View source for Hacking River

{{Short description|River in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia}}
{{About|the watercourse|the bay|Port Hacking|the [[suburb]]|Port Hacking, New South Wales}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Hacking
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = named after seaman [[Henry Hacking]], a [[Maritime pilot|pilot]] at [[Port Jackson]]<ref name=gnb2>{{NSW GNR|id=ujjtvqsEMa|title=Port Hacking (Bay)|date=4 May 1973|access-date=8 January 2013}}</ref>
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Hacking River near Lady Carrington Drive.jpg
| image_size         = 250
| image_caption      = Hacking River, midway through its journey in the [[Royal National Park]], [[Australia]]
| map                = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Australia]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[New South Wales]]
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[Sydney basin]] ([[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia|IBRA]]), [[Southern Sydney]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = [[Local government in Australia|Local government areas]]
| subdivision_name5  = [[City of Wollongong|Wollongong]], [[Sutherland Shire|Sutherland]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length_km = 26
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
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| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
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<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[Kellys Creek (Wollongong, New South Wales)|Kellys Creek]]
| source1_location   = below Kellys Falls
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|34|12|45|S|150|58|45|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|91|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Port Hacking]]
| mouth_location     = west of {{NSWcity|Yowie Bay}}
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|34|3|40|S|151|6|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|7|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = 
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = 
| custom_label       = [[National park]]
| custom_data        = [[Royal National Park]]
| extra              = <ref name=gnb>{{NSW GNR|id=KWKqBKsyJP|title=Hacking River|access-date=29 December 2013}}</ref><ref name=bonzle>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=198239&cmd=sp |title=Map of Hacking River, NSW |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |access-date=29 December 2013 }}</ref>
}}

The '''Hacking River''' is a [[perennial stream|watercourse]] located to the south of [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] in [[Australia]].

For thousands of years{{CN|date=January 2025}} the indigenous [[Tharawal people|Tharawal]] (or Dharwal) people called the river Deeban. British colonial settlers named the river after [[Henry Hacking]], a British  seaman, [[Maritime pilot|pilot]] at [[Port Jackson]] and explorer in colonial New South Wales,<ref name=gnb2/> who killed the [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]], [[Pemulwuy]]<ref name=ausgeog2017>{{cite web | last=Heathcote | first=Angela | title=On this day: Pemulwuy is killed | website=Australian Geographic | date=1 June 2017 | url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2017/06/on-this-day-pemulwuy-is-killed/ | access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>

==Course==
Drawing its source from the east north-eastern runoff of the plateau above the [[Illawarra escarpment]], drained via Kellys Creek and Gills Creek, both terminating in waterfalls adjacent to each other. The waters of both creeks combine in the valley below, forming the Hacking River. Kellys Creek rises bout {{convert|3|km}} south of {{NSWcity|Helensburgh}}, east of the [[Princes Highway]] and west of {{NSWcity|Stanwell Tops}}. The Hacking River flows generally north north-east before reaching its estuary, [[Port Hacking]], at a line between Grays Point and Point Danger, about {{convert|4|km}} east of the suburb of {{NSWcity|Engadine}}, west of {{NSWcity|Yowie Bay}}.<ref name=gnb/><ref>{{cite web|title=Hacking River |work=NSW Water Quality and River Flow Objectives|date=1 May 2006|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/HackingRiver/report-01.htm|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|access-date=20 August 2011}}</ref> The river descends {{convert|84|m}} over its {{convert|26|km|adj=on}} [[Watercourse|course]].<ref name=bonzle/> Although the Illawarra escarpment has a substantial rainfall, in dry periods, the river can be reduced to a mere trickle, resulting in connected puddles rather than a constant flow.

==Ecology and environment==
Its upper reaches lie adjacent to the [[Garawarra State Conservation Area]], where it is a narrow stream in a gully within rainforest.<ref name="PoM00">{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomfinalroyalgarawarraheathcote.pdf|title=Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State Recreation Area: Plan of Management|author=NSW National Parks, Wildlife Service|author-link=National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|location=Sydney|date=February 2000|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|access-date=20 August 2011}}</ref> The river passes through a variety of plant communities, such as dry [[eucalyptus]] forest, tall wet eucalyptus forest and [[rainforest]]s. Significant rainforest plants growing by the river banks include [[white beech]], [[Citronella moorei|citronella]],<ref>{{cite book |author=Floyd, A. G. |author-link=Alexander Floyd |title=Australian Rainforests in New South Wales |volume=2 |year=1990 |isbn=0-949324-32-9 |page=116 }}</ref> [[Flagellaria indica|supplejack]], [[Bangalow palm]], [[jackwood]] and [[Doryphora sassafras|golden sassafras]]. The [[Eucalyptus pilularis|blackbutt]], [[Eucalyptus paniculata|grey ironbark]] and [[bangalay]] are common eucalyptus trees. As it moves downstream, it flattens and widens before it reaches the estuary at Port Hacking.<ref name="PoM00"/>

A variety of molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish and birds live in and around the river. [[Anguilla reinhardtii|Long finned eel]]s migrate from oceanic spawning grounds as elvers. As adults they mature in the creeks and streams of the Royal National Park, sometimes to be seen in the river pools. [[Galaxias maculatus|Jollytail]] are common small fish. [[Platypus]] may occasionally be seen in the river,<ref>{{cite web|title=''Otford Eco''|url=http://otfordeco.com/CentralBushlandPrecinct.html}}</ref> and [[azure kingfisher]]s nest in the river banks. The land snail ''[[Meridolum marshalli]]'' is restricted to Royal National Park; its main habitat is wet areas near the river.<ref name="PoM00"/>

[[Platypus]] once found habitat in the Hacking River, until an oil spill on the [[Princes Highway]] in the 1970s saw the last platypus disappear.<ref name="prt"/> In May 2023, the [[Species reintroduction|species was returned]] to the national park under a relocation program jointly conducted by the [[University of New South Wales]], [[NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service]] and the [[World Wildlife Fund]].<ref name="prt">{{cite news |last=Roe |first=Isobel |date=14 May 2023 |title=Platypuses return to Sydney's Royal National Park after disappearing for decades |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-14/platypus-reintroduced-to-royal-national-park-sydney/102344804 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref>

Most of the river flows through Garawarra State Conservation Area and the [[Royal National Park]]. However, at its upper reaches, it has been subject to severe impacts of urbanisation (Helensburgh and Otford), timber cutting, clearing and rural activities, a large coal mine, gravel mines, [[leachate]]s from Helensburgh tip and a private waste tip, sewer disposal sites, including Garrawarra Hospital, a night soil dump adjacent to Helensburgh tip and septic tank use, and the construction and use of the Princes Highway and Sydney to Wollongong railway.

The soft soils{{Where?|date=January 2025}} are vulnerable to erosion, which is exacerbated by bushwalking. Erosion is facilitated by relatively high rainfall in the Garrawarra State Conservation Area. Furthermore, runoff from the towns of [[Helensburgh, New South Wales|Helensburgh]], [[Otford, New South Wales|Otford]] and [[Stanwell Tops, New South Wales|Stanwell Tops]] (which lie above the catchment) has also impacted on water quality in the river, resulting in increased turbidity and algal growth.<ref name="PoM00"/>

==History and human development==

===Aboriginal history===
{{Main|Tharawal people|Sutherland Shire#Aboriginal heritage}}
The river valley underwent significant change with sea level rise 18,000 to 7,500 years ago which completely displaced inhabitants of previous coastal and river valley areas and resulted in dramatic changes in distributions of peoples. For more than {{formatnum:8000}} years{{CN|date=January 2025}} prior to 1840, the [[Tharawal people|Tharawal]] (or Dharwal) people{{CN|date=January 2025}} occupied the catchment area evidenced by hundreds of Aboriginal artefacts, middens, rock carvings and cave paintings. 

