The King Edward River is a river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

King Edward River
Location
CountryAustralia
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationPoonjurra Hill
 • elevation480 metres (1,575 ft)[1]
Mouth 
 • location
Napier Broome Bay
 • elevation
sea level
Length221 kilometres (137 mi)
Basin size17,624 square kilometres (6,805 sq mi)[2]

The headwaters of the river rise below Poonjurra Hill and flows in a northerly direction almost parallel with the Kalumburu Road and eventually discharges into Deep Bay then Napier Broome Bay and finally the Indian Ocean.

The river has seven tributaries, including Carson River, Drum Creek, Noolawayoo Creek, Coondillah Creek and Hair Creek.

The river contains several permanent pools, where examples of Indigenous Australian art known as Bradshaw paintings can be found along the cliff faces.[3]

The river was named in 1901 by the surveyor Frederick Brockman while on expedition in the area. The river is named after King Edward VII, the reigning monarch at the time.[4]

The traditional owners of the areas around the river are the Miwa, Wunambal and Kambure peoples.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Bonzle Digital Atlas – Map of King Edward River". 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Australian Natural Resources Atlas – Economics – King Edward River". 2009. Archived from the original on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  3. ^ "Bradshaw Foundation – Rock Art Archives". 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  4. ^ "History of river names – K". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  5. ^ "AusAnthrop Australian Aboriginal tribal database". 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2012.

14°14′3″S 126°35′58″E / 14.23417°S 126.59944°E / -14.23417; 126.59944