The suffix "bidgee" was common in Aboriginal languages for rivers in the Canberra area and presumably means "water" or "river".) The Moolinggolah people of the district around Captains Flat probably gave
154-648: The Molonglo River. The upper Molonglo Plain sometimes referred to as the Hoskinstown Plain is bordered to the east by the low ridges of the Turallo Range, Forbes Creek Ridge and Thurralilly Hill before the steep rise up to the top of the Great Dividing Range. The area is noted as the birthplace of cricketer and Australian rules football pioneer Tom Wills . Some of the Queanbeyan district's most successful rural stations specifically 'Gidleigh', 'Foxlow', 'Carwoola' and 'Primrose Valley' were located on
176-489: The Molonglo and the Queanbeyan were known as the "Fish River" for the abundance of native fish in them. The Molonglo was renowned as a beautiful river with excellent fishing for native Murray cod , Macquarie perch and silver perch . This abundance of native fish did not last. Upon commencement of mining operations at Captains Flat (and contrary to NSW Government assurances), mine tailings continually severely polluted
198-422: The Molonglo flood plain. 'Foxlow' was established by HC Antill who relinquished the grant to John Hoskings after whom the village of Hoskinstown is named. Prior to Lake Burley Griffin's inception the fertile soils of the Molonglo plain were some of most productive in the Canberra region. John Joshua Moore was the first pastoralist to occupy land on the present site of Canberra, preceding Robert Campbell by about
220-534: The Molonglo its name. Where the river flowed through what is now Canberra, it was probably known after the Ngambri people, transcribed as Kembury , Canberry , and other transcription variations. The word molongolo is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning "like the sound of thunder". The first name given to the River by Westerners was Limestone River, Subsequently, in the early years of European settlement both
242-582: The Queanbeyan River at a point about 5 km above Queanbeyan. This structure regulates river flows below the junction of the Queanbeyan and Molonglo River. The lower Molonglo River experienced its last major flooding event in 1971. Molonglo River The Molonglo River is a perennial river that is part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray–Darling basin . It
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#1732781141579264-466: The former Molonglo Plain, only 'Blundells cottage' remains today. It was constructed in the year 1858 by Robert's son George Campbell for the use of his ploughman William Ginn at a point above the natural flood level, about 400 metres north of the course of the Molonglo River. A number of others building situated near to or on the Molonglo Plain have been lost to Canberra's urban development over
286-665: The housing development in the Molonglo Valley during the 2010s. In February 2024, construction began on a 200-metre-long bridge connecting Whitlam with the Molonglo Valley . It is expected to be completed in December 2025. Molonglo Plain The Molonglo Plain generally refers to the flood plain of the Molonglo River and specifically the one located in the Australian Capital Territory that
308-483: The mid-1920s near the present site of Albert Hall. The Acton homestead established in about 1843 by Lieutenant Arthur Jeffreys survived until 1941 when it was demolished to make way for the Canberra Community Hospital.. The viability of the floods plains relies of regular flood events that deposit soil and other water borne nutrients onto the plain. The Googong Dam was constructed in 1979 on
330-489: The past 70 years. The Klensendorlffe villa is one of the most impressive, a substantial oblong stone ten-roomed stone house, which stood until the mid-1920s near the present site of Albert Hall. The Acton homestead established in about 1843 by Lieutenant Arthur Jeffreys survived until 1941 when it was demolished to make way for the Canberra Community Hospital.. The viability of the floods plains relies of regular flood events that deposit soil and other water borne nutrients onto
352-442: The present sites of the hospital, of Civic Centre and of the Australian National University and the portions of the Molonglo Plain In 1843, during a depression, he sold the land to Lieutenant Lieutenant Arthur Jeffreys , R.N., son-in-law of Robert Campbell . Of the original buildings situated on the former Molonglo Plain, only 'Blundells cottage' remains today. It was constructed in the year 1858 by Robert's son George Campbell for
374-464: The river, including several mass tailings collapses into the river between the 1930s and 1950s, eradicating all native fish and most other aquatic life downstream from the site. Despite government funded rehabilitation programs in 1976, some toxic leachates still enter the river from the Captain's Flat mine site. Consequently, when Lake Burley Griffin was built upon the Molonglo and filled in 1964,
396-414: The top of the Great Dividing Range. The area is noted as the birthplace of cricketer and Australian rules football pioneer Tom Wills . Some of the Queanbeyan district's most successful rural stations specifically 'Gidleigh', 'Foxlow', 'Carwoola' and 'Primrose Valley' were located on the Molonglo flood plain. 'Foxlow' was established by HC Antill who relinquished the grant to John Hoskings after whom
418-406: The use of his ploughman William Ginn at a point above the natural flood level, about 400 metres north of the course of the Molonglo River. A number of others building situated near to or on the Molonglo Plain have been lost to Canberra's urban development over the past 70 years. The Klensendorlffe villa is one of the most impressive, a substantial oblong stone ten-roomed stone house, which stood until
440-421: The village of Hoskinstown is named. Prior to Lake Burley Griffin's inception the fertile soils of the Molonglo plain were some of most productive in the Canberra region. John Joshua Moore was the first pastoralist to occupy land on the present site of Canberra, preceding Robert Campbell by about a year. It was, however, only an outstation formed by an overseer and a few convict stockmen. Moore's property took in
462-470: The waters were devoid of native fish. Restocking commenced in the 1970s and continued through 1980s have re-established Murray Cod and Golden Perch in the lake and a short stretch of river upstream. A large stretch of the Molonglo still holds nothing but introduced fish species and is still waiting for the native fish species to be re-established by stockings. Significant natural restoration work has been undertaken downstream of Scrivener Dam in conjunction with
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#1732781141579484-647: Was inundated during the mid-1960s in order to create Lake Burley Griffin . This plain was one of fours plains - the Ginninderra Plain , the Limestone Plain, and the Tuggeranong Plain (Isabella's Plain) are the others - upon which the city of Canberra is situated. The term Molonglo Plains refers collectively to the flood plains along the entire length of the Molonglo River , including the flood plain located north-east of Queanbeyan on
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