Blackwood River

The Blackwood River is a major river and catchment area in the South West of Western Australia.

It flows from the junction of Arthur River and Balgarup River near Quelarup, through Bridgetown and Nannup, and discharges into the Southern Ocean at Hardy Inlet near Augusta. Hardy Inlet receives several islands, including Molloy Island and Thomas Island. Duke Head, located on the west side of the mouth, is known for the shifting mouth of the river. The river has 42 tributaries, including Dinninup Brook, Balingup Brook, St John Brook, Boyup Brook, Tweed River, Ti Tree Gully, Christmas Creek, and Tanjannerup Creek.

The Blackwood River has a catchment area of 28,100 square kilometres (10,849 sq mi), stretching from Kukerin to Hardy Inlet and from Darkan to Augusta. Significant towns within the catchment include Katanning, Narrogin, Bridgetown, Boyup Brook, and Nannup. The upper catchment passes through agricultural areas, the middle catchment through forest areas, and the lower part passes through mixed forest, agricultural, and residential lands. The Blackwood River basin is home to over 1,000 wetlands and a variety of flora and fauna. The Towerrining Lake and Moodiarrup Swamp area is an important wetland area within the catchment, hosting rare flora and fauna species.

The Blackwood River has been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians for thousands of years. It was named by Captain James Stirling in 1827 after Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood, under whom Stirling served during the Napoleonic Wars. The river