{{Short description|River in western Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox river | name = Pieman | native_name = {{native name|xpw|Corinna}} | name_other = | name_etymology = Thomas Kent<ref name=sprod/> <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Pieman River.jpg | image_size = 280 | image_caption = The Pieman River | map = | map_size = 280 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Australia Tasmania | pushpin_map_size = 280 | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Pieman River [[mouth (river)|mouth]] in [[Tasmania]] <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Australia]] | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = [[Tasmania]] | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = [[West Coast, Tasmania|West Coast]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{convert|26|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = | source_confluence = [[Mackintosh River]] and [[Murchison River (Tasmania)|Murchison River]] | source_confluence_location = below {{TAScity|Tullah}} | source_confluence_coordinates= | source_confluence_elevation = {{convert|191|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = [[Hardwicke Bay]] | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|41|40|13|S|144|55|9|E|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | waterfalls = | river_system = | basin_size = | tributaries_left = Ring River, Stitt River, Heemskirk River | tributaries_right = Marionoak River, Wilson River (Tasmania), Huskisson River, Stanley River (Tasmania), Paradise River (Tasmania), Owen Meredith River, Savage River (Tasmania), Whyte River, Donaldson River (Tasmania) | custom_label = [[Reservoir]] | custom_data = [[Lake Rosebery (Tasmania)|Lake Rosebury]], [[Lake Pieman]] | extra = <ref name=bonzle>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com.au/c/a?a=p&p=207734&cmd=sp |title=Map of Pieman River, TAS |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |date=2015 |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-date=20 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620204158/http://www.bonzle.com.au/c/a?a=p&p=207734&cmd=sp |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}
The '''Pieman River''' is a major [[perennial river]] located in the [[West Coast, Tasmania|west coast]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia.
==Course and features== Formed by the [[confluence]] of the [[Mackintosh River]] and [[Murchison River (Tasmania)|Murchison River]], the Pieman River rises in what is now known as [[Lake Rosebery (Tasmania)|Lake Rosebury]], an [[artificial lake]] formed by the [[Bastyan Power Station|Bastyan Dam]]. The river flows generally west and northwest and then west again, joined by 21 [[tributary|tributaries]] including the Mackintosh, Murchison, [[Marionoak River|Marionoak]], [[Ring River|Ring]], [[Wilson River (Tasmania)|Wilson]], [[Stitt River|Stitt]], [[Huskisson River|Huskisson]], [[Stanley River (Tasmania)|Stanley]], [[Heemskirk River|Heemskirk]], [[Paradise River (Tasmania)|Paradise]], [[Owen Meredith River|Owen Meredith]], [[Savage River (Tasmania)|Savage]], [[Whyte River|Whyte]] and [[Donaldson River (Tasmania)|Donaldson]] rivers before emptying into [[Hardwicke Bay]] and reaching its [[river mouth|mouth]] in the [[Southern Ocean]]. The river descends {{convert|191|m}} over its {{convert|100|km|adj=on}} [[watercourse|course]].<ref name=bonzle/>
The river is impounded at Bastyan by the Bastyan Dam (and adjacent hydroelectric power station) to form Lake Rosebury; and at Reece by the Reece Dam (and adjacent hydroelectric [[Reece Power Station|power station]]) to form [[Lake Pieman]]. Both reservoir and power stations from part of the [[Hydro Tasmania]]-operated [[Pieman River Power Development]]. The construction of the power development scheme also altered the route of the [[Melba Line, Tasmania|Emu Bay Railway]], and submerged a variety of rail heritage sites in the vicinity of the river, notably parts of the [[Wee Georgie Wood Railway]] or North Farrell Tramway line.<ref>{{cite book| author=Rae, Lou| title=The Emu Bay Railway| year=1997| isbn=0-9592098-6-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| author=Atkinson, H.K.| title=Railway Tickets of Tasmania| year=1991| isbn=0-9598718-7-X}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| publisher=Traction Publications| title=Along the Line in Tasmania. Book 2. Private Lines| year=1972| isbn=0-85829-003-0}}</ref>
==Etymology== The [[Aboriginal Tasmanians]] knew the river as ''Corinna'', which is the [[Peerapper language|Peerapper]] word for the [[thylacine]].<ref>{{Citation | author1=Plomley, N. J. B. (Norman James Brian) | author2=Goodall, Caroline, (compiler.) | author3=Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (Launceston, Tas.), (issuing body.) | title=Tasmanian Aboriginal place names | publication-date=1990 | publisher=Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11261118 | access-date=5 August 2019 }}</ref>
The once-common suggestion that the river's English name comes from a convict "The Pieman" [[Alexander Pearce]] who was responsible for one of the few recorded instances of [[Human cannibalism|cannibalism]] in Australia, is not correct. "The Pieman" was in fact Thomas Kent of Southampton, a pastry-cook who was transported to [[Van Diemen's Land]] in 1816. After a long series of offences in the colony, he was sent to the [[Macquarie Harbour Penal Station]] in 1822 but subsequently escaped, and was recaptured near the mouth of the river which now bears his nickname.<ref name=sprod>{{cite book| author=Sprod, Dan| title=Alexander Pearce of Macquarie Harbour| year=1977| publisher=Cat & Fiddle Press|isbn=0-85853-031-7 |pages=106–18}}</ref> The river has significant timber, mining and industrial heritage along its shores.
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Renewable energy|Water}}}} *{{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|Tasmania}}
==References== {{reflist}}
== Maps == *{{cite map |location=Tasmania |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro-Electric Commission]] |work=Survey Section |date=1982 |title=Pieman River power development map. Tourist map on orthophoto base, showing power developments, for the area Corinna-Lake Mackintosh-Trial Harbour. Includes power stations, tourist facilities, and historical notes |type=cartographic material, reproduction |edition=1 |scale=1:60 000 |section=E 145°05'--E 145°46'/S 41°37'--S 42°00' }}
==External links== *{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism+and+Recreation/Pieman+Catchment/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204133432/http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism+and+Recreation/Pieman+Catchment/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-12-04 |title=The Pieman Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] }}
{{Rivers of Tasmania |state=autocollapse}} {{Western Tasmania |state=autocollapse}}
[[Category:Rivers of Tasmania]] [[Category:Pieman River Power Development]]