Ashburton River

The Ashburton River is located within the Pilbara region of Western Australia.GeographyThe river rises approximately 100 km south of Newman and flows in a west-north-westerly direction until discharging into the Indian Ocean approximately 20 km south west of Onslow. The river crosses the North West Coastal Highway at Nanutarra. The river has a length of approximately 680 km. The river basin covers an area of 66,850 km2 and includes the towns of Paraburdoo and Tom Price.TributariesSome of the larger tributaries of the Ashburton river include Beasley River, Henry River, Hardey River and Ethel river. Some of the smaller tributaries include Duck Creek, Turee Creek, Tunnel Creek, Angelo River, Stockyard Creek, Gorge Creek, Goldfields Creek, Peepingee Creek and Jubricoo Creek.HistoryThe Ashburton River is believed to have first been named Willem's River during the voyage of the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC) ship Mauritius in 1618, under command of Supercargo Willem Janszoon, and captained by Lenaert Jacobszoon. It was one of the few features named on a nautical chart made in 1627. This area was first visited by Europeans in 1618, when the crew of the ship Mauritius encountered the West Australian coastline, and mapped a river they named Willems River.