34-677: Swan Canning Riverpark consists of the waterways and public foreshore reserves in the Swan and Canning Rivers in Perth, Western Australia . Established under the Swan and Canning Rivers Management Act 2006 , it has an area of 72.1 square kilometres (27.8 sq mi). It is managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service of the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in conjunction with local authorities and on behalf of
68-580: A maximum tidal amplitude of about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in), although water levels are also subject to barometric pressure fluctuations. Before the Tertiary , when the sea level was much lower than at present, the Swan River curved around to the north of Rottnest Island , and disgorged itself into the Indian Ocean slightly to the north and west of Rottnest. In doing so, it carved a gorge about
102-541: A protruding spit that extends up to 800 metres (2,600 ft) into the river, forcing river traffic to detour around it. The river narrows between Chidley Point and Blackwall Reach, curving around Point Roe and Preston Point before narrowing into the harbour. Stirling Bridge and the Fremantle Traffic Bridge cross the river north of the rivermouth. The Swan River empties into the Indian Ocean at Fremantle Harbour. Plant and animal life found in or near
136-606: A sizeable part of the potable water requirements for Perth and the surrounding regions. The Avon River contributes the majority of the freshwater flow. The climate of the catchment is Mediterranean, with mild wet winters, hot dry summers, and the associated highly seasonal rainfall and flow regime. The Avon rises near Yealering , 221 kilometres (137 mi) southeast of Perth: it meanders north-northwest to Toodyay about 90 kilometres (56 mi) northeast of Perth, then turns southwest in Walyunga National Park – at
170-425: A year after the establishment of the colony, the river rose 6 metres (20 ft) above its normal level. New settlers were still arriving in steady numbers and few permanent buildings had been constructed, with most living in tents and other temporary accommodation. These included caves along the river's edge and many found their belongings washed away and livestock drowned. Other abnormal flooding events occurred in
204-598: Is located on the edge of the Darling Scarp, flowing downhill across the coastal plain to its mouth at Fremantle. The Swan begins as the Avon River, rising near Yealering in the Darling Range , approximately 175 kilometres (109 mi) from its mouth at Fremantle. The Avon flows north, passing through the towns of Brookton , Beverley , York , Northam and Toodyay . It is joined by tributaries including
238-844: The Dale River , the Mortlock River and the Brockman River. The Avon becomes the Swan as Wooroloo Brook enters the river near Walyunga National Park. More tributaries including Ellen Brook , Jane Brook , Henley Brook, Wandoo Creek, Bennett Brook , Blackadder Creek, Limestone Creek, Susannah Brook, and the Helena River enter the river between Wooroloo Brook and Guildford ; however, most of these have either dried up or become seasonally flowing due to human impacts such as land clearing and development. Between Perth and Guildford
272-480: The Swan River Trust . This Perth location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Swan River (Western Australia) The Swan River ( Nyungar : Derbarl Yerrigan ) is a major river in the southwest of Western Australia. The river runs through the metropolitan area of Perth , Western Australia's capital and largest city. The Swan River estuary flows through
306-473: The Bayswater – Bassendean area. Remedial sites works are still ongoing in these areas to remove the toxins left to leach into the river. During the summer months there are problems with algal blooms killing fish and caused by nutrient run-off from farming activities as well as the use of fertilisers in the catchment areas. The occasional accidental spillage of sewage and chemicals has also caused sections of
340-563: The Swan River. These are (from Fremantle, heading upstream ): The earliest club was the West Australian Rowing Club . The Swan River Rowing Club started in 1887. The Fremantle Rowing Club had started by the 1890s. There are currently fifteen yacht clubs along the Swan River, with most on Melville Water , Freshwater Bay and Matilda Bay . Royal Perth Yacht Club , on Pelican Point in Matilda Bay , staged
374-482: The Swan-Canning Estuary include: The river was named Swarte Swaene-Revier by Dutch explorer, Willem de Vlamingh in 1697, after the famous black swans of the area. Vlamingh sailed with a small party up the river to around Heirisson Island . A French expedition under Nicholas Baudin also sailed up the river in 1801. Governor Stirling's intention was that the name "Swan River" refer only to
SECTION 10
