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The River: A Journey Through The Murray-Darling Basin
Australia's major river system is collapsing. Parts of it are dying; parts of it are already dead. Australia's most significant river no longer reaches the sea. I look out into the dim autumn light and wonder once again how it has come to this.
In The River, Chris Hammer takes us on a journey through Australia's heartland, following the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin, recounting his experiences, his impressions, and, above all, stories of the people he meets along the way. It's a journey punctuated with laughter, sadness and reflection.
The River looks past the daily news reports and their sterile statistics, revealing the true impact of our rivers' decline on the people who live along their shores, and on the country as a whole. It's a tale that leaves the reader with a lingering sense of nostalgia for an Australia that may be fading away forever.
In The River, Chris Hammer takes us on a journey through Australia's heartland, following the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin, recounting his experiences, his impressions, and, above all, stories of the people he meets along the way. It's a journey punctuated with laughter, sadness and reflection.
The River looks past the daily news reports and their sterile statistics, revealing the true impact of our rivers' decline on the people who live along their shores, and on the country as a whole. It's a tale that leaves the reader with a lingering sense of nostalgia for an Australia that may be fading away forever.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
26 people are currently reading
624 people want to read
About the author
Chris Hammer
13 books1,466 followersChris Hammer is a leading Australian crime fiction author. His first book, Scrublands, was an instant #1 bestseller upon publication in 2018. It won the prestigious UK Crime Writers' Association John Creasey New Blood Dagger and was shortlisted for awards in Australia and the United States.
Scrublands has been sold into translation in several foreign languages. Chris's follow-up books—Silver (2019), Trust (2020), Treasure & Dirt (2021), The Tilt (2022) and The Seven (2023)—are also bestsellers and all have been shortlisted for major literary prizes. The Valley is his seventh novel.
The Tilt (published as Dead Man's Creek in the UK) was named The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year for 2023.
Scrublands has been adapted for television, screening globally, and production is underway for a second series based on Silver.
Before turning to fiction, Chris was a journalist for more than thirty years. He has written two non-fiction books The River (2010) and The Coast (2012).
He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University.
Scrublands has been sold into translation in several foreign languages. Chris's follow-up books—Silver (2019), Trust (2020), Treasure & Dirt (2021), The Tilt (2022) and The Seven (2023)—are also bestsellers and all have been shortlisted for major literary prizes. The Valley is his seventh novel.
The Tilt (published as Dead Man's Creek in the UK) was named The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year for 2023.
Scrublands has been adapted for television, screening globally, and production is underway for a second series based on Silver.
Before turning to fiction, Chris was a journalist for more than thirty years. He has written two non-fiction books The River (2010) and The Coast (2012).
He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 13, 2019
The cover of yesterday’s Sydney Morning Herald carried a half page photo of a kangaroo, trapped in a tiny circle of mud in the centre of a cracked channel on the NSW Menindee Lakes. This week the report came in of hundreds of thousands of fish dead in the Darling River, not far from Menindee. If I needed a reminder that this (2009) book is still brutally current and that the river’s health continues to be of critical importance, there you have it.
“The River” chronicles Australia’s largest river system. It’s a book that deserves to be read, pondered - and enjoyed. Hammer strikes an accessible balance, navigating a route that combines travelogue with historical, geographical, political, cultural and environmental elements. If you read “The River” seeking an in-depth consideration of any one of these elements you’d probably find yourself a little disappointed. However, Hammer has done most of us a favour, painting with accessible, broad brush strokes in a narrative style that keep us “in the current”, giving the reader a solid foundation to understand something of the state of the Murray/Darling system in the early 21st century and how it got to be that way.
That said, Hammer’s travels take place during the crippling 2009 “Millenium” drought. The state of communities along the rivers at the time of writing was generally especially bleak.
Although Hammer is a climate change “believer”, the book doesn’t become a piece of climate change dogma. He speaks to a wide cross-section of locals and is satisfied to let the conflicting opinions sit alongside one another rather than becoming preachy or simplistic. And in writing so much of what he sees and hears, there’s a good chance readers will be turned to consider the matter of climate change and how we need to alter our interaction and management of such a significant yet damaged natural resource. Hammer keep the issue well and truly in the human realm, which makes for a more universally enjoyable and engaging read.
Having read and enjoyed Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux, “The River” confirms the power of travel to bring momentum to a narrative. Hammer never quite matches Bryson’s whimsy or Theroux’s dry misanthropy (they seem to - generally - keep us on their side, making the perfect delivery of personal quirk look oh so simple) but we are very much along for the ride, in the moment, feeling the emptiness and heat and hollowness of the gasping, isolated, parched reaches of forgotten Australia.
I’d like to give 3.5 stars, but Goodreads doesn’t allow halves. So 4 it is, in the hope that perhaps many more Australians will take the satisfying, accessible, insightful and disturbing trip with Hammer along the length and breadth of the Mighty Murray Darling River Basin.
And maybe, like me, you might finish with a prayer for the life - and resurrection - of a precious national treasure. Be you climate change disciple or denier, it’s clear we cannot just take from our forests, rivers and earth without expecting significant consequences.
“The River” chronicles Australia’s largest river system. It’s a book that deserves to be read, pondered - and enjoyed. Hammer strikes an accessible balance, navigating a route that combines travelogue with historical, geographical, political, cultural and environmental elements. If you read “The River” seeking an in-depth consideration of any one of these elements you’d probably find yourself a little disappointed. However, Hammer has done most of us a favour, painting with accessible, broad brush strokes in a narrative style that keep us “in the current”, giving the reader a solid foundation to understand something of the state of the Murray/Darling system in the early 21st century and how it got to be that way.
