River Torrens | Adelaidia River Torrens River Torrens Adelaide, SA Australia The River Torrens (Karrawirraparri) was not only crucial to the siting of Adelaide as South Australia’s capital city , but it also has in several ways continued significantly to influence the life of the city and adjacent regions. Course of the river The River Torrens was named by Colonel William Light in 1836 in honour of Sir Robert Torrens, the chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission. It rises some 55km east-northeast of Adelaide in the Mount Pleasant district of the eastern Mt Lofty Ranges and only 20km from the eastern scarp of the upland. Draining an area of about 500km2 the Torrens flows westwards across the ranges, cutting a deep gorge before emerging on to the Adelaide Plains at Athelstone. For the next 7–8km the river runs through a series of basins and shallow defiles, with steep south-facing bluffs.

Then, from Hillcrest to Adelaide, the river runs in a deep channel cut into old valley floors or terraces, so that Walkerville Terrace, for example, runs along a physical feature of the same name, while Mann Terrace is located on the slope linking two such old valley floors. Though it has since incised its bed, the character of the valley changes abruptly to the west of Adelaide, for the river leaves its confined valley and spreads out on to the plain. Formerly the river flowed northwest toward the Port River, but the sediment picked up in the uplands choked the channels and the Torrens was diverted to the west migrating laterally before eroding its present channel, creating swamps, marshes and, notably, the ‘Reedbeds’ behind the sand dunes which front the coast, before draining north to the Port River or south to the Patawalonga. Importance to Adelaide When Light sought a site for his capital city he had in mind specific requirements. The plains were wooded and fertile, and the site was to be within easy reach of the Port River harbour. Building stone was available locally and in the nearby Adelaide Hills. Routes through the ranges were accessed first via Anstey Hill and later via the Torrens Gorge.

The flow of the river is seasonal, but it was thought that even in summer the waterholes of the Torrens would furnish an abundant supply of potable water; though whether it was reasonable to describe it – as it was at the time – as ‘delicious’ and ‘fresh’ – is questionable. Notwithstanding, the river still supplies water for local irrigation and domestic use, and on a larger scale for several water conservation schemes serving the Adelaide metropolitan area, both in the past and at present. They include the weirs at the mouth of the Gorge (1857) and near Gumeracha (1918), and the reservoirs at Thorndon Park (1860; decommissioned in 1986 and converted to a recreation area), Hope Valley (1872), Millbrook (1918) and Kangaroo Creek (1969). Changes to the Torrens The river was, however, a mixed blessing, and it is no exaggeration to state that during the first century of settlement much time and money were expended on attempts to control the river and the problems it posed, especially for the areas west of the city.

A direct outlet to the sea was excavated through the coastal sandhills at West Beach, channels were straightened and cleared, and the flood danger mitigated with the construction of dams, and especially the Torrens Dam (or weir) west King William Road in the city in 1881, behind which was formed the Torrens Lake. Siltation built up the beds of the channels (it is recorded that about 1.5m of sediment were deposited in the river channel east of Henley Beach between 1909 and 1925) and the likelihood of flooding was increased as the capacity of the channels was reduced. This was, to put it mildly, inconvenient. In September 1863, for instance, the river came down in flood and some members of the congregation at the Fulham Wesleyan Church were cut off from their houses on the opposite bank. To reach their homes they had to travel via Hindmarsh, a trek of almost 18km to attain a distance of some 800m. Yet the river waters and contained sediment were a valuable resource in these same flood-prone areas.

In 1886, when the supply diminished as a result of flood control and particularly the completion of the Torrens Dam, a Mr White of Fulham Reedbeds, claimed damages against the Corporation of Adelaide, contending that he was disadvantaged by his not receiving the river’s ‘natural flow’. Challenges The Torrens was everywhere a physical barrier between north and south. The channel was negotiated at first by fords and footbridges and, between Adelaide and North Adelaide, also by a punt pulled by a rope. Road bridges were constructed, but all sustained flood damage so that for many decades their repair and reconstruction were a considerable burden on the public purse. Also, several people were drowned trying to cross the river. In September 1841, for example, the nurse and daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles Mann were drowned attempting a crossing at Klemzig. The river in flood brought with it a welcome supply of firewood, and cartloads were obtained from the flooded waters, but rescuing it from the torrent was not without its hazards: in June 1855 10-year-old Thomas McCann drowned when attempting to collect wood from the Torrens at Bowden.

The river and the associated Torrens Lake continue to trap and claim the careless, unwary or just unlucky. Floods also wrought severe damage on the many market gardens and orchards located on land near the river to take advantage of water and good soil, both in the metropolitan area and upstream in the Adelaide Hills. Soil, produce and buildings were frequently lost or damaged. Other riverside properties were not immune. In September 1844 the river ran high and destroyed a starch factory at Walkerville and a brewery in Adelaide. Club boat houses have been damaged or washed away from time to time. Recreation By 1862, however, there were those who perceived the recreational possibilities of the river and its valley in the vicinity of Adelaide. In 1862 ‘Cataractus’, writing to the Register, proposed that two footbridges ought to be built across the Torrens, and that the river be dammed near the gaol. This would convert the river and its valley into a lake, which would beautify the area and make it into one where Adelaideans could take their leisure.

That dream became a reality in 188l; though what is regarded as ‘leisure’, and ‘entertainment’ varies both individually and in time. A footbridge opened in 2014 was constructed across the Torrens Lake connecting the refurbished Adelaide Oval and the Convention Centre–Casino complex to the south. Linear parks have been constructed along the river both to the west and upstream from the city, where the O-Bahn busway also utilises the valley corridor. As a result of damming the river, sediment and other debris which was formerly carried and deposited to the west, in the Reedbeds, was trapped behind the dam, necessitating the periodic draining of the lake and clearing of the accumulated debris. Algal blooms can also be a nuisance in summer. But the Torrens Lake, with its birds and boats, and its adjacent lawns and gardens, popular for picnics and for quiet contemplation, its restaurants with alfresco dining, and its associated sports venues, undoubtedly enhances the city centre and is a welcome and popular development. For thousands, the Torrens Lake is synonymous with the ‘Popeye’ boat and paddleboats.

Though the river and its environs have always had their darker side, they are, by and large, a picturesque amenity located in the very special parklands. They are greatly appreciated by residents and visitors of all ages. By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide This entry was first published in The Wakefield companion to South Australian history edited by Wilfrid Prest, Kerrie Round and Carol Fort (Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 2001). Edited lightly and references updated. Uploaded 28 January 2015. Media Australia Adelaide Torrens River Australia Adelaide Torrens River ï¿½ Copyright Travel Australia The Torrens River takes its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, a town located at the northern end of the Adelaide Hills. In November 1836 the river was discovered by George Strickland Kingston, born in Ireland and arrived in South Australia in 1836. The name of the river was given after Colonel Robert Torrens by the Colonel William Light. The Colonel Torrens was a British army officer.

