Forbes River (New South Wales) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Forbes River
Forbes River, viewed from the Forbes River Road.
Country	Australia
State	New South Wales
IBRA	NSW North Coast
District	Mid North Coast
Local government area	Port Macquarie-Hastings
Physical characteristics
Main source	west of Spokes Mountain in Abbotsmith Ridge, Great Dividing Range Willi Willi National Park 1,060 m (3,480 ft)
River mouth	confluence with the Hastings River near Yarras 95 m (312 ft)
Length	53 km (33 mi)
Basin features
River system	Hastings River catchment
National parks	Willi Willi, Werrikimbe

Forbes River, a perennial river of the Hastings River catchment, is located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.

Course and features

Forbes River rises west of Spokes Mountain, on the northern slopes of Abbotsmith Ridge, Great Dividing Range, within Willi Willi National Park, and flows generally south before reaching its confluence with the Hastings River, near Yarras. The river descends 965 metres (3,166 ft) over its 53 kilometres (33 mi) course.

The river was named by Surveyor-General John Oxley in honour of Francis Forbes, who later became first Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court.

Areas adjacent to the Forbes River were an important source of logging timber with several sawmills operating along the river. The lower reaches were used for dairying, but these farms now rear beef cattle. Dingos, carpet pythons, and goannas inhabit parts of the Forbes River.