Wakefield River

{{Lead too short|date=March 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox river | name = Wakefield | native_name ={{native name|zku|Undalya}} | name_other = | name_etymology = [[Edward Gibbon Wakefield]]<ref name=slsa/>  | image = Wakefield River, Auburn.JPG | image_size = | image_caption = Wakefield River flowing through {{SAcity|Auburn}} | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Australia South Australia | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the [[mouth (river)|river mouth]] in [[South Australia]]  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Australia]] | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = [[South Australia]] | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = [[Mid North]], [[Adelaide Plains]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length = {{convert|116|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = [[Clare Valley]] | source1_location = {{SAcity|Black Springs}} | source1_coordinates= {{coord|33|56|9|S|138|51|46|E|type:river_region:AU-SA|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|429|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = [[Gulf St Vincent]] | mouth_location = [[Port Wakefield, South Australia|Port Wakefield]] | mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|34|11|24|S|138|08|38|E|type:river_region:AU-SA|display=title,inline}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|1913|km2|abbr=on}} | tributaries_left = Pine Creek (Wakefield River){{!}}Pine Creek, Woolshed Flat Creek | tributaries_right = [[Skillogalee Creek]] | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = <ref name=bonzle>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=206571&cmd=sp |title=Map of Wakefield River, SA |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |access-date=25 March 2017 }}</ref> }} The '''Wakefield River''' is an [[ephemeral river]] that flows to an [[estuary]] in the Australian state of [[South Australia]].

==Course and features== [[File:River wakefield in flood - old whitwarta bridge.jpg|thumb|left|Wakefield River in flood at [[Whitwarta, South Australia|Whitwarta]] in 2010]] The river rises above {{SAcity|Merildin}}, flowing southward, passing the towns of [[Watervale, South Australia|Watervale]] and [[Auburn, South Australia|Auburn]], where it is fed by several small creeks, and then curves to flow westerly past the town of [[Balaklava, South Australia|Balaklava]] into the head of [[Gulf St Vincent]] at [[Port Wakefield, South Australia|Port Wakefield]].

The river's [[drainage basin|catchment area]] covers {{convert|1913|km2}}.<ref name="anrasoils">{{cite web |url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/soils/erosion/sa/basin-wakefield-river-se.html |title=Soils - Wakefield River |date=6 May 2009 |work=Australian Natural Resources Atlas |publisher=Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |access-date=25 October 2011 }}</ref> Three quarters of the catchment is used for agricultural purposes.<ref name="anrasoils"/>

The major tributaries of the Wakefield River are the [[Eyre Creek (South Australia)|Eyre]], [[Skillogalee Creek|Skillogalee]], Pine, Rices, Hermitage and Woolshed Flat Creeks.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Natural Heritage Trust (Australia) | author2=South Australia. Environment Protection Agency | author3=South Australia. Department for Water Resources | title=A river management plan for the Wakefield catchment | publication-date=2000 | publisher=Environment Protection Agency | isbn=978-1-876562-19-9|pages= 13, 17 & 61}}</ref> Skillogalee Creek, which rises in the [[Skilly Hills]] near [[Penwortham, South Australia|Penwortham]], is a significant tributary of the Wakefield River. The high rainfall in the Skilly Hills contributes to the Skillogalee Creek being one of the few permanently flowing watercourses in the region.<ref>Water Allocation Plan for the Clare Valley Prescribed Water Resources Area, (Government of South Australia, 2009) {{ISBN|978-0-9806143-1-2}}.</ref>

Dennis Creek is another tributary of the Wakefield River. It is a very short ephemeral stream which is located in the [[Clare Valley]] town of [[Auburn, South Australia|Auburn]] and only flows during periods of rain. Its headwaters are located in the hills on the western side of the town and it runs along a small gully, passing under [[Main North Road]], and into the Wakefield River. The creek was named after James Dennis, the father of [[C.J. Dennis]], who ran a hotel in the town for a time.

{{maplink|type=line|frame=yes|text=Course of the river|stroke-color=#0000FF}}

==History== The first recorded sighting of the river was from [[John Hill (explorer)|John Hill]] (incorrectly named William Hill by some sources) in early April 1839, who named it after [[Edward Gibbon Wakefield]], the promoter of the scheme of systematic colonization that led to the founding of the Colony of South Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/216940689|title = Trove}}</ref><ref name=slsa>{{cite web|title=Wakefield, River|url=http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/w/w1.htm#wakefieldR|publisher=State Library of South Australia|access-date=29 July 2015}}</ref> Hill was embarked upon the expedition which led to his discovery of the [[Clare Valley]]. The second European to visit was explorer [[Edward John Eyre]], in late May 1839, who records that he encamped "upon a chain of large ponds of excellent water called by Mr. Hill the Wakefield".<ref>E.J. Eyre's Autobiographical Narrative, 1832-1839, edited by Jill Waterhouse (Caliban, London, 1984), page 196.</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|South Australia}}}} *{{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|South Australia}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/northernandyorke/water/managing-water-resources/surface-water/Wakefield_River_Catchment Wakefield River Catchment] *[http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/archive/wakefield_river_archive.html Archived water quality assessments] Environmental Protection Authority (South Australia)

[[Category:Rivers of South Australia]] [[Category:Adelaide Plains]] [[Category:Mid North (South Australia)]]