The Colonel Light was born in Malaya in 1786 and is the illegitimate son of the Captain Francis Light, the Governor of Penang, and Martina Rozells. The Torrens River flows through Birdwood and Gumeracha, a town near Adelaide. The river continues its way through the Torrens Gorge, it goes between the city centre and North Adelaide. In the Adelaide Zoo there is a weir providing a lake in the park. The Torrens River ends its way in the Gulf St. Vincent, on the southern coast of Australia. Mount Torrens South Australia | About Australia You are here: Australia » South Australia » Mount Torrens Mount Torrens Mount Torrens is one of the Adelaide Hills's most well preserved historic towns. Declared a State Heritage town by the South Australian government, Mount Torrens's main street is lined with picture perfect 19th century buildings including an old inn, flour mill and several private homes. Today small acre farming, dairying and grape growing are the main industries and there is also a Clydesdale Stud near the town. Mount Torrens is halfway between Adelaide and the Murray River, which saw it become a popular staging point for bullock teams travelling from the river.

It was settled in 1853 by George Dunn. River Torrens | SA History Hub The River Torrens (Karrawirraparri) was not only crucial to the siting of Adelaide as South Australia’s capital city , but it also has in several ways continued significantly to influence the life of the city and adjacent regions. Course of the river The River Torrens was named by Colonel William Light in 1836 in honour of Sir Robert Torrens, the chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission. It rises some 55km east-northeast of Adelaide in the Mount Pleasant district of the eastern Mt Lofty Ranges and only 20km from the eastern scarp of the upland. Draining an area of about 500km2 the Torrens flows westwards across the ranges, cutting a deep gorge before emerging on to the Adelaide Plains at Athelstone. For the next 7–8km the river runs through a series of basins and shallow defiles, with steep south-facing bluffs.

Then, from Hillcrest to Adelaide, the river runs in a deep channel cut into old valley floors or terraces, so that Walkerville Terrace, for example, runs along a physical feature of the same name, while Mann Terrace is located on the slope linking two such old valley floors. Though it has since incised its bed, the character of the valley changes abruptly to the west of Adelaide, for the river leaves its confined valley and spreads out on to the plain. Formerly the river flowed northwest toward the Port River, but the sediment picked up in the uplands choked the channels and the Torrens was diverted to the west migrating laterally before eroding its present channel, creating swamps, marshes and, notably, the ‘Reedbeds’ behind the sand dunes which front the coast, before draining north to the Port River or south to the Patawalonga. Importance to Adelaide When Light sought a site for his capital city he had in mind specific requirements. The plains were wooded and fertile, and the site was to be within easy reach of the Port River harbour. Building stone was available locally and in the nearby Adelaide Hills. Routes through the ranges were accessed first via Anstey Hill and later via the Torrens Gorge.

The flow of the river is seasonal, but it was thought that even in summer the waterholes of the Torrens would furnish an abundant supply of potable water; though whether it was reasonable to describe it – as it was at the time – as ‘delicious’ and ‘fresh’ – is questionable. Notwithstanding, the river still supplies water for local irrigation and domestic use, and on a larger scale for several water conservation schemes serving the Adelaide metropolitan area, both in the past and at present. They include the weirs at the mouth of the Gorge (1857) and near Gumeracha (1918), and the reservoirs at Thorndon Park (1860; decommissioned in 1986 and converted to a recreation area), Hope Valley (1872), Millbrook (1918) and Kangaroo Creek (1969). Changes to the Torrens The river was, however, a mixed blessing, and it is no exaggeration to state that during the first century of settlement much time and money were expended on attempts to control the river and the problems it posed, especially for the areas west of the city.

A direct outlet to the sea was excavated through the coastal sandhills at West Beach, channels were straightened and cleared, and the flood danger mitigated with the construction of dams, and especially the Torrens Dam (or weir) west King William Road in the city in 1881, behind which was formed the Torrens Lake. Siltation built up the beds of the channels (it is recorded that about 1.5m of sediment were deposited in the river channel east of Henley Beach between 1909 and 1925) and the likelihood of flooding was increased as the capacity of the channels was reduced. This was, to put it mildly, inconvenient. In September 1863, for instance, the river came down in flood and some members of the congregation at the Fulham Wesleyan Church were cut off from their houses on the opposite bank. To reach their homes they had to travel via Hindmarsh, a trek of almost 18km to attain a distance of some 800m. Yet the river waters and contained sediment were a valuable resource in these same flood-prone areas.

In 1886, when the supply diminished as a result of flood control and particularly the completion of the Torrens Dam, a Mr White of Fulham Reedbeds, claimed damages against the Corporation of Adelaide, contending that he was disadvantaged by his not receiving the river’s ‘natural flow’. Challenges The Torrens was everywhere a physical barrier between north and south. The channel was negotiated at first by fords and footbridges and, between Adelaide and North Adelaide, also by a punt pulled by a rope. Road bridges were constructed, but all sustained flood damage so that for many decades their repair and reconstruction were a considerable burden on the public purse. Also, several people were drowned trying to cross the river. In September 1841, for example, the nurse and daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles Mann were drowned attempting a crossing at Klemzig. The river in flood brought with it a welcome supply of firewood, and cartloads were obtained from the flooded waters, but rescuing it from the torrent was not without its hazards: in June 1855 10-year-old Thomas McCann drowned when attempting to collect wood from the Torrens at Bowden.

The river and the associated Torrens Lake continue to trap and claim the careless, unwary or just unlucky. Floods also wrought severe damage on the many market gardens and orchards located on land near the river to take advantage of water and good soil, both in the metropolitan area and upstream in the Adelaide Hills. Soil, produce and buildings were frequently lost or damaged. Other riverside properties were not immune. In September 1844 the river ran high and destroyed a starch factory at Walkerville and a brewery in Adelaide. Club boat houses have been damaged or washed away from time to time. Recreation By 1862, however, there were those who perceived the recreational possibilities of the river and its valley in the vicinity of Adelaide. In 1862 ‘Cataractus’, writing to the Register, proposed that two footbridges ought to be built across the Torrens, and that the river be dammed near the gaol. This would convert the river and its valley into a lake, which would beautify the area and make it into one where Adelaideans could take their leisure.

That dream became a reality in 188l; though what is regarded as ‘leisure’, and ‘entertainment’ varies both individually and in time. A footbridge opened in 2014 was constructed across the Torrens Lake connecting the refurbished Adelaide Oval and the Convention Centre–Casino complex to the south. Linear parks have been constructed along the river both to the west and upstream from the city, where the O-Bahn busway also utilises the valley corridor. As a result of damming the river, sediment and other debris which was formerly carried and deposited to the west, in the Reedbeds, was trapped behind the dam, necessitating the periodic draining of the lake and clearing of the accumulated debris. Algal blooms can also be a nuisance in summer. But the Torrens Lake, with its birds and boats, and its adjacent lawns and gardens, popular for picnics and for quiet contemplation, its restaurants with alfresco dining, and its associated sports venues, undoubtedly enhances the city centre and is a welcome and popular development. For thousands, the Torrens Lake is synonymous with the ‘Popeye’ boat and paddleboats.

