Richmond River is a waterway in the Northern Rivers region of the Australian state of New South Wales. The headwater (source) of the river lies just south of the border between New South Wales and the state of Queensland. It is part of the Richmond River Catchment, which supplies water to much of the region. The river is located within a major coastal floodplain. Its chief tributary is the Wilsons River.
The Richmond rises just west of Mount Lindesay, along the slopes of the McPherson mountain range. It runs southeast for about 80 miles (130 kilometers) to the town of Woodburn. There, the river changes direction. It flows northeast for about 25 miles (40 kilometers) before reaching the coastal town of Ballina, where it merges with the Pacific Ocean. Along its course, the Richmond runs through the communities of Casino, Coraki, and Kyogle.
Around 2,700 square miles (7,000 square kilometers) of land in the northeastern region of New South Wales lies within the Richmond River Catchment. The catchment supports a diverse range of ecosystems, including such wetlands as the Tuckean Swamp. Parts of the Gondwana rain forest region—a protected habitat for hundreds of rare or endangered species—are also located within the catchment area. This rain forest area is also known as the Big Scrub.
The river is part of the lands traditionally inhabited by the Bundjalung Aboriginal people. In 1828, the British officer Captain Henry Rous became the first known European to encounter the river. Rous named it in honor of the British politician Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond.
In the 1840’s, cedar-getters (loggers) began harvesting the surrounding forests. Other settlers established a major port at what would later become the town of Coraki to transport timber down the river. From 1889 to the early 1910’s, two breakwaters were built along the entrance to the river in Ballina. A breakwater is a wall that protects against strong waves.
The Richmond and its tributaries also became known for their serious floods. In June 1945, floodwaters from the Richmond devastated much of the surrounding region. The disaster resulted in numerous deaths and significant property damage. Other serious floods occurred in 1954 and 2022.
