Spero River

Spero
River
Country Australia
State Tasmania
Regions West Coast, South West
Tributaries
 - left Pery River
Source
 - location below Thirkell Hill
 - elevation 291 m (955 ft)
 - coordinates 42°40′35″S 145°34′1″E / 42.67639°S 145.56694°E / -42.67639; 145.56694
Mouth Spero Bay, Southern Ocean
 - location Point Hibbs
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
 - coordinates 42°38′10″S 145°19′58″E / 42.63611°S 145.33278°E / -42.63611; 145.33278Coordinates: 42°38′10″S 145°19′58″E / 42.63611°S 145.33278°E / -42.63611; 145.33278
Length 29 km (18 mi)
Reservoir Lake Burbury
Nature reserve Southwest Conservation Area
Location of the Spero River mouth
in Tasmania
[1]

The Spero River is a perennial river located in the West Coast or South West region of Tasmania, Australia.

Course and features

The Spero River rises below Thirkell Hill on an unnamed range within the Southwest Conservation Area. The river flows generally north by west, joined by the Pery River and one minor tributary before reaching its mouth and emptying into Spero Bay, south east of Point Hibbs, eventually flowing into the Southern Ocean. The river descends 287 metres (942 ft) over its 29-kilometre (18 mi) course.[1]

The river mouth is located on a walking track entitled the Hibbs Lagoon to Low Rocky Point, approximately 58 kilometres (36 mi), 12-days plus, along the south western coast of Tasmania that is considered the most difficult section of the coast.[2] The mouth area has also been subjected to both plans and actual modification of reefs and blockages for navigation of the lower portion of the river [3] Access to the area in the 1930s was also augmented by tracks from Birchs Inlet on Macquarie Harbour.[4][5]

Much of the course of the river is isolated with very limited direct contact with the outside world, however a Huon Pine timber venture in the 1930s and 1940s saw some level of activity in the area [6]

A small steam ship the SS Gundiah was specifically bought to service the Spero River timber industry [7][8][9][10]

The river name is also applied to the cartographic material available from Tasmap for the area [11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Map of Spero River, TAS". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Chapmans, John (2008). South West Tasmania (5th ed.). p. 186. ISBN 978-1-920995-03-4.
  3. ↑ "WEST COAST NEWS". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 27 July 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 24 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "STRAHAN COUNCIL". The Mercury. CXLIII, (20,245). Tasmania, Australia. 13 September 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 24 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "STRAHAN.". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 7 September 1935. p. 8 (DAILY). Retrieved 24 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ Kerr, Garry; McDermott, Harry (1999). "Chapter 5; The Spero River Venture". The Huon Pine Story - A History of the harvest and use of a unique timber. Portland, Victoria: Mainsail Books. pp. 85–95. ISBN 0-9577917-0-4.
  7. ↑ "GUNDIAH AT HOBART". The Mercury. CXLVI, (20,758). Tasmania, Australia. 12 May 1937. p. 9. Retrieved 24 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "STRAHAN". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 19 February 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 24 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "TIMBER FROM SPERO RIVER.". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 20 February 1937. p. 10. Retrieved 24 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "GUNDIAH ARRIVES AT STRAHAN". The Mercury. CXLVI, (20,776). Tasmania, Australia. 2 June 1937. p. 7. Retrieved 24 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ Tasmania. Land Information Bureau (1996), Spero (Ed. 2, 1996 ed.), Tasmap, retrieved 24 November 2016


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