Flowing in History: Reflecting on Past Practices and Their Influence on the Health of Richmond River Catchment, New South Wales, Australia

ABSTRACT The Richmond River forms part of the coastal region of New South Wales (NSW) Australia, and is of great environmental, social, and economic importance. The history of the river reflects its role in providing the needs upon which human life depends—water, fertile soil, and food. Paradoxically, human impact since colonization has threatened those elements. The establishment of settlements on the river reflected the needs at the time, which influenced the transformation that accompanied socio‐economic use. Such changes have often been pursued to serve one particular outcome, such as flood mitigation, disregarding their effect elsewhere. The accumulated impact of settlement and land use and the development of its catchment and floodplains are reflected in the state of the river and inscribed in archival records, newspapers, reports, and scientific research. Drawing on those records, this manuscript describes the historical transformation of the river and floodplain and the consequences of these actions on catchment and river health.