Lerderderg River

Lerderderg The Lerdy[1]
Lerderderg River, near Darley
Location of the Lerderderg River mouth in Victoria
Nickname(s)	The Lerdy[1]
Location
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	Victorian Midlands (IBRA), Western District
Local government area	Moorabool
Town	Bacchus Marsh
Physical characteristics
Source	Blackwood Ranges, Great Dividing Range
• location	Lerderderg State Forest
• coordinates	37°29′37″S 144°21′36″E / 37.49361°S 144.36000°E / -37.49361; 144.36000
• elevation	474 m (1,555 ft)
Mouth	confluence with the Werribee River
• location	within the Melton Reservoir
• coordinates	37°42′27″S 144°31′08″E / 37.70750°S 144.51889°E / -37.70750; 144.51889
• elevation	91 m (299 ft)
Length	40 km (25 mi)
Basin features
River system	Port Phillip catchment
Tributaries
• left	The Old River, Goodman Creek
National park	Lerderderg State Park
[2][3]

The Lerderderg River (known locally as The Lerdy^[1]) is a perennial river of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the Western District region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Lerderderg River rises below the Blackwood Ranges, part of the Great Dividing Range, in the Lerderderg State Forest, near the locality of Blackwood. The river flows generally south by east in a highly meandering course, through the Lerderderg Gorge within the Wombat State Forest where it is joined by two minor tributaries, The Old River and Goodman Creek, before reaching its confluence with the Werribee River within the Melton Reservoir, southeast of Bacchus Marsh. The river descends approximately 383 metres (1,257 ft) over its 40 kilometres (25 mi) course.^[3]

A diversion in the river's course, called the Lerderderg River diversion tunnel, located approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) upriver from Bacchus Marsh, was constructed between 1855 and 1870. The tunnel was driven through a mountain spur in a horseshoe bend, diverting the river, and allowing the exposed river bed to be sluiced for alluvial gold.^[4][5]

The river is known for the Lerderderg Gorge Picnic Ground, camping, bushwalking, and fishing. In earlier days, gold was mined in the upper reaches, and some of the old mines (considered dangerous to enter) can be seen as you travel along the sluice on the east bank, which previously fed into those mines. The water slowed to a trickle during the severe drought of 2007. Even when not flowing, there are still a few popular swimming spots along the river, including "Harry's Hole", "Third Hole", and "The Pit", all of which are in the Lerderderg Gorge.^{[citation needed]}

The river is traversed by the Western Freeway northeast of Bacchus Marsh.^[3]

• Lerderderg Track
• List of rivers of Australia
• Wombat State Forest