Ord River

Welcome to Ord River, a spectacular landmark in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

This 651-kilometre long river has its headwaters located below Mount Wells, initially flowing towards east before heading north through Lake Argyle, and then passing west of Kununurra to discharge into the Cambridge Gulf, which is at the southern end of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, Timor Sea.

The traditional custodians of this land are the Miriwoong and Gajerrong peoples, who have known it as Goonoonoorrang, meaning Black Soil in English. George Ord GCMG, CB, RE, Governor of Western Australia from 1877 to 1880.

The catchment area of the Ord River covers 55,100 square kilometres and comprises 35 tributaries, with the five longest being Bow River, Nicholson River, Dunham River, Panton River and Negri Rivers. The lower Ord River together with the Cambridge Gulf forms the northernmost estuarine environment in Western Australia. The river's lower reaches nurture an important wetland region known as the Ord River Floodplain. This protected area is home to a vast array of mangrove forests, lagoons, creeks, flats, and extensive floodplains.

The Ord River Irrigation Scheme is one of Western Australia's most challenging and significant irrigation developments. The idea of damming the Ord River to supplement pastoral farming was first proposed over 100 years ago. Following droughts affecting the Kimberley Pastoral Industry between 1935 and 1942, the proposal gained momentum. Development of the