Though the river and its environs have always had their darker side, they are, by and large, a picturesque amenity located in the very special parklands. They are greatly appreciated by residents and visitors of all ages. By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide This entry was first published in The Wakefield companion to South Australian history edited by Wilfrid Prest, Kerrie Round and Carol Fort (Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 2001). Edited lightly and references updated. Uploaded 28 January 2015. Cite this CR Twidale, University of Adelaide, ‘River Torrens’, SA History Hub, History Trust of South Australia, accessed 18 December 2016. Capital Cities of Australia - Overview • Adelaide, South Australia The capital of South Australia, Adelaide, is on Gulf St Vincent which leads through Investigator Strait to the Southern Ocean . As with most major Australian cities, a river runs through the city, and in Adelaide this is the Torrens. The larger, longer Murray River empties into Lake Alexandrina and into the ocean southeast of Adelaide on the eastern side of the Fleurieu Peninsula . Adelaide city centre has streets laid out in a grid surrounded by parklands.

Adelaide is named after Queen Adelaide, German-born consort of England's King William IV. More » continue reading below our video Tipping Etiquette Around the World Brisbane skyline © Tourism Queensland. Brisbane skyline © Tourism Queensland • Brisbane, Queensland Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is located on the southeastern side of the state, just north of the Gold Coast . The city has grown alongside the meandering Brisbane River with the city's eastern suburbs fronting Moreton Bay on the western side of the Pacific Ocean . In population, Brisbane ranks first in Queensland and third among Australia's cities after Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane is named after the river which snakes through the city. The river itself is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825. More » Australian Parliament House © Australian Capital Tourism. Australian Parliament House © Australian Capital Tourism • Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory is Australia's national capital. Geographically, the Australian Capital Territory is within, but not a part of, the state of New South Wales, in much the same way that the District of Columbia, where the US capital of Washington is located, is part of neither the states of Maryland nor Virginia.

As the seat of national government, the Australian Parliament and the nation's central federal offices are located in Canberra, as are the nation's national galleries, museums and library. Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin was created when the Molonglo River was dammed in the early 1960s. More » Aerial view of Darwin © Tourism NT. Aerial view of Darwin © Tourism NT • Darwin, Northern Territory It's Australia's northernmost capital city in the region commonly referred to as the Top End. It's a city that's suffered the brunt of war and natural catastrophes but has seemed to rise stronger than ever before. As the Australian capital city closest to Southeast Asia, it is a melting pot of peoples and cultures, from Aboriginal and Islander Australians to the descendants of European settlers and Asian wayfarers and migrants. The city is named after evolutionist Charles Darwin who sailed on the HMS Beagle in the early 1800s, although Darwin was not on the Beagle when the ship sailed into Darwin Harbour in 1839. More » Port Arthur © Tourism Tasmania & Sarah Quine.

Port Arthur © Tourism Tasmania & Sarah Quine • Hobart, Tasmania Hobart, Australia's southernmost state capital, is located on the southeastern side of island-state Tasmania. It has grown on the banks of the Derwent River and is the end point of the annual sea classic, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race , which starts on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day . The ruins of the Port Arthur convict penitentiary and the historic village of Richmond are but two popular Hobart daytrip destinations. The main island of Tasmania is no more than 62.5 square kilometres and most Tasmanian attractions can be reached in a day from Hobart or the northern city of Launceston. More » Melbourne skyline © Tourism Victoria. Melbourne skyline © Tourism Victoria • Melbourne, Victoria Ah, Melbourne. It's one of my favorite cities, and always a pleasure to visit. Getting around Melbourne to view and experience its many city attractions is easy and pleasant with its free City Circle tram and the City Tourist Shuttle . Catch either of these two visitor-friendly vehicles and get off at places that interest you and then get back on and head to your next destination. And feel the throb of this city.

It's alive in its streets, its trams, its sights, its arts and entertainment venues, its restaurants and bars, and its day-to-day activities. More » Perth skyline © Tourism Western Australia. Perth skyline © Tourism Western Australia • Perth, Western Australia Hemmed in by the Indian Ocean in the west and the treeless Nullarbor Plain in the east, Perth is easily the most isolated state capital in the world. By road it's some 2750 kilometres from the nearest Australian state capital, Adelaide in South Australia, and nearly 4000 kilometres from Sydney on the east coast. But this is a city of the future, with a burgeoning population, new housing developments, and riches from the state's mineral resources. For the visitor, Perth is not just a destination but also an accessible gateway to the state's beaches, wine regions, habitats of marine life, World Heritage sites , and striking natural landscapes. More » Sydney Opera House and city skyline © Tourism New South Wales.

Sydney Opera House and city skyline © Tourism New South Wales • Sydney, New South Wales Sydney, capital of New South Wales, is Australia's first city, having grown from the first European settlement in 1770 on Sydney Cove into the vibrant megametropolis that it is today. It is a city of many attractions and a popular first destination for visitors to Australia. It is the city of the iconic Sydney Opera House , yachts and ferries on Sydney Harbour, a string of white-sand beaches, galleries and museums in the heart of the city, restaurants and fine dining, and a variety of many other city attractions. More » Australian river catchments and the Great Artesian Basin | australia.gov.au Australian river catchments and the Great Artesian Basin Australian river catchments and the Great Artesian Basin Sydney harbour from 16,000 feet, 1966 by David Moore (1927–2003) Rivers are usually described in terms of their catchment areas. This means that the entire river system - from its source, all its tributaries and down to its mouth are included in any discussion or assessment. Australia has twelve catchment divisions.

The biggest of these is the Murray–Darling, beginning in Queensland flowing through New South Wales and Victoria to its mouth in South Australia. The Murray–Darling River is the third longest navigable river in the world, after the Amazon and Nile. On the east coast and in the Murray-Darling Basin many Australian rivers have had their flows changed or regulated by human engineering. The Snowy River has been dammed to provide hydro-electric power and been diverted to irrigate land along the Murray River. In comparison, there are wild rivers in other catchments which are free flowing rivers. Wild rivers exist in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Timor Sea catchment which contains the Victoria River mouth and the Fitzroy River and there is the Franklin and Gordon in Tasmania - all heritage listed with sites of international significance. In Australia, there are unique dry inland rivers, such as the Diamantina, part of the Lake Eyre catchment. These river catchments are some of the last of the world's unregulated or free flowing dry river systems, which on occasions flow into Lake Eyre in northern South Australia.

