Palaeochannels of the upper central Murray and lower Goulburn rivers, southeastern Australia

Palaeochannel systems are characteristic of alluvial plains across large parts of the Australian continent, but their evolution and modes of formation are still only partly understood. In this study, the fluvial landscapes of the upper central Murray River, and the lower Goulburn River were assessed by mapping palaeochannel remnants and fluvial terraces using high-resolution digital elevation models. This allowed for a classification of terrace and palaeochannel systems based on morphology and relative elevation above the river. Investigated river reaches across both river systems show similar relative terrace levels and related palaeochannel remnants. The produced maps allow for a better assessment of palaeochannel activity phases, however, an extensive investigation of palaeochannel and terrace chronology is needed for a better understanding of the landscape evolution and to make a statement about synchronicity of fluvial activity in these river systems.Highlightsthe fluvial landscapes of the upper central Murray River, and the lower Goulburn River were assessed by mapping palaeochannel remnants and terraceshigh-resolution digital elevation models allowed for a distinct classification of geomorphic featuresboth the Murray and Goulburn river reaches show similar relative terrace levels and related palaeochannel remnantsthe produced maps provide a foundation for further geomorphological, sedimentological, palaeohydrological, and chronological investigations to ultimately understand the drivers of these palaeochannel systems