#1732802391206408-751: The Trust have been absorbed by the subsequent Western Australian Environmental protection authorities, the most recent change being in 2017, to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions . In the earliest days of the Swan River Settlement, the river was used as the main transport route between Perth and Fremantle. This continued until the establishment of the Government rail system between Fremantle and Guildford via Perth. There are currently 22 road and railway bridges crossing
442-549: The broader parts of the Swan River ... Parts of the river required dredging with the material dumped onto the mud flats to raise the adjoining land. An exceptionally wet winter in 1862 saw major flooding throughout the area – the effect of which was exacerbated by the extent of the reclaimed lands. The first bucket dredge in Western Australia was the Black Swan , used between 1872 and 1911 for dredging channels in
476-647: The city and South Perth, is separated from the main estuary by the Narrows, over which the Narrows Bridge was built in 1959. The river then opens up into the large expanse of the river known as Melville Water. The Canning River enters the river at Canning Bridge in Applecross from its source 50 kilometres (31 mi) south-east of Armadale . The river is at its widest here, measuring more than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from north to south. Point Walter has
510-577: The city of Perth . Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow. The Swan River drains the Avon and coastal plain catchments , which have a total area of about 121,000 square kilometres (47,000 sq mi). It has three major tributaries, the Avon River , Canning River and Helena River . The latter two have dams ( Canning Dam and Mundaring Weir ) which provide
544-479: The confluence of the Wooroloo Brook, it becomes the Swan River. The Canning River rises from North Bannister , 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of Perth and joins the Swan at Applecross , opening into Melville Water . The river then narrows into Blackwall Reach , a narrow and deep stretch leading the river through Fremantle Harbour to the sea . The estuary is subject to a microtidal regime, with
578-403: The local bulk wheat bin. This was about 180 cubic metres (5,000 imperial bushels) bushels down from the previous year. Brookton is located on Great Southern Highway , 138 kilometres (86 mi) east of Perth via Brookton Highway and is a key agricultural centre for a rich mixed farming district. In the 2016 census it reported a population of 975. It contains a TAFE centre, and in addition,
612-499: The only European in the area, aside from itinerant sandalwood cutters, until his stepson, A. W. Robinson, took up adjacent land in 1864. During the 1860s and 1870s, more settlers moved into the area, and took on sandalwood cutting – it sold for £8.9 per tonne (£9 per long ton) – as well as wheat and sheep farming. In June 1889, when the Great Southern Railway opened, Brookton
646-583: The river or south of the river distinctions in the Perth metropolitan region over time, especially in the time up to the completion of the Causeway and Narrows bridges, due to the time and distances to cross the river. The river was the site of the City of Perth Skyworks , a fireworks show held each year on Australia Day from 1985 until 2022, with spectators crowding the foreshore, Kings Park , and on boats on
680-562: The river goes through several loops. Originally, areas including the Maylands Peninsula, Ascot and Burswood , through Claise Brook and north of the city to Herdsman Lake were swampy wetlands. Most of the wetlands have since been reclaimed for land development. Heirisson Island , upon which The Causeway passes over, was once a collection of small islets known as the Heirisson Islands. Perth Water , between
714-515: The river to be closed to human access. The river has survived all this and is in relatively good condition considering on-going threats to its ecology. In 2010 the Western Australian government imposed restrictions on phosphorus levels in fertilisers due to concerns about the health of the Swan and Canning river system. Data collection of flood events in the estuary has been performed since European arrival in 1829. In July 1830, barely
SECTION 20
#1732802391206748-560: The river to watch the event. The Noongar people believe that the Darling Scarp represents the body of a Wagyl (also spelt Waugal) – a snakelike being from Dreamtime that meandered over the land creating rivers, waterways and lakes. It is thought that the Wagyl/Waugal created the Swan River. Brookton, Western Australia Brookton is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia , 138 kilometres (86 mi) from
782-536: The river, as well as reclamation. A number of features of the river, particularly around the city, have reshaped its profile since European settlement in 1829: The river has been used for the disposal all kinds of waste. Even well into the 1970s, various local councils had rubbish tips on the mud flats along the edge of the river. Heavy industry also contributed its share of waste into the river from wool scouring plants in Fremantle to fertiliser and foundries sited in