In the North-western Plateau, the Gascoyne River is a unique example of a dry river yet with an underground flow of water. In other catchment divisions the South-West Division contains the Swan River around which the City of Perth is built, the rivers that flow as part of the South Australian Gulf include the Torrens River, part of Adelaide and the South-east Coast division incorporates the Parramatta river, with Sydney Harbour as its mouth. Australia's drainage divisions or catchments, Bureau of Meteorology A dry continent – reasonable water but with small run-off into rivers Whilst Australia might be described as the driest continent, it does not follow that the country is short of water. For the amount of people that live here, Australia is relatively well endowed with water. If there are problems with water, they lie in the location of the water in relation to the large population centres, the amount of water that is lost in the ‘run-off' and the uses to which the water is put. Rivers form when rain or melting snow runs down the side of a mountain to form streams. Eventually, streams catch more water or join other streams to form a river. Smaller streams that flow into rivers are called tributaries.

It can take millions of years for rivers to form. Rivers carve a path through the land as they pass from their headwaters (the place where a river starts) in the mountains to their mouth (the place where a river empties into the ocean). In proportion to its area, Australia has the lowest precipitation and run-off of all continents. Most of the rainwater, an average of 85 per cent across Australia, evaporates, or is used directly by trees and plants, or ends up in lakes, wetlands or the ocean. Less than one-fifth of the rain that falls in Australia ends up in its rivers. Because of this, Australian rivers have very irregular flow patterns. This means that sometimes a river is wide, deep and fast flowing, and sometimes it is shallow, narrow and slow flowing. Most of and the best run-off of water into rivers occurs in only one-quarter of the continent, in northern Australia and Tasmania, and then in the Murray–Darling. Because of the higher mountains in their catchments, with more rain and snow, the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers have always gathered more run-off than other rivers in the southern landscape. White-necked Heron and Intermediate Egrets fishing on Coopers Creek.

Photo by Glenn Walker Most of Australia's best run-off occurs in the Gulf of Carpentaria catchment but this is not where there are large populations. A lot of rain falls on northern Australia, but its arrival is restricted in time and uneven in its distribution. Where and when it occurs is generally impractical for water resource development and there are large variations in how much comes year to year. There is little or no rain for three to six months every year and … The landscape is generally not amenable to storing water and the climate is not conducive to keeping it. CSIRO, Land and Water, Northern Australia Land and Water Science Review full report, October 2009 If there are problems with Australia's rivers then, this can be analysed as a problem with how Australia has managed its water resources. Many different animals or fauna live in and around Australian rivers. Fish, frogs, crayfish, mussels, platypuses, swans, ducks, pelicans, kangaroos, lizards, snakes, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises can all be found living in river or riparian environments. The river, its groundwater system and its associated plants and animals create a riverine ecosystem.

Where water is permanent, large changes in flow regime can significantly alter ecosystems. The flow of a river, along with salinity in rivers has affected the plants and wildlife associated with Australian rivers. The Great Artesian Basin Spring wetland in Central Queensland, part of the Great Artesian basin. Courtesy of Queensland Herbarium Groundwater systems, the water beneath the surface, are part of a river's catchment and are sometimes simply known as basins. The largest groundwater basin, the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), lies under parts of four catchment divisions: the Lake Eyre, Murray-Darling, North-east Coast and Gulf of Carpentaria. It is the largest and deepest artesian basin in the world. The GAB provides the only reliable source of fresh water throughout much of inland Australia. Waters of the Great Artesian Basin feed springs and wetlands, although some of these exist in dry lands. The springs supported rich marine life including molluscs as well as Aboriginal communities and their trade routes. The springs of the GAB also supported the development of European trade routes with the building of the Overland Telegraph Line.

Artesian bore Balcaldin, Queensland (detail) c 1907, Mobsby Coll, Fryer Lib, Brisbane. The discovery of bore water was first realised in 1878 near Bourke, NSW, in 1886 near Barcaldine and in 1887 near Cunnamulla, Queensland. By drilling water wells, bore water from the Great Artesian Basin became an important water supply for Europeans. Bore water played a significant role in developing the cattle industry and supporting the settlement of European populations in inland Queensland and north and west of the Darling River in New South Wales. However, since European settlement, a massive quantity of Great Artesian Basin groundwater has been lost to evaporation as it flows down open drains and pipes fed by bores. Many bores initially flowed at rates of over 10 megalitres per day (ML/d). Total flow from the Basin reached a peak of over 2 000 ML/d around 1915, from approximately 1,500 bores. In 2000, the majority of flows were between 0.01 and 6 ML/d.

The loss of water from bores has had a dramatic effect on aquifer pressure and hence spring-flows and the health of river catchments. The management of the GAB and related activities across communities in Queensland, NSW, South Australian and the Northern Territory is coordinated by the Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee (GABCC). Advice is provided to all governments as well as the Australian Government about the most efficient, effective and sustainable methods of resource management. A man bathing in the water flow from the bore head at Noorama No. 1 Bore. Depth 1,502 ft. Yield per 24 hours 2,304,000 gallons. Temperature 110 degrees Fah, Cunnamulla, Queensland, 1894. Queensland Pictures. Historical sources, including the diaries of surveyors in Queensland during the 1800s, allow us to compare the health of the spring water. In 1939 the water wastage from the free-flowing bores was recognised as a major problem. A report was commissioned to investigate the nature and structure of the Basin.

Following the report's publication in 1954, each state and territory managed the GAB separately. In 2001, the Artesian Springs Ecological Community was seen as endangered. Major threats to Artesian Springs were trampling and grazing by stock and feral animals as well as alteration of flow or unsustainable extraction of water from artesian bores reducing flows to the mound springs. The drying up of the mound springs due to a drop in water pressure has probably resulted in extinction of several invertebrate species. In New South Wales, the introduction of exotic grasses has dominated the habitat of spring wetlands and contributed to their decline. However, in South Australia, the condition of most of the springs is close to their natural state. Protecting the natural values of the springs and ensuring the supply of fresh spring water relies upon a bore capping program. This should provide a partial restoration of artesian pressure and enhance spring flows. Artesian Basin recovery, Nala bore, courtesy of NSW Water In 2006, only 44 per cent of the original 171 spring complexes had at least some springs that were still active.

Of these active springs, about 20 per cent have suffered major or total damage as a result of excavation of the wetlands. A 2010 National Recovery Plan set out to control the flows from strategic bores with reference to reviewing historic spring flows. In New South Wales, the Office of Water is recovering water in the NSW Great Artesian Basin by capping and piping free-flowing artesian bores.The Cap and Pipe the Bores program gives landholders in the Great Artesian Basin financial incentives to cap and pipe their bores. It was estimated that in NSW, in the past, up to 95 per cent of artesian water was being wasted through evaporation and seepage. Today, the Cap and Pipe the Bores program is improving water supply by saving 47,000 ML of water a year, reducing salt discharge by 40,000 tonnes a year and assisting land managers to achieve more sustainable property and stock management. It is formally known as the Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources.

