Laura Hearn
Location of Laura River river mouth in Queensland
Etymology	Laura, the wife of Archibald Campbell Macmillan[1]
Location
Country	Australia
State	Queensland
Region	Far North Queensland, Cape York Peninsula
City	Laura
Physical characteristics
Source	Great Dividing Range
• location	below Mount Murray
• coordinates	15°55′58″S 144°51′15″E / 15.93278°S 144.85417°E / -15.93278; 144.85417
• elevation	234 m (768 ft)
Mouth	confluence with the Normanby River
• location	south of Hope Vale
• coordinates	15°12′00″S 144°26′04″E / 15.20000°S 144.43444°E / -15.20000; 144.43444
• elevation	54 m (177 ft)
Length	126 km (78 mi)
Basin features
River system	Normanby River
Tributaries
• left	Mosman River, Kennedy Creek
• right	Ninda Creek, Deighton River
National park	Rinyirru National Park
[2]

The Laura River is a river in the Cape York Peninsula region of Far North Queensland, Australia.

Course and features

The Laura River rises on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range below Mount Murray. The river flows generally northwest, shadowed by the Peninsular Development Road from nearby Lakeland and then flows north through the town of Laura and then the river forms the western border of the Rinyirru National Park, while the Peninsular Development Road continues north-west through Coen to reach the top of the peninsula at Bamaga. The river is joined by sixteen tributaries including the Deighton, Little Laura and Mosman rivers. The river reaches its confluence and empties into the Normanby River south of Hope Vale. The river descends 180 metres (590 ft) over its 126-kilometre (78 mi) course.^[2][3]

The river is crossed by the Mulligan Highway near Mount Gibson.

A railway bridge was built over this river, but because of a change in finances and plans it was never used, except for a test train.^{[citation needed]}

Etymology

The river was named as the Hearn River by William Hann on 19 October 1872, after his wife's family name. The name Laura was given by Archibald Macmillan, a road surveyor and explorer, after his wife, Laura Bower (nee Poingdestre).^[4][1]