Harvey River
Encyclopedia
The Harvey River is a river in Western Australia
and is the southernmost of the three major waterways which drain into the Peel-Harvey Estuary
, with its delta in the southern extreme of the Harvey Estuary. It is about 90 km in length, rising near Mount Keats. Due to flooding of grazing land the river was diverted to discharge directly into the ocean in 1934.
The river was first encountered by Dr Alexander Collie
and Lieutenant William Preston in an expedition in November 1829. It is presumed to have been named by Governor James Stirling
after Rear Admiral Sir John Harvey
, who in 1818 was Commander in Chief of the West Indies Station while Stirling had served in that region.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and is the southernmost of the three major waterways which drain into the Peel-Harvey Estuary
Peel-Harvey Estuary
The Peel Harvey Estuary is a natural estuary which lies roughly parallel to the coast of Western Australia and south of the town of Mandurah. The strip of land between the Indian Ocean and the estuary carries the Old Coast Road and to the east is the Forrest Highway which is the main thoroughfare...
, with its delta in the southern extreme of the Harvey Estuary. It is about 90 km in length, rising near Mount Keats. Due to flooding of grazing land the river was diverted to discharge directly into the ocean in 1934.
The river was first encountered by Dr Alexander Collie
Alexander Collie
Dr Alexander Collie was a Scottish surgeon and botanist who journeyed to Western Australia in 1829, where he was an explorer and Colonial Surgeon.-Early life:...
and Lieutenant William Preston in an expedition in November 1829. It is presumed to have been named by Governor James Stirling
James Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
after Rear Admiral Sir John Harvey
John Harvey (Royal Navy admiral)
Admiral Sir John Harvey, KCB was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars who held numerous commands and served in several actions during his long and distinguished career...
, who in 1818 was Commander in Chief of the West Indies Station while Stirling had served in that region.