Perennial and non-perennial rivers and water bodies, map, Bureau of Meteorology Permanently and seasonally flowing rivers A key feature to understand about the river catchment and drainage divisions is whether rivers are perennial (permanently flowing) or non-perennial (seasonally flowing), and how wetlands are connected to the rivers. Unlike many other parts of the world, most of Australia's rivers, streams and lakes do not always have flowing water in them, even in the tropics. Yet even non-perennial sources of water have been important historical sources of water for people and industry. Water use and water management The calculation of how much water Australians have to use is based on the run-off. This is measured in megalitres or giga litres (GL). Water authorities approve the use of this water, and the quantities that can be extracted from rivers and other storage facilities. Uses for this water includes: agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining and manufacturing. Other uses are for generation of hydro-electricity, especially in Tasmania, and recreation use.

In some parts of Australia, the commitment for the use of water has been higher than its practical limits, especially in the Murray–Darling, the South Australian Gulf Drainage Division as well as in some smaller systems. This problem usually occurs where water is used for irrigation in areas such as the Namoi Valley, Condamine Vallery and North Adelaide Plains. Libby Price, on the Murray at Colignan, south of Mildura, 2007, courtesy of ABC When drought occurs in the irrigated areas of the Murray Darling Basin, as it did in 2007, farmers in New South Wales and Victoria received no water allocation at the start of the irrigation year. In South Australia, they were promised only 4 per cent of their normal allocation. Catchment management Since 2000, there have been many changes to catchment management bodies in Australia. These changes have included changes in their powers, responsibilities, names, reporting channels, and the names and structures of government agencies with which they must work. In NSW in 2003, 13 Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) were created and became statutory authorities.

They have the same name in Victoria but are Catchment Councils in Western Australia and Natural Resource Management Boards in South Australia. In the eastern states, CMAs deliver programs and outcomes on the ground either in their own right or in partnership with other organisations including councils and landcare groups. Catchment Management Plans for Australia's rivers were developed by the CMAs. An example is the Southern Rivers CMA which has planning responsibility for both water resources and conservation for the Southern Rivers in NSW. Tina Clemens, Hunter-Central Rivers CMA 's Riparian-Vegetation officers gathering data. Courtesy of Hunter-Central Rivers CMA. The Hunter-Central Rivers CMA engages in mapping, monitoring, assessing biodiversity, birds, marine life, shore lines and estuarine habitats. Education resources about floods and flood patterns, managing riparian or river lands, and related vegetation on private lands have been prepared to help people living in the catchment and with the Hunter River. National framework for river catchments: 2007, 2010– In 2007, the Australian Government commissioned the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to estimate and assess water yield and use.

The purpose was to provide the science for sustainable planning and management of water resources. The first project was in the Murray–Darling Basin. In 2010, the Australian and state governments, agreed to asses three other areas: northern Australia, Tasmania and south-west Western Australia, with the South West Catchments Council. Catchments, like those managed by the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, show incredible biodiversity in their ecosystems and landscapes. The catchments, by definition, necessarily move from the escarpment through a hinterland to a coastal environment. The vegetation moves through heath lands, rainforest, dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands with diverse plants and animals. The more diversity of plants there are, the better it is for animals: birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and humans. A healthy ecosystem contributes to soil and air quality. Lake Clifton Thrombolites by Kim Wilson, courtesy of South-west Catchments Council However, the vegetation areas in the catchment are fragmented and not connected. Some of the vegetation types are rare. Regeneration of vegetation, by fencing bush areas off from cattle, weeding and seeding, aims to provide link corridors.

This in turn provides a network of corridors through the escarpment and catchment. This can establish healthy ecosystems that add viability and productivity to working properties. Today CMAs, and other invested authorities, take into account the unique values of Australian rivers and plan for the protection and management of their ecosystems. Catchment planning aims to optimise economic, social and environmental outcomes. Healthy rivers support agricultural, industrial and ecological systems, as well as being important recreational places. At the same time it is recognised that any water resource management has to prioritise the sustainability of the river environment – the river of life. Useful links List and Profiles of Australian University Cities | AU Population: 1,200,000 Location: South Australia Universities: Adelaide, UniSA, Flinders, Torrens Adelaide is Australia's fifth largest city and the only one in South Australia. It is a planned city that has a grid of wide, tree-lined streets in the city centre. Education is important to the Adelaide economy and the city is a popular study destination for international students. It has recently added a fourth university with the opening of Torrens University Australia.

Armidale Population: 25,000 Location: NSW northern tablelands Universities: University of New England (UNE) Armidale is a regional centre just over 100 km from Tamworth (Australia's country music capital). It is nearly 500 km from both Brisbane and Sydney. The city is inland and elevated (980 m), giving it a cool climate. Armidale is home to UNE, a 77% online university with a strength in agriculture. Most visiting students live in the city's residential colleges. Ballarat Population: 86,000 Location: 105 km inland from Melbourne Universities: Federation University (FedUni) Ballarat is a historically significant city and major regional centre. It rapidly grew after gold was discovered in 1851. Ballarat is home to FedUni (formerly the University of Ballarat), which has its main campus 15 km from the city centre. The Australian Catholic University also has a Ballarat campus.

Bathurst Population: 35,000 Location: 200 km west of Sydney Universities: Charles Sturt University (CSU) Bathurt's golden era (literally) was the mid to late 1800s when it was the scene of Australia's first gold rush. Education is now the city's biggest industry. Bathurst's education services cover all levels, including tertiary. It is the home of CSU, although the 60% online university has several other campuses in regional NSW. Brisbane Population: 2,200,000 Location: Queensland Universities: Queensland, QUT, Griffith Brisbane is Australia's third largest city. The sub-tropical metropolis is built around the winding Brisbane River. Brisbane is the base for three universities. Queensland Uni is at St Lucia near the city. QUT has an inner city and suburban campus. Griffith has four of its five campuses in the Brisbane area. Canberra Population: 420,000 Location: Australian Capital Territory Universities: ANU, Canberra Canberra is a planned city, created after being selected as the site for Australia's capital. It is built around an artificial lake.

Employment is dominated by the public service. Canberra is home to ANU (near the city centre) and Canberra Uni (a short drive away in the suburbs). Darwin Population: 130,000 Location: Northern Territory Universities: Charles Darwin University (CDU) Darwin is the major city in the sparsely populated, tropical mid-north of Australia. It is the closest city to Asia and is a cultural melting pot. Housing costs are amongst the highest in the country. Although it is the base for CDU, Darwin has few university students. CDU is a small university and many of its students study online or at regional centres. Fremantle University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle Population: 30,000 Location: Within the greater Perth area Universities: University of Notre Dame Australia Fremantle is a city in its own right but is also an integral part of the city of Perth. Positioned at the mouth of the Swan River, it serves as the larger city's port and is a popular tourism spot. Fremantle is home to the University of Notre Dame, a small, private Roman Catholic university.

