The Thomson River, a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, is located in the Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

Quick Facts Etymology, Native name ...

Thomson
A bridge over the Thomson River, pictured in 1910
Location of the Thomson River mouth in Victoria
Etymology	In honour of Sir Edward Thomson[1][2]
Native name	Tambo (Kurnai)[3] Carrang-carrang (Kurnai)[4] Carran-carran (Kurnai)[5]
Location
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	South East Coastal Plain (IBRA), West Gippsland
Local government area	Shire of Wellington
Settlements	Heyfield, Sale
Physical characteristics
Source	Baw Baw Plateau, Great Dividing Range
• location	near Newlands
• coordinates	37°44′45″S 146°10′42″E
• elevation	972 m (3,189 ft)
Mouth	confluence with the Latrobe River
• location	near Sale
• coordinates	38°8′45″S 147°5′11″E
• elevation	2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Length	170 km (110 mi)
Basin size	10,855.2 km2 (4,191.2 sq mi)[6]
Discharge
• location	Near mouth
• average	102.05 m3/s (3,220 GL/a)[6]
Basin features
River system	West Gippsland catchment
Tributaries
• left	Matlock Creek, Jordan River, Aberfeldy River, Stringers Creek, Lammers Creek, Stoney Creek, Macalister River
[7]

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The Thomson River rises below Newlands at the north western end of the Baw Baw Plateau of the Great Dividing Range, where it shares a watershed with the Yarra and Tanjil rivers. From its source, the river flows generally north, then east, then south southeast through its impoundment, then southeast, then east, and finally east by south, joined by seventeen tributaries including the Jordan, Aberfeldy, and Macalister rivers, before reaching its confluence with the Latrobe River near Sale. The river descends 970 metres (3,180 ft) over its 170-kilometre (110 mi) course.^[7][8]

The Thomson Valley was intensively mined for gold during the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Prospector "Ned" Stringer discovered significant quantities of alluvial gold at the junction of what is now known as Stringers Creek. A short distance up that creek the gold mining township of Walhalla was established. The first person to walk the entire length of the river was Ronald Le Sage, father of David Le Sage, who explored its viability for a cattle droving route in 1959.^[9][10]

The river is impounded not far below its source by the Thomson Dam, creating Thomson Reservoir. The reservoir provides around 70% of Melbourne's water storage and supplies about 30% of Melbourne's water needs.^[11] This takes about 50% of the river's natural flow, which places a great environmental stress downstream. It particularly affects the Gippsland Lakes, which include Lake Wellington, Lake Victoria and Lake King. This area has international significance as a Ramsar listed wetland site.^[12]

In the Aboriginal Brataualung language the river is given two names: Tambo, with no defined meaning,^[3] and Carrang-carrang or Carrang-carrang, meaning "brackish water".^[4][5]

The river was given its English name in 1840 by Angus McMillan in honour of Sir Edward Thomson, the Chief Secretary of the Colony of New South Wales, based in Sydney.^[1][2]

• Rivers of Victoria