Gawler River (South Australia)

Gawler
Mette Watte
River
Gawler River in Summer 2008
Country	Australia
State	South Australia
Region	Mid North
District	Adelaide Plains
Towns	Gawler, Angle Vale, Virginia
Source confluence	South Para River and North Para River
- location	Gawler
- elevation	52 m (171 ft)
Mouth	Gulf St Vincent
- location	between Port Gawler and Buckland Park
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	34°40′30″S 138°28′25″E / 34.6750°S 138.4737°E / -34.6750; 138.4737Coordinates: 34°40′30″S 138°28′25″E / 34.6750°S 138.4737°E / -34.6750; 138.4737
Length	41 km (25 mi)
Discharge	for Port Gawler
- average	10 m3/s (353 cu ft/s)
Nature reserve	Port Gawler Conservation Park
Location of the river mouth in South Australia

The Gawler River is a river located in the Adelaide Plains district of the Mid North region in the Australian state of South Australia.

Formed by the confluence of the North Para and South Para Rivers in the town of Gawler, the river flows generally west onto the Wakefield Plains. The mouth is in the Port Gawler Conservation Park, which consists primarily of mangroves in the tidal flats as the river empties into Gulf St Vincent. The outflow represents the boundary between the suburbs of Port Gawler on the northern bank and Buckland Park on the southern bank. The river descends 50 metres (160 ft) over its 41-kilometre (25 mi) course.

The Gawler is subject to periodic flood events and the cause of occasional flash flooding (during 1:10 to 1:50 year flood events). Major overtopping in large floods occurs along much of the river length. Significant flooding commences within Gawler township from both the North Para River and South Para River.

The district surrounding the river produces cereal crops and sheep for both meat and wool, as well as market gardens, almond orchards and vineyards.