Gold Coast Population: 600,000 Location: 94 km south of Brisbane Universities: Bond University The Gold Coast is Australia's largest non-capital city. Famous for its beaches, it merges with the greater Brisbane metropolitan area to the north and crosses the NSW border to the south (Tweed Heads is part of the city). The Gold Coast is home to just one small university, Bond University. But it has campuses of others, including the largest campus of Griffith University. Hobart Population: 220,000 Location: Tasmania Universities: University of Tasmania Hobart is the biggest settlement in the small island state of Tasmania. The cool, picturesque city sits between a mountain and deep-water river. Hobart is a relatively cheap place to live, with low housing costs. The university is in a prime part of the city in Sandy Bay - a short drive (or longish walk) from the city centre. Lismore Population: 33,000 Location: NSW far north east Universities: Southern Cross University (SCU) Lismore is a regional centre in northern NSW. It is on cleared land that was formerly sub-tropical rainforest.

The city centre is 35 km from the coast. Lismore is home to SCU, a small regional university that partly specialises in distance education. SCU's main campus is 3 km from the Lismore CBD. Other campuses are in Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast. Melbourne Universities: Melbourne, Monash, Deakin, La Trobe, Swinburne, RMIT, Victoria, Divinity Melbourne is a close rival to Sydney as Australia's largest city. It is known for education, dining, culture, sports and changeable weather. Melbourne is Australia's biggest student city, with several big universities spread across inner and suburban districts. It has easily the largest number of international students. Newcastle Population: 540,000 Location: 160 km north of Sydney Universities: University of Newcastle Newcastle is a coastal, port city. It is the major urban hub of the many settlements to Sydney's near north. Although it is bordered by coastline and beaches, Newcastle is spread out and most Novacastrians travel by car. The main campus of Newcastle Uni is in Callaghan, a suburb 12 km from the CBD.

Perth Population: 2,000,000 Location: Western Australia Universities: UWA, Edith Cowan, Murdoch, Curtin Perth is the major city in the vast, mostly arid state of Western Australia. It is a wealthy, high-growth city that benefits from mining and gas industries. The climate is warm and sunny. Perth's universities are all suburban and regional, although the main campus of UWA is only a short drive from the CBD. Rockhampton Population: 62,000 Location: 600 km north of Brisbane Universities: CQUniversity Rockhampton is on the Fitzroy River 45 km from the sea. Australia's "beef capital" has a sunny and humid climate that is relatively stable throughout the year. CQUniversity is based in Rockhampton. However, most of the university's students are distance learners or study at satellite campuses.

Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs shopping centre, Sunshine Coast Population: 260,000 Location: 100 km north of Brisbane Universities: University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) Sunshine Coast is not a city as such, but an urban area containing towns such as Caloundra, Maroochydore and Noosa. With a sub-tropical climate and many beaches, it is popular with tourists and retirees. USC is located at Sippy Downs in a central part of the region. The university backs on to a Nature Reserve. Sydney Population: 4,600,000 Location: New South Wales Universities: UNSW, Sydney, UWS, UTS, Macquarie, ACU Sydney is Australia's first and largest Sydney. It is blessed with a majestic harbour and temperate climate. Sydney's older universities are located centrally in some of the most expensive parts of the city to live. But universities such as UWS and Macquarie cater to the large and growing populations in Sydney's western suburbs.

Toowoomba Population: 135,000 Location: 127 km west of Brisbane Universities: University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Toowoomba, the "garden city", is one of Australia's largest inland cities. Despite being in sub-tropical Queensland, it has four seasons (including cool winters) because of sitting atop the Great Dividing Range. Toowoomba is a regional education centre and is the base for UQS, a mostly distance education university. Townsville Population: 200,000 Location: North Queensland Universities: James Cook University (JCU) Townsville is a tropical, coastal city that is the unofficial capital of North Queensland. It is adjacent to the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. JCU has been based in Townsville from the university's inception in 1970. The university specialises in marine and tropical biology. It has other campuses further north in Cairns and Singapore. Wollongong Festival Centre, Adelaide 24 Insider Tips, Photos and Reviews Adelaide Self-Guided Audio Tour "Immerse yourself in the culturally rich and stunning city of Adelaide home to many festivals amazing architecture and some of the best food and drink in Australia!

This audio tour will tell you about its history starting in 1836 and share stories of its first native inhabitants. Walking through this central city you’ll be amazed by the pristine beaches it's Central Market and it's vibrant Festival Centre. You will also see Rundle Mall the Victoria Square Tarndanyangga St Francis Xavier Cathedral Adelaide Self-Guided Audio Tour "Immerse yourself in the culturally rich and stunning city of Adelaide home to many festivals amazing architecture and some of the best food and drink in Australia! This audio tour will tell you about its history starting in 1836 and share stories of its first native inhabitants. Walking through this central city you’ll be amazed by the pristine beaches it's Central Market and it's vibrant Festival Centre. You will also see Rundle Mall the Victoria Square Tarndanyangga St Francis Xavier Cathedral Adelaide Self-Guided Audio Tour "Immerse yourself in the culturally rich and stunning city of Adelaide home to many festivals amazing architecture and some of the best food and drink in Australia! This audio tour will tell you about its history starting in 1836 and share stories of its first native inhabitants.

Walking through this central city you’ll be amazed by the pristine beaches it's Central Market and it's vibrant Festival Centre. You will also see Rundle Mall the Victoria Square Tarndanyangga St Francis Xavier Cathedral Torrens, River (Use this option if your browser will not open the folders.) Place Names of South Australia - T Torrens, River Also see Adelaide - Beaches and Bathing . An Essay on the River Torrens On a warm summer's day in November 1836 Lt W.G. Field, of the Rapid, George S. Kingston and John Morphett were trekking over the Adelaide plain when Mr Kingston's dog got the scent of water and dashed towards it to slake its thirst. Thus, the watercourse was discovered, being named "River Torrens" in 1837 by Governor Hindmarsh. What they saw was a chain of large waterholes bounded by large gum trees and scrub; these holes varied in size the largest being over 200 yards in length, some of which were so deep that even the most daring of divers could not bottom them.

It was not long, however, before the colonists cut away every vestige of timber along the banks and carted away the gravel for roadmaking and home building. With the loss of its natural surface the watercourse was destroyed as the banks between the waterholes gradually washed away and deposited in the waterholes - the process of levelling began and continued "until the river assumed its present desolate appearance" which by 1878 was commented upon in condemnatory terms: Those who have recently arrived in the colony... can scarcely be made to believe that there were ever deep clear pools, or shady corners of finny inhabitants in the unsightly chasm at present known as the River Torrens, whose waters are black with sewage of the town, and whose odour is not only offensive but injurious to health... Henry Breaker was aged six years when he came out in the Buffalo with his parents and recalled that in the early days of settlement the bed of the River Torrens was generally green with grass and reeds under which surface the main part of the stream percolated out of sight.

