History
The Queanbeyan region is the traditional home of the Ngunnawal People. The first Europeans visitors to the area were led by Charles Throsby. While searching for the Murrumbidgee River in 1820, his party followed the course of the Queanbeyan River into a valley at the eastern end of the Limestone Plains near presentday Canberra.
The Queanbeyan River was the main water supply for the towns of Queanbeyan and during its early history its was an integral element to its economy. Wool scouring (cleaning) was carried out in the river near presentday Oaks Estate, formerly a part of Queanbeyan.
With a river catchment area of 920 square kilometres, the Queanbeyan River's is more than double that of the Cotter River. Prior to the construction to the Googong Dam, the river was floodprone leading to significant loss of life. During the 1976 flood the half completed Googong Dam was at risk of collapse under the weight of water behind it. In this eventuality low lying parts of Queanbeyan and Canberra would have been inundated. The Queanbeyan Cemetery was flooded, with scores of bodies washed downstream into Lake Burley Griffin.
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