Leigh River (Victoria)

Leigh
River
The Leigh River at Inverleigh. The Hamilton Highway bridge is visible in the background.
Name origin: Aboriginal Wathaurong: Yaramlok;
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	Central Highlands
Part of	Corangamite catchment
Tributaries
- left	Wilson Creek (Victoria), Williamson Creek, Cargerie Creek
Source	Mount Mercer
- location	Cambrian Hill
- elevation	325 m (1,066 ft)
- coordinates	37°37′48″S 143°49′54″E / 37.63000°S 143.83167°E / -37.63000; 143.83167
Source confluence	Yarrowee River
Mouth	Barwon River
- location	near Inverleigh
- elevation	60 m (197 ft)
- coordinates	38°06′31″S 144°03′48″E / 38.10861°S 144.06333°E / -38.10861; 144.06333Coordinates: 38°06′31″S 144°03′48″E / 38.10861°S 144.06333°E / -38.10861; 144.06333
Length	61 km (37.9 mi)
Location of the Leigh River mouth in Victoria

The Leigh River is a perennial river of the Corangamite catchment, located in the Central Highlands region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Leigh River is a major tributary and catchment of the Barwon River. Fed by the Yarrowee River that rises near Ballarat, the Yarrowee reaches its confluence to form the Leigh in the vicinity of Cambrian Hill and Golden Plains Shire. The Leigh River rises below Mount Mercer and flows generally south, joined by three minor tributaries before reaching its confluence with the Barwon River, southeast of the central business district of Inverleigh. The river descends 265 metres (869 ft) over its 61-kilometre (38 mi) course.

There are several crossings over the Leigh River, including road, rail and pedestrian. Some additional roads allow passage through shallow sections of the river when the water levels are low.

The Wathaurong Indigenous Australian people named the river Yaramlok, and it is believed that the name Yarrowee, which is used for the upper reaches, was derived from this name.

It is believed that the name Leigh River was given by the surveyor J.H. Wedge who arrived in 1835, probably naming the river after his Tasmanian farm 'Leighlands'.