Thomas Frost who arrived in the Asia in 1839 wrote of his excursions to the river and attendant hardship and tragedy: The greatest difficulty of all was getting good water. The river was the only supply and when flooded or drying up the water was scarcely fit to drink, and to get it we had to roll it in barrels up the river banks. This was the job my eldest cousin and self had to do almost every day and it was a heavy pull, a double rope being secured to iron hoops or chains, working on spindles fixed to both ends of the barrel. When obtained the water was far from pure. We all suffered from dysentery; our poor afflicted cousin Maria was the first to give up to this and my old grandmother did not long survive her, but passed away after a time of great suffering; thus both were taken from us after a few months of colonial life. The heat and droughts were, at first, almost unbearable; many deaths occurred and medical help at that time was far from efficient, as many diseases which prevailed were new to their experience; the young children, especially, suffered most. To counter the contagion emanating from the polluted water the colonists were advised to make and use water filters.

The directions for manufacture of these all but ineffective devices were: Take an earthen jar or barrel and turn the narrow end downwards; insert a tap near the bottom; insert a piece of slate or lead perforated with holes; put in four inches of clean, washed gravel, the size of peas; add four to five inches of clear sand; add four to five inches of clean, washed charcoal; add another layer of sand. Some citizens, such as those in Hindmarsh, were fortunate in having the river virtually at their backdoors and it became a favourite venue for swimming.

Further, domestic cows and goats, which supplied milk to households, were taken to the river on a daily basis where their effluvia flowed readily into the stream causing an irate observer of a like happening to proclaim that he was disgusted "at seeing some dozen cows and horses drinking and making their deposits in the reservoir created by the [corporation] in the formation of what is called the City Ford." It was a paradise for the children of Adelaide, Hindmarsh and Thebarton - lurking in deep holes were "yabbies" which, when cooked, were hawked around for a profit of a few pennies; minnows were hooked with string and pin while, for small recompense, native women could be persuaded to dive for mussels. Such offerings from the river were a welcome addition to the frugal dinner tables of the working classes of Adelaide and adjacent suburbs. From the earliest days the river was a favoured resort for bathers during the searing heat of summer, but by 1850 the City Council had imposed prohibitive by-laws against which many complaints were forthcoming: Authorities allow cattle to be driven to the river [and] deposit evacuations in the gentle stream.

If any individual is found exercising that vocation which is "next to godliness" on any part of the Torrens between the Aboriginal Location and the Company's Bridge, the myrmidons of the law dart upon him... Where are we to wash off that dust? A newspaper editor viewed these remarks as ill-advised and commented that because the restrictions had been imposed "in deference to the opinions of scientific men" such a course was necessary to preserve the health of the city. The restrictions remained in place until 1856 when the City Council instructed inspectors not to interfere with persons bathing below the ford between 6 pm and 8 am; thus townspeople were again able to use the river for recreational purposes. It is apparent that the local Kaurna tribe were either given immunity from the by-laws or chose to ignore them: Is it not shameful and disgusting that the blacks should be allowed to paddle about and impregnate the water with the washing of their filthy bodies within a few feet of where the North Adelaide carriers lift the water... Men and boys, with their filthy clothing, half-immersed, may be seen every day snaring sprats, looking for crawfish, and the like, and dogs without number swimming about.

These concerns were apparently ill-founded for, in mid-1859, a chemical analysis of water taken from near the ford and environs was undertaken by Dr Smith, Professor of Chemistry at the Sydney University, who proclaimed it as "pure and wholesome" with a taste he described as "soft and flattish, but not disagreeable". This considered opinion was challenged by another analytical chemist who published information showing that while the Melbourne water supply had an 11.86% of solid matter in it the comparable figure for Adelaide was 33.76%. Among the poorer people living adjacent to the river were a few widows who eked out an existence by keeping a cow or two and selling milk but by 1855 they were obliged to urge their "weary legs" further up the river for watering purposes because of pollution caused by the slaughter yard which operated on the banks of the river adjacent to Thebarton: Blood... diluted with... water spreads through the sand and the water particles being evaporated by the blazing sun leave the more solid parts to settle on the sand and become putrid [and] full of rank, green poisonous slime.

As the population of Adelaide increased a few enterprising colonists took up the occupation of water-carting. Prices were a basic one shilling per load and increased by one penny for each street south of Hindley Street. In hot weather, the river being low, the water carts, which were prone to spring leaks after being driven a mile or two, invariably dispensed tepid water, by no means clean - Their advice would be "let it settle for a few hours". Agitation from the press and inhabitants prompted the Government to finance a scheme to supply the city with reticulated water and by 12 March 1862, 2,694 houses were connected to the mains. However, this had a harmful effect on residents of Hindmarsh and Thebarton - their water supply from the River Torrens became scant in quantity and inferior in quality due, primarily, to the diversion of the river water to the reservoir for the Adelaide waterworks. Considering that they, too, were entitled to share in "a supply of the pure element" a few of the leading inhabitants of Thebarton addressed the Commissioner of Public Works, requesting that a main be laid along or near the Port Road.

Their request was considered by the Adelaide City Council which consented promptly to the continuation of a supply pipe from West Terrace to a point where the local people could have a stand-pipe erected for their own use. The only stipulation made by the Council was that the supply pipe should be laid in the plantation adjoining and forming part of the Port Road, and that for the protection of city property the work should be carried out by the City Surveyor. The work was completed late in January 1864; the cost was met by some of the more affluent citizens on the understanding "that they shall be repaid by consumers', while the Government attached a meter to the main and charged at the rate of one shilling and sixpence (15 cents) per thousand gallons supplied. Conclusion On 27 June 1993 the Sunday Mail proclaimed many revelations under a banner headline - OUR RIVER OF FILTH - and its investigative reporter referred to the "shameful sight" as "an eyesore that turns tourists' stomachs".

His considered comments were followed by "What the Experts Say" - they included KESAB General Manager, Chairman of the River Torrens Improvements Standing Committee and the Leader of the Opposition - it must be said that the latter's "expertise" in this area was ill-defined! Not to be outdone by its contemporary's "revelations" the Advertiser, on 29 June 1993, presented a leading article on "Turning the Tide on Water Quality", where resource specialists argued for "unique approaches to solve the State's worsening water-quality problems" and concluded that "the bulk of Adelaide's water needs... [will] come from stormwater-replenished ground-water sources via bores..." As early as 1848 the subject of artesian wells had been to the fore as a means of water supply but its protagonist was informed by the spokesman of an embryonic water company that he "had it on good authority that an artesian well could not be obtained here." And so, today, the argument has come full circle and a cry for greater reliance on artesian water is again abroad, together with a proposal to introduce an aquifer concept.

TheSunday Mail report echoes much of what has been recorded above for it expresses concern at the ongoing pollution of the river and the washing away of its banks. Years of inaction have again raised the cry of it being "turned into a health risk", a situation which has prevailed since 1837. Remedies have been suggested including increased penalties for rubbish dumping, "more litter bins and greater co-ordination by local and State government to encourage better management" and the implementation of a "total management strategy". With the control of the river and near environs spread among various bodies there is little wonder that "confusion and inactivity reigns" - a process which commenced in 1837 and which promises to continue into the future aided and abetted by a singular absence of civic pride. (Written in 1994) General Notes 10 September 1883, page 5b. "Floods and the Torrens Lake" is in the Register, 14 May 1884, pages 4g-5b.

