Forgotten River

A timeline of events and key facts relating to the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia

John Hanscombe
Updated September 15 2021 - 8:43pm, first published 3:00pm
A bend in the Darling River, a critical artery in the vast river system of the Murray-Darling Basin. Picture: John Hanscombe
A bend in the Darling River, a critical artery in the vast river system of the Murray-Darling Basin. Picture: John Hanscombe

The Murray-Darling Basin

Australia's biggest river system, the basin crosses four states - Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia - and one territory - the ACT. It spans 77,000 million kilometres of rivers, many of which are connected. The basin is home to 2.2 million people and more than 3 million people in and around it rely on its water. The basin supports 9200 irrigated agriculture businesses - 40 per cent of all Australian farms - and produces $24 billion worth of food and fibre every year.

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John Hanscombe

John Hanscombe

National reporter, Australian Community Media

Four decades in the media, working in print and television. Formerly editor of the South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times. Based on the South Coast of NSW.

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