Description
The Woronora River is a popular destination in Greater Metropolitan Sydney, Australia, located in the Sutherland Shire local government area, about 22 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district.
It is a perennial river in the Sydney Basin, originating from Waratah Rivulet near Darkes Forest and flowing north for approximately 36 kilometres before joining the Georges River between Como and Illawong.
The Woronora River has a catchment area of approximately 174 square kilometres and is administered by the Sydney Catchment Authority in its upper reaches and the Sutherland Shire Council in its lower reaches. It passes through the Dharawal State Conservation Area, Heathcote National Park, and the Royal National Park, descending 354 metres from source to mouth.
A notable feature of the Woronora River is Lake Woronora, a 71,790-megalitre impoundment created by the Woronora Dam in 1941 to augment water supply for southern Sydney and the northern Illawarra region. The river is also known for its bridges, including high level and low level road bridges, a footbridge in Woronora, and a road bridge on Heathcote Road linking Heathcote and Holsworthy. There is also a footbridge near Woronora Road in Engadine that connects the suburb to Barden Ridge.
The name "Woronora" comes from the Australian Aboriginal Dharug language, meaning "black rocks." The spelling of the name has varied over time, with the earliest recorded spelling being Wooloonora. It was first applied to the Woronora River before being used for an electoral district, a local road, and eventually the suburb itself.
For those interested in indigenous Australian
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