The Gweagal people lived mainly by the saltwater bays and estuaries of Port Hacking. They also used the freshwater resources of the upper Hacking River, Heathcote Creek and the Woronora River. The Gweagal people were said{{By whom?|date=January 2025}} to be the guardians of the sacred white clay pits on their territorial land, now known as the Kurnell Peninsula. They used the clay to make body paint, medicine and when mixed with local berries it was also used as a dietary supplement.

===Post-British colonial settlement===
In the mid-19th century shell grit was in high demand as a source of lime for building in the Sydney district. Consequently, mud and oyster rocks were collected in large numbers from Port Hacking catchment destroying a number{{vague|date=January 2025}} of aboriginal midden sites in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/files/d4169e2a-0272-45b2-9c65-9ea300e9ee3c/Port_Hacking_Integrated_Environmental_Management_Plan.pdf |title=Port Hacking Integrated Environmental Management Plan |year=2008 |publisher=[[Sutherland Shire|Sutherland Shire Council]] |access-date=8 January 2012 |page=31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328182737/http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/files/d4169e2a-0272-45b2-9c65-9ea300e9ee3c/Port_Hacking_Integrated_Environmental_Management_Plan.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The river is crossed by four [[causeway]]s at and near the village of Otford near its headwaters. At Otford below the railway station is a small dam, constructed for the supply of water for steam locomotives. A causeway is incorporated as part of the structure, which results in a substantial pond upstream. Other significant structures are the Upper Crossing (below Waterfall and above the confluence with Waterfall Creek) and at Audley. The causeway at [[Audley, New South Wales|Audley]] was built in 1899, within the Royal National Park. Here, mangrove flats were cleared to make way for boat-sheds and accommodation in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|last=Curby|first=Pauline|title=Pictorial History Sutherland Shire|publisher=Kingsclear Books Pty Ltd|year=2002|pages=36|isbn=0-908272-79-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SBHBi1umJccC&q=%22Hacking+River%22&pg=PA35}}</ref> A boatshed and picnic grounds remain at Audley, having been used continuously since.<ref name="PoM00"/> Visitors can canoe and kayak further upstream along the Hacking River or its tributary Kangaroo Creek. Within the Royal National Park at {{NSWcity|Audley}}, visitors have enjoyed picnic and boating facilities for more than a hundred <!-- Neglect to the indigenous heritage of the area -->years.

A consequence of the weir was to divide the river into freshwater/saltwater tidal components. Impacts were to impede fish migration and to cause the accretion of sediment behind the weir. In flood, the road across the causeway is impassable, thus isolating the villages of Bundeena and Maianbar. As the Upper Causeway would also flood in these conditions, an all-weather bridge was built at the Upper Causeway.

The tide reaches the weir, and although there is some lag, there is virtually no [[tidal prism]].  From the weir, the river continues downstream in the main through the Royal National Park, although towards its [[Fluvial processes|fluvial]] delta at Grays Point, it flows on one side through the suburbs of Kirrawee and Grays Point. It is opposite  Grays Point that Muddy Creek joins the River. From this point downstream the river is characterised by large stands of mangroves and an extensive fluvial delta. Historically, the fluvial sediments below the weir have been restrictive to navigation. After the declaration of the national park, the trustees were concerned to facilitate boat access to the new park and consequently training walls were built. Subsequently, as navigation increased, there was repeated pressure for dredging. The fluvial delta has not been dredged for many years. Nonetheless, there is a well-used boating facility at Swallow Rock (Grays Point).<ref>{{cite book|title=Port Hacking: Past and present of an estuarine environment|author1=Albani, A. D.|author2=Cotis, George|year=2013}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|New South Wales|Environment|Water}}
* [[List of rivers of Australia]]
* [[List of rivers of New South Wales (A-K)]]
* [[Rivers of New South Wales]]
* [http://meusepress.tripod.com/sydneyrivers.pdf Guide to Sydney Rivers site]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/HackingRiver/maplg.htm|title=Hacking River catchment|format=map|work=Office of Environment and Heritage|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]}}

{{Royal National Park}}
{{Waterways of Sydney |state=autocollapse}}
{{Rivers of the Sydney Basin |state=autocollapse}}
{{Rivers of New South Wales |state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Sydney]]
[[Category:Audley, New South Wales]]