Mackenzie River (Queensland)

The Mackenzie River is a river in Central Queensland, Australia. The Mackenzie River is a major tributary of the Fitzroy River, part of the largest river catchment flowing to the eastern coast of Australia.

Course and features
Formed by the confluence of the Comet and Nogoa rivers flowing from the Expedition Range, the river rises north of and flows generally north by east towards the Broadsound Range. North of the settlement of, the river flows south by east and west of the Goodedulla National Park towards and splits as an anabranch on multiple occasions. The river is joined by twenty-four tributaries including the Isaac and Connors rivers and Funnel Creek. Northeast of Duaringa, the Mackenzie is joined by the Dawson River and together they form the Fitzroy River. From source to mouth, the Mackenzie River descends 79 m over its 275 km course.

The Bingegang Weir near Middlemount contains barramundi, southern saratoga and golden perch. The Bedford Weir and Tartrus Weir are also stocked with barramundi. Bedford Weir is popular with water-skiers and camping is permitted adjacent to the reservoir.

History
Yetimarala (also known as Jetimarala, Yetimaralla, and Bayali) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Central Queensland. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Central Highlands Region, on the Boomer Range and Broadsound Range and the Fitzroy River, Killarney Station, Mackenzie River and Isaac River. Garingbal, a language of Central Queensland was also spoken in this region, primarily around the Bowen Basin. The Garingbal language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of Central Highlands Regional Council.

The first European to discover the river was Ludwig Leichhardt in 1844; he was a German explorer who explored many parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory.