Dirran is famous for its Easter Fishing Competition and Carp Muster where locals and visitors alike congregate at Jack Dwyer Memorial Park to camp, share tall tales and even do a spot of fishing in the Balonne Minor River.
But hang on – why is it called the Balonne Minor? Those of us used to coastal rivers imagine smaller tributaries coalescing into larger streams. Outback rivers can work in the opposite way, fragmenting and braiding over floodplains. Such is the case with the Balonne River, which can be found, flowing south, on the Great Inland Way at Surat and St George,
By the time the river reaches Dirranbandi it has split into two arms – the Balonne Minor at Dirran and the Culgoa that flows further to the west. Just south of Dirran the Balonne Minor splits again to become the Narran and Bokhara. You will cross the Narran in several places between Dirran and Lightning Ridge, but just to confuse you the small town of Hebel (in between the two larger towns) is on the banks of the Bokhara. The Bokhara splits after Hebel retaining its own name on one arm and turning into the Birrie on the other.
If all this sounds as clear as the oft muddy waters, then be assured that all these rivers eventually make their way to the Barwon River between Brewarrina and Bourke, and then into the Darling River and onto the Murray.