Glenelg River
The Glenelg River’s journey begins in the Grampians, making its way around the Dundas Tablelands and weaving through the small rural towns of Balmoral and Casterton. After flowing through Lower Glenelg National Park, the Glenelg River meets the Southern Ocean at the fishing village of Nelson, in South-West Victoria.
- The Glenelg River is one of Australia's most popular fishing destinations.
- The Glenelg estuary provides salt water habitat far upstream for a wide range of fish, including mulloway, bream, mullet, salmon trout and estuary perch.
- Aboriginal people lived in the area for many thousands of years and had an intimate knowledge of its geography, flora and fauna, all of which had great spiritual significance.
- The Glenelg River has carved a spectacular gorge up to 50 metres deep through limestone and river erosion has created a remarkable cave.
People who love and depend on the Glenelg River have many memories and insights to share – of canoeing across the paddocks, of cockatoos screeching overhead, and of caring for country.
Take a minute and explore the Glenelg River through the eyes of these river champions…
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Ron Elliot: Living off the land
Ron Elliot knows what it means to live off the land – his family have been managing his 1200 acre sheep and cropping property... more
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Tim Burnard: Hopes one day the platypus will return
When he bought his 100 acre property on the banks of the Glenelg River near Casterton, Tim Burnard couldn’t get down to the river for all the overgrown weeds... more
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Ross Atkins: Living and working on a best kept secret
Ross and Marg Atkins started Paestan Canoe Hire at Winnap, north of the Lower Glenelg National Park, ten years ago. What began as a small venture... more
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Keicha Day: Sharing her indigenous knowledge
Keicha Day, at twenty-four years old, is the oldest granddaughter in her family. She is also Gunditjmara, like her mother and her mother’s mother...
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Marcel Hoog-Antink: Looks at the river in more ways than one
Marcel Hoog-Antink loves to come out to the mouth of the Glenelg River at dusk to take photographs. “At sunset, this whole place is transformed into a lake of gold... more
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Eugene Finck: Helping protect forests and rivers
In 1946, a group of conservationists dedicated to appreciating the wilderness areas of south-west Victoria formed the Portland Field Naturalists Club... more
Other Western Rivers
Check out stories from the Gellibrand River
Check out stories from the Wimmera River
