The Mackintosh River, part of the
Pieman River catchment, is a major
perennial river
A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a strea ...
located in the
West Coast region of
Tasmania
Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
, Australia. The river was named in November 1828 by Henry Hellyer, a surveyor of the Van Diemans Land Company, in honour of
Sir James Mackintosh
Sir James Mackintosh FRS FRSE (24 October 1765 – 30 May 1832) was a Scottish jurist, Whig politician and Whig historian. His studies and sympathies embraced many interests. He was trained as a doctor and barrister, and worked also as a jo ...
, son of John
Mackintosh
The Mackintosh raincoat (abbreviated as mac) is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made of rubberised textile, fabric.
The Mackintosh is named after its Scotland, Scottish inventor Charles Macintosh, although many writers adde ...
of Kyllachy,
Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire () or the County of Inverness, is a Counties of Scotland, historic county in Scotland. It is named after Inverness, its largest settlement, which was also the county town. Covering much of the Scottish Highlands, Highlands and s ...
Course and features
Formed by the
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also ''conflux'') occurs where two or more watercourses join to form a single channel (geography), channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main ...
of the
Fury River and Mackintosh Creek, the Mackintosh River rises below Mount Remus, part of the northern section of the
West Coast Range
The West Coast Range is a mountain range located in the West Coast, Tasmania, West Coast region of Tasmania, Australia.
The range lies to the west and north of the main parts of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
The range has h ...
. The river flows a short distance, through what is now known as
Lake Mackintosh, joined by four tributaries including the
Sophia River and
Southwell River, emptying into the Pieman River. The Mackintosh River is impounded by the
Mackintosh Dam, the site of the adjacent
hydroelectric power station
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and also mo ...
that forms part of the
Hydro Tasmania
Hydro Tasmania, formerly the Hydro-Electric Commission (HEC), is a Tasmanian Government business enterprise which is the main electricity generator in Tasmania, Australia. Originally oriented towards hydro-electricity, owing to Tasmania's dr ...
-operated
Pieman River Power Development
Pieman River Power Development was a major 1970s and 1980s hydroelectric development of the Pieman River and its tributaries on the West Coast, Tasmania, west coast of Tasmania.
Development
The ''Pieman River Power Development'' was approved by ...
. The river descends over its
course.
[
Hydrological measurements on this river by Hydro Tasmania began in 1955.
The easternmost point of the river catchment is defined by Barn Bluff where it also borders with the Murchison River river catchment. The southern portion of the catchment has a very narrow separation from the adjacent Murchison River, where the Sophia River is the main river. The northern side of Sophia river catchment, a creek known as White Hawk, drains ground with features known as Granite Tor, and High Tor, which lie due east of . The northern Mackintosh catchment has a number of named tributaries. From the orientation of Mount Romulus, Fury River which originates near Barn Bluff, is the main eastern tributary. Mount Remus is drained to the south by Schist Creek which flows into the Fury River, and to the west, Devils Ravine. In the north east of the catchment area, Mayday Mountain is drained by Belvoir River. The north west area the Southwell River drains the eastern slopes of Mount Charles, which is north east of Mount Black.
The river name is used in cartography of the area, with the river name being allocated to current maps, as well as significantly early maps of the region.]
See also
* List of rivers of Tasmania
* Mackintosh Power Station
The Mackintosh Power Station is a conventional hydroelectric power station located in Western Tasmania, Australia.
Technical details
Part of the Pieman River scheme that comprises four hydroelectric power stations, the Mackintosh Power Station ...
* Rivers of Tasmania
This page discusses the rivers and hydrography of the state of Tasmania, Australia.
In the geography of Tasmania, the state is covered with a network of rivers and lake systems. As an island, all rivers eventually empty into the waters that sur ...
References
External links
*
{{Western Tasmania , state=autocollapse
Rivers of Tasmania
West Coast Range
Pieman River Power Development