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Olive River
The Olive River on the east coast of Cape York, which includes spectacular dunefields, perched freshwater lakes and sandblows, is refuge to a rich diversity of fish and other unique wildlife and an important provider of fresh water and nutrients to the healthiest section of the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef.
The meandering Upper Olive River. Photo: Alec Marr
Conservation and cultural values:
The Olive River is thought to have received its name from its characteristic tea-coloured water, which meanders through a wide diversity of landscapes. Towards its mouth, the Olive’s dark waters pass through a landscape of striking colour contrast, set against brilliant white sand dunes.
The forested banks of the Olive, receiving nourishment from the nutrients and natural flows from the river, are home to many plant species found only on Cape York Peninsula, including the spectacular but threatened Cycad plant, Cycas silvestris. The rainforests of the Olive River are also home to cunning critters like the Striped Possum, who nests in the leafy log hollows of rainforest trees, and the boisterous Rufus Owl.
The Olive River itself has immense fish diversity for a river its size, with ¾ of all the present species also known from Papua New Guinea – a clear reminder of the ancient land bridge between Cape York and New Guinea and the region’s shared natural inheritance. This includes the rare Pacific Blue eye and the Short-finned Catfish.
Wet season flows from the Olive replenish a high diversity of wetland types, commonly visited by birds such as the Great-billed Heron, Jabiru, Brolga, Magpie Geese and Royal Spoonbill.
The Olive River catchment includes the Temple Bay fish habitat area, which protects the important habitat of fish such as Barramundi, Blue Salmon and Grey Mackerel.
The Wuthahti and Kuuku-ya’u people are the Traditional Owners of the Olive River catchment area and maintain strong cultural and spiritual connections with the land and rivers. The traditional ecological knowledge and health of these communities is in turn critical to the ongoing health of this wild river system.
Threats:
The major current threats to the health of the Olive River catchment are feral animals like wild pigs, invasive weeds and inappropriate fire management (non-Indigenous traditional burning). Wild River protection, as well as the Indigenous Wild River Ranger program, will help address these impacts.