Spero River

Spero
River
Country	Australia
State	Tasmania
Regions	West Coast, South West
Tributaries
- left	Pery River
Source
- location	below Thirkell Hill
- elevation	291 m (955 ft)
- coordinates	42°40′35″S 145°34′1″E / 42.67639°S 145.56694°E / -42.67639; 145.56694
Mouth	Spero Bay, Southern Ocean
- location	Point Hibbs
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	42°38′10″S 145°19′58″E / 42.63611°S 145.33278°E / -42.63611; 145.33278Coordinates: 42°38′10″S 145°19′58″E / 42.63611°S 145.33278°E / -42.63611; 145.33278
Length	29 km (18 mi)
Reservoir	Lake Burbury
Nature reserve	Southwest Conservation Area
Location of the Spero River mouth in Tasmania

The Spero River is a perennial river located in the West Coast or South West region of Tasmania, Australia.

The Spero River rises below Thirkell Hill on an unnamed range within the Southwest Conservation Area. The river flows generally north by west, joined by the Pery River and one minor tributary before reaching its mouth and emptying into Spero Bay, south east of Point Hibbs, eventually flowing into the Southern Ocean. The river descends 287 metres (942 ft) over its 29-kilometre (18 mi) course.

The river mouth is located on a walking track entitled the Hibbs Lagoon to Low Rocky Point, approximately 58 kilometres (36 mi), 12-days plus, along the south western coast of Tasmania that is considered the most difficult section of the coast. The mouth area has also been subjected to both plans and actual modification of reefs and blockages for navigation of the lower portion of the river Access to the area in the 1930s was also augmented by tracks from Birchs Inlet on Macquarie Harbour.

Much of the course of the river is isolated with very limited direct contact with the outside world, however a Huon Pine timber venture in the 1930s and 1940s saw some level of activity in the area

A small steam ship the SS Gundiah was specifically bought to service the Spero River timber industry

The river name is also applied to the cartographic material available from Tasmap for the area