Arthur River (Tasmania)

This article is about the river. For the town, see Arthur River, Tasmania.

Arthur (Tunganrick)
The mouth of the Arthur River
Location of the Arthur River mouth in Tasmania
Etymology	Sir George Arthur
Location
Country	Australia
State	Tasmania
Region	North-west
Physical characteristics
Source	Magnet Range
• location	south of Waratah
• coordinates	41°29′43″S 145°25′30″E
• elevation	479 m (1,572 ft)
Mouth	Southern Ocean
• location	town of Arthur River
• coordinates	41°03′22″S 144°39′21″E
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	172 km (107 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Keith River, Lyons River (Tasmania), Rapid River (Tasmania), Julius River, Frankland River (Tasmania)
• right	Waratah River, Wandle River (Tasmania), Hellyer River, Salmon River (Tasmania)
National park	Savage River National Park

The Arthur River (Peerapper: Tunganrick) is a major perennial river in the north-west region of Tasmania, Australia.

Location and features

The Peerapper language were spoken by Tasmanian Aborigines in the area but became extinct during the 19th century.

The Arthur River rises on the slopes of the Magnet Range, south of Waratah and flows generally north and then west, around the northern perimeter of the Savage River National Park. The river is joined by 25 tributaries including the Waratah, Wandle, Hellyer, Keith, Lyons, Rapid, Julius, Salmon and Frankland rivers. The Arthur River reaches its mouth at the settlement of Arthur River where it empties into the Southern Ocean. The river descends 480 metres (1,570 ft) over its 172-kilometre (107 mi) course.

The river was named in honour of Sir George Arthur, the Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemens Land between 1824 and 1836.

On the coast near the river mouth is a plaque titled The Edge of the World. North West Coast Tasmania, and a poem by tourism pioneer Brian Inder, who coined the term, referring to the coastline at Arthur River which is regularly lashed by the gales of the Roaring Forties.

See also

• Rivers of Tasmania