Mackenzie River (Queensland)

This article is about the river in Queensland, Australia. For the river in Victoria, see Mackenzie River (Victoria).

For other uses, see Mackenzie River (disambiguation).

Mackenzie
River
Country	Australia
State	Queensland
Region	Central Queensland
Part of	Fitzroy River
Tributaries
- left	Isaac River, Connors River, Funnel Creek
Township	Rolleston; Comet
Source	Expedition Range
Source confluence	Comet River and Nogoa River
- location	north of Comet
- elevation	144 m (472 ft)
- coordinates
Mouth	confluence with the Dawson River to form the Fitzroy River
- location	east of Duaringa
- elevation	65 m (213 ft)
- coordinates
Length	275 km (171 mi)
Basin	12,992 km2 (5,016 sq mi)
National park	Goodedulla National Park
Reservoirs	Bingegang Weir; Bedford Weir; Tartrus Weir
Location of Mackenzie River mouth in Queensland

The Mackenzie River is a river located in Central Queensland, Australia. The Mackenzie River is a major tributary of the Fitzroy River, part of the largest river catchment flowing to the eastern coast of Australia.

Course and features

Formed by the confluence of the Comet and Nogoa rivers flowing from the Expedition Range, the river rises north of Comet and flows generally north by east towards the Broadsound Range. North of the settlement of Royles, the river flows south by east and west of the Goodedulla National Park towards Duaringa and splits as an anabranch on multiple occasions. The river is joined by twenty-four tributaries including the Isaac and Connors rivers and Funnel Creek. Northeast of Duaringa, the Mackenzie is joined by the Dawson River and together they form the Fitzroy River. From source to mouth, the Mackenzie River descends 79 metres (259 ft) over its 275-kilometre (171 mi) course.

The Bingegang Weir near Middlemount contains barramundi, southern saratoga and golden perch. The Bedford Weir and Tartrus Weir are also stocked with barramundi. Bedford Weir is popular with water-skiers and camping is permitted adjacent to the reservoir.

History

The river was discovered by colonial Europeans in 1844 by Ludwig Leichhardt, a German explorer who explored many parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

See also

• List of rivers of Queensland