The river rises below Bald Hill on the western slopes of the Victorian Alps, within the Mount Buffalo National Park in the Shire of Mansfield. The river flow generally west, then north, then west passing through or adjacent to the regional cities of Benalla and Shepparton–Mooroopna, joined by ten minor tributaries, before reaching its confluence with the Goulburn River within Shepparton. The river descends 1,070 metres (3,510 ft) over its 225-kilometre (140 mi) course.[1]
When at maximum capacity, the Broken River is the fastest flowing river in Australia.[citation needed]
The town of Benalla, located adjacent to the river, was known as Broken River into the 1850s. It was the location of the Battle of Broken River.[2]
Etymology
The local Indigenous Taungurung name for the river in its main section around Benalla was Dareterkornong.[3]
The origin of the river's current name is originally thought to be derived from the fact that in dry seasons the river bed is broken into a series of water holes.
^Bassett, Judith (1989). "The faithfull massacre at the broken river, 1838". Journal of Australian Studies. 13 (24): 18–34. doi:10.1080/14443058909386991.
^Robinson, George Augustus; Clark, Ian (2014). The Travels of George Augustus Robinson, Chief Protector, Port Phillip Aboriginal Protectorate. CreateSpace. ISBN9781499662078.
