The Bogan River is an inland river in the central west of New South Wales, Australia.
This river rises at Goonumbla, 19 kilometres north-west of Parkes and flows in a generally north-north-westerly direction past Tottenham, Peak Hill and through Nyngan. The Bogan River is about 590 km in length and is a tributary of the Darling River.[1] The main tributaries are: Bugwah Cowal, Bulbodney Creek, Burrill Creek, Duck Creek, and Gunningbar Creek.[2]
Unlike the other main rivers of inland New South Wales, the Bogan does not rise in the well-watered highland areas, so its flow is low and erratic and not much use for irrigation.
The river was crossed by John Oxley in 1817, but was named by Charles Sturt in his 1828-9 expedition as New Years Creek on 1 January 1829. It was also called the Bogen prior to Major Sir Thomas Mitchell reaching here in 1835. On 17 April 1835 Richard Cunningham (botanist) wandered away from the Mitchell party near the Bogan River and it is believed that he was killed here by Aborigines.[3]
In April 1990, major flooding occurred along the river and in Nyngan, and despite a massive effort by local people to build levee walls using sandbags, 2,500 people had to be evacuated from the town.[4]
The name, Bogan is thought to be an Aboriginal term for the birthplace of a leader of a local tribe.[3]