816-589: The size of the Grand Canyon . Now known as Perth Canyon , this feature still exists as a submarine canyon near the edge of the continental shelf . The Swan River drains the Swan Coastal Plain, a total catchment area of over 100,000 square kilometres (39,000 sq mi) in area. The river is located in a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and cool wet winters, although this balance appears to be changing due to climate change. The Swan
850-774: The state capital, Perth via the Brookton Highway where it crosses the Great Southern Highway . The town is on the Great Southern railway line . It is within, and is the seat of government for, the Shire of Brookton . At the 2016 census, Brookton had a population of 975. The first settler and founder of the Brookton district, John Seabrook (1818–1891), moved to the area in 1846 soon after marrying, and named his property "Brookton House". He remained
884-520: The tiny settlement comprised a school, hotel, bank and a few shops. The Old Police Station Museum located in the town is the base of the local historical society and contains artifacts and memorabilia of the early settlement days. A bulk wheat bin was opened in December 1940 and began receiving large amounts of grain immediately. In 1941 the wheat harvest of the surrounding area was about 3,300 cubic metres (90,000 imperial bushels ) all delivered to
918-653: The unsuccessful 1987 America's Cup defence, the first time in 132 years it had been held outside of the United States. Royal Perth Yacht Club and the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club are the only two clubs to be granted a royal charter . There are also many anchorages and marinas along the lower reaches near Fremantle . The river is a significant part of Perth culture, with many water sports such as rowing, sailing, and swimming all occurring in its waters. There have been some north of
952-560: The washing away of the Upper Swan Bridge and a section of the Fremantle Railway Bridge. The Fremantle bridge partially collapsed on 22 July 1926, five minutes after a train containing schoolchildren had passed over. No one was injured in the collapse; however, it created major disruption to commerce for several months. Repairs were completed and the bridge reopened on 12 October 1926. The Swan River Trust
986-467: The water owing to the force of the incoming seas at the mouth of the river presented a scene of a great lake, all the jetties were submerged, the high roads to Fremantle covered, and passage traffic rendered impossible quantities of sandalwood lying along the banks of river were washed away, and the inhabitants of the suburban villas on the slopes of Mount Eliza obliged to scramble up the hill sides to get into Perth. The flood of July 1926 (ARI=30) resulted in
1020-465: The watercourse upstream of the Heirisson Islands. All of the rest, including Perth Water, he considered estuarine and which he referred to as "Melville Water". The Government notice dated 27 July 1829 stated "... the first stone will be laid of a new town to be called 'Perth', near the entrance to the estuary of the Swan River." Almost immediately after the Town of Perth was established, a systematic effort
1054-704: The winters of 1847 and 1860, while the most recent flooding occurred in 2017. Later events have since been assessed for probability of recurrence: The largest recorded flood event was in July 1872 which had a calculated ARI of 100. This approximately equates to a 100-year flood event. At the Helena River, the 1872 flood level was 690 millimetres (2 ft 3 in) higher than the 1862 event (ARI=60). An account in The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal on 26 July 1872 reported In and about Perth,
Swan Canning Riverpark - Misplaced Pages Continue
1088-621: Was a state government body, within the ambit of the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) – that was constituted in 1989 after legislation passed the previous year, that reports to the Minister for the Environment. It brings together eight representatives from the community, State and local government authorities with an interest in the Swan and Canning rivers to form a single body responsible for planning, protecting and managing Perth's river system. The functions of
1122-402: Was one of the original stations. The station proved to be the catalyst that created a centre for the isolated farms, and the government gazetted a townsite here in 1895 and named it "Seabrook" but local acceptance of the station name and confusion with another Seabrook near York resulted in the townsite's name being changed to Brookton in 1899. The townsite attracted a few businesses and by 1903,
1156-467: Was underway to reshape the river. This was done for many reasons: Perth streets were often sandy bogs which caused Governor James Stirling in 1837 to report to the Secretary of State for Colonies: At the present time it can scarcely be said that any roads exist, although certain lines of communication have been improved by clearing them of timber and by bridging streams and by establishing ferries in
#205794