Darling (river)

River in southeast Australia, a tributary of the River Murray; length 2,736 km/1,700 mi. The Darling is formed about 40 km/25 mi northeast of Bourke, at the union of the Culgoa and Bogan rivers (which rise in central Queensland to the west of the Great Dividing range); it flows southwest before joining the Murray at Wentworth. Its waters are conserved in Menindee Lake (155 sq km/60 sq mi) and others nearby. The river is usually navigable as far as Bourke during August to March.

The name comes from Sir Ralph Darling (1775–1858), governor of New South Wales 1825–31. Together with Murray, Darling provides 40% of the country's agricultural wealth.