Flooding of the Torrens (Taken from Geoffrey H Manning'sA Colonial Experience) About twelve months prior to our arrival in South Australia the Editor of the SA Gazette & Colonial Register wrote scathingly: What the River Torrens may be capable of performing for a week or two of the rainy season beyond sweeping down to the swamp the summer filth of Adelaide we cannot guess; but the Torrens at other times is not a river at all, but merely a chain of ponds. At the present moment, its running water may be spanned with the hand and sounded with the forefinger. It has ceased to flow immediately below the town, and is from thence downwards a very formidable dry ditch. However, I recall well two floods of the 1840s which reeked havoc and caused the destruction of goods, chattels and buildings. In September 1844 for more than two hours excited colonists watched the swollen and angry river at work. In apparent safety we saw the river eating away at the foundations of Shand's brewery situated to the east of Adelaide. That the building was doomed was evident. The unfortunate owner and willing helpers carried many of the casks and other utensils of the brewery to safety.

By four o'clock the building was undermined and down it came with a tremendous crash. Amid falling debris, and with the water swirling close to them, the onlookers ran for their lives. As it was, many of them had narrow escapes from death by injury or drowning for, to add to the confusion, a large portion of the bank fell in with a great rumble, and showered the bottles, casks and brewing utensils floating in the river with clods of earth. The despised Torrens was in flood and having its revenge for the contemptuous remarks that had been hurled at it. This flood which began on 21 September 1844 caused widespread damage and, later, I realised that I had witnessed one of the dramatic episodes in the early history of South Australia. Years rolled by. In mid-September 1847 the weather was stormy and a few days later danger threatened; a hurricane was blowing and water rushed madly down from the hills. On that night bridges at Hahndorf and on a road near the Onkaparinga were swept away, the potato and wheat crops of German settlers in the district were badly damaged, and fences washed down.

Plantations of trees at Richmond disappeared - the ground had been prepared at great expense, 2,000 trees having been brought from Sydney and planted. The starch factory of Dr Davey near Walkerville was flooded and all his furniture and clothing and most of his manufacturing utensils went down the stream. So sudden was the rush of water that he could save nothing. All he could do was to make for high ground and safety. The Frome Bridge was damaged considerably; a chain bridge a little lower down was lifted up and carried away. The then City Bridge at Morphett Street was totally undermined and big pieces of it were borne away by the stream. The inhabitants of the Reedbeds and adjoining areas felt the effects of the flood greatly. The river overflowed its banks, rushed through houses built near the edge and drove the inhabitants to higher ground. From 8 am until 3 pm the river gushed masses of water over its banks and all the farms were several feet under water. It was 5.30 pm before the river resumed its normal channel. From these disasters we became only too aware that the muddy little Torrens could become a raging demon, to be checked only by the cunning and forethought of the colonists.

The first dam built on the Torrens was washed away in 1867 and not until the weir of today was built in 1881 was another effort made to deal with the river. The Torrens Lake is described in the Register, 3 June 1884, page 5a; also see Observer, 18 March 1884, page 5b. Reminiscences of the 1840s are in the Observer, 22 June 1907, page 51a. Fishing in the River Torrens In the first decade following European settlement large numbers of sweet little 'slipperies? (Galanias sp.), which seldom ran beyond three inches in length, were caught in the River Torrens which then consisted of continuous deep pools; also 'scalers?, a species of cod, which were from 8 to 10 inches long and lurked beneath logs.

Boys in those days were too poor to buy hooks so they resorted to bent pins, strong thread and a stout reed, and when they got a bite the fish was snatched up and swung around the head until the young fisherman could vacate the log, from whence he was fishing, and dash his prey upon the shore before it could wriggle off the barbless pin. It was a paradise for the children of Adelaide, Hindmarsh and Thebarton for secreted in deep holes were ?yabbies? which, when cooked, were hawked around for a profit of a few pennies, while, for small recompense, native women were persuaded to dive for mussels. Such offerings from the river were a welcome addition to the frugal dinner tables of the working classes of Adelaide and adjacent suburbs. A fireworks display on the lake is described in the Advertiser, 16 May 1885, page 6e and a boating accident in the Chronicle, 23 February 1889, page 22g.

"Bumbledom and Boating" is in the Register, 25 and 26 June 1886, pages 4g-7c and 7h. A boating accident is reported in the Register, 21, 23 and 26 February 1889, pages 4h-6d, 4g and 6c. "The Torrens Lake and Rowing" is in the Register, 16 July 1889, page 7d, "The Water of the Torrens - Thirsty Stock and the Rowing Regatta" on 9, 17 and 20 December 1902, pages 8b, 7i and 8f. "Motor Launch for the Torrens" is in the Register, 19 October 1903, page 6i. Mr Jolly's motor launch is discussed in the Express, 19 October 1903, page 4b; a photograph is in the Observer, 19 May 1906, page 29.

A photograph of the opening of the boating season is in the Chronicle, 23 December 1905, page 28, of "holiday time" in the Observer, 6 January 1906, page 27. "Aquatics Fit for Punch" is in the Register, 31 October 1906, page 6h. "Torrens Bank Fire - Jolley's Premises Destroyed" is in the Register, 22 April 1914, page 8h. Photographs of a carnival are in the Observer, 15 February 1919, page 26. "Boat Owners' Grievances" is in the Register, 21 November 1921, page 8.

A photograph of the floating dance "palais" is in the Chronicle, 22 November 1924, page 38, of its demolition on River Torrens and banks searched after man's body found near Adelaide University footbridge - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) River Torrens and banks searched after man's body found near Adelaide University footbridge Updated March 25, 2016 19:43:20 Map: Adelaide 5000 Police are working to identify two women who they believe could help their investigation into the death of a man whose body was found in the River Torrens. A member of the public alerted police to the discovery on Thursday afternoon and divers were sent to retrieve the body. Officers said the man, believed to be aged between 40 and 60, was not carrying any identification. Police have now revealed two women were seen speaking to a man at the Adelaide Oval footbridge on Tuesday night. The man was then seen to enter the water from the riverbank next to the Festival Theatre, more than 500 metres away from where the body was found.

Investigators returned to the area this morning with Police Star Group, water operations and mounted officers, searching the river and its banks assisted by State Emergency Service volunteers. A post-mortem examination will be done to try to help police identify the man and determine how he died. Police said people who had been in the riverbank area recently might be able to assist with their investigation. They said anyone who had been between King William and Frome roads in the past week and taken photographs of the area should let Crime Stoppers know on 1800 333 000, as their images might prove helpful.

Question: Which Australian state capital is close to the River Torrens?
Answer: Adelaide