Wonnangatta River


The Wonnangatta River is a perennial river of the Mitchell River catchment, located in the Alpine and East Gippsland regions of the Australian state of Victoria.

Features and location

The Wonnangatta River rises below Mount Despair, part of the Great Dividing Range, east of in a remote state forestry protected area, called the Wonnangatta River Reference Area. The river flows generally south by east, in a highly meandering course, joined by eleven tributaries including the Dry, Humffray, Moroka, Wongungarra and Dargo rivers, before reaching its confluence with the Wentworth River and Swamp Creek to form the Mitchell River north of the Mitchell River National Park, in the Shire of East Gippsland. The river descends over its course.
At the locality of Riverford, the Dargo Road traverses the river.

Etymology

In the Australian Aboriginal Braiakaulung dialect of the Gunai language, there are two variant names for the Wonnangatta River; Wontwun; and WonnangaUa. Their meanings are not clearly defined.