Coliban River
The Coliban River, an inland perennial river of the northcentral catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower Riverina bioregion and Central Highlands region of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Coliban River rise on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and descend to flow north into the Campaspe River with the impounded Lake Eppalock.
The river is a major water supply source for towns and cities in the lower Central Highlands region.
Location and features
The river rises below Little Hampton near in the Great Dividing Range and flows generally north, descending over the Trentham Falls, and continuing to flow northward to the Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury reservoirs. Subsequently, it flows through,, and, and finally reaches its confluence with the Campaspe River within Lake Eppalock. The river descends over its course.Gold was found in the river in 1858, and water from the river was used to supply the goldfields cities of Bendigo and. As the population of those cities grew a water supply system consisting of of tunnels and aqueducts was constructed. Over time, the water supply was extended to, as well as many other smaller towns in the region. Today, the system supplies drinking water to a population exceeding 200,000. Coliban Water manages the three major water supply reservoirs, which are part of the Eppalock Proclaimed Water Supply Catchment.