Red Bridge, a railway bridge over the river at Rochester
From its source in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range below Red Hill, the Campaspe River rises in the Wombat State Forest northwest of Bullengarook and southwest of Macedon near Ashbourne and Firth Park, a local camping ground and historical area. The river then flows west of the township of Woodend and continues north through the town of Kyneton. The middle reaches of the river are dominated by Lake Eppalock, a constructed reservoir. The Coliban River, the most significant tributary of the Campaspe, also flows into Lake Eppalock. Towns located on the river in this area include Redesdale located just south of Eppalock and Axedale, located just below Eppalock. The towns of Elmore and Rochester lie on the river's lower reaches. The river meets its confluence with the Murray River west of the town of Echuca, located adjacent to the state border between Victoria and New South Wales.[4][5]
In addition to the Coliban River, the Campaspe River is joined by six minor tributaries and passes through the Campaspe Weir. The river descends 581 metres (1,906 ft) over its 232-kilometre (144 mi) course.[4][5]
The river is crossed three times by the Calder Freeway near Kyneton, and by the McIvor Highway near Eppalock. The Midland Highway and Northern Highway duplex crosses the river at Elmore, and the Murray Valley Highway and Northern Highway duplex crosses the river at Echuca.
Etymology
As the river is relatively long, Aboriginal peoples from various cultural groups lived near the river course. In the Yorta Yorta language, the name for the river is Yalka or Yalooka, meaning "dry leaf". In the Taungurung language the name for the river is Boregam, with no clearly defined meaning. In the Taungurung and Ngurai-illam Wurrung language, the river is named Yerrin, with no clearly defined meaning.[2][3][6]
