Pioneer River

The Pioneer River is a 120-kilometre long river in North Queensland, Australia.

It flows through the city of Mackay and has a rich history, being discovered by Captain John Mackay in 1860 and later renamed by Governor George Bowen to Pioneer River in 1862. The river is important for hydroelectricity schemes, agriculture, and recreation in the Pioneer Valley and surrounding areas.

The Pioneer River rises in the Pinnacle Ranges, southwest of Mackay, and flows northwards into the Coral Sea at Mackay. It passes through the Pioneer Valley and is joined by ten tributaries, including Cattle Creek and Blacks Creek. The river has a catchment area of 1,550 square kilometres, with rainforests and open woodlands covering the upper parts of the catchment.

Although the river is not suitable for navigation, it has water storage facilities along its course, such as Teemburra Dam, Dumbleton Weir, Mirani Weir, and Marian Weir. The Bruce Highway and North Coast railway line cross the river in Mackay, with the Forgan Bridge spanning 485 metres.

The Pioneer Valley is known for its sugar cane areas, with important sugar mills and railway lines. The Queensland State Government has proposed a pumped-storage hydroelectricity scheme in the valley. The most significant flooding event happened in 1958, with the river reaching a height of 9.14 metres. The most recent recorded flood occurred in February 2008, with a moderate flooding height of just over 7 metres.

Tourists visiting the Pioneer River and Pioneer Valley can enjoy