That said, Hammer’s travels take place during the crippling 2009 “Millenium” drought. The state of communities along the rivers at the time of writing was generally especially bleak.
Although Hammer is a climate change “believer”, the book doesn’t become a piece of climate change dogma. He speaks to a wide cross-section of locals and is satisfied to let the conflicting opinions sit alongside one another rather than becoming preachy or simplistic. And in writing so much of what he sees and hears, there’s a good chance readers will be turned to consider the matter of climate change and how we need to alter our interaction and management of such a significant yet damaged natural resource. Hammer keep the issue well and truly in the human realm, which makes for a more universally enjoyable and engaging read.
Having read and enjoyed Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux, “The River” confirms the power of travel to bring momentum to a narrative. Hammer never quite matches Bryson’s whimsy or Theroux’s dry misanthropy (they seem to - generally - keep us on their side, making the perfect delivery of personal quirk look oh so simple) but we are very much along for the ride, in the moment, feeling the emptiness and heat and hollowness of the gasping, isolated, parched reaches of forgotten Australia.
I’d like to give 3.5 stars, but Goodreads doesn’t allow halves. So 4 it is, in the hope that perhaps many more Australians will take the satisfying, accessible, insightful and disturbing trip with Hammer along the length and breadth of the Mighty Murray Darling River Basin.
And maybe, like me, you might finish with a prayer for the life - and resurrection - of a precious national treasure. Be you climate change disciple or denier, it’s clear we cannot just take from our forests, rivers and earth without expecting significant consequences.
August 7, 2019
I decided to read this nonfiction book after reading the author’s novel, Scrublands. I wanted to learn more about Australia and the area where the story took place. I’ve never visited Australia, but I can picture the drought-ridden area of Queensland and New South Wales now that I’ve read The River. Chris Hammer is an excellent writer.
Hammer spent weeks and months traveling the Murray-Darling river basin. He introduces us to the residents of this harsh land, tells their real stories, their memories, and their yarns. He covers the heartbreak of failing towns and farms, the determination and humor of the people who live there.
There are lessons in this book about water and how we use and abuse it. Hammer doesn’t preach, he gives us the differing opinions of the people living with the lack of water. Some of those lessons are relevant to the US as well as Australia.
Hammer spent weeks and months traveling the Murray-Darling river basin. He introduces us to the residents of this harsh land, tells their real stories, their memories, and their yarns. He covers the heartbreak of failing towns and farms, the determination and humor of the people who live there.
There are lessons in this book about water and how we use and abuse it. Hammer doesn’t preach, he gives us the differing opinions of the people living with the lack of water. Some of those lessons are relevant to the US as well as Australia.
April 17, 2019
The River refers to the Murray River but also incorporates its catchment. Hammer spent months researching this book by actually traveling through the riverlands talking to as many people as he could as well as being an eyewitness to what was happening. I read the book ironically while I myself was traveling the Murray River from Khancoban to the Coorong.
The book is an important socio-political account and certainly captures the attitudes and opinions of those who live along the river along with their despair and heartbreak. Hammer explains beautifully why the issues with the Murray - Darling are so complex. The book is beautifully written and reads like a story except there's no romanticism. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys Australian non-fiction or who is interested in the Murray River. The only thing that disappointed me was that all the solutions posed are old hat. Not once was the idea mentioned that permaculture should be given a go. I'll forgive this because those featuring in the book have probably never heard of it.
The book is an important socio-political account and certainly captures the attitudes and opinions of those who live along the river along with their despair and heartbreak. Hammer explains beautifully why the issues with the Murray - Darling are so complex. The book is beautifully written and reads like a story except there's no romanticism. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys Australian non-fiction or who is interested in the Murray River. The only thing that disappointed me was that all the solutions posed are old hat. Not once was the idea mentioned that permaculture should be given a go. I'll forgive this because those featuring in the book have probably never heard of it.
May 10, 2023
I came to this after reading The Tilt which piqued my curiosity about the dying wetlands of the Murray Darling basin. Hammer gives a great overview of the problems facing the communities along these rivers and explains some of the decisions which have lead to these issues. Written at the end of the millennial drought some stories are heartbreaking. Hopefully the recent rains have helped although the underlying problems still need to he addressed.
March 22, 2018
Excellent journey through the competing interests that affect the future of the river system, towns, communities and industries. No simple solution to a complex problem.
A pleasurable read.
A pleasurable read.
January 28, 2021
This is a difficult non-fiction book to review. At the time it was written, in 2009, it was a contemporary look at the Murray-Darling River system that was stressed and in drought and is essential to millions of Australians survival. We were all wondering if that drought would ever end.
At the moment there are still similar stresses on the system but a lot more rain has fallen all over Easter Australia with La Nina currently in play.
It's a much easier book to read while the country is not suffering as much in drought. Chris Hammer travelled up and down the river system, talking to locals and writing apt descriptions of the landscapes, almost to the point of feeling like you are there.
It falls down a bit as a piece of investigative journalism, he doesn't have the insider information from Federal government and all the senior stakeholders, something I thought he should have taken advantage of, or been able to nurture, as a Canberra based journalist.
Basic local knowledge seemed lacking, such as Canberra Lakes being not just ornamental and recreational spaces, but essentially Canberra Lakes are a series of pollution traps for city storm water.
For someone who is not an environmental scientist nor an agriculturist nor an economist, Chris basically did a quite interesting and readable piece of journalism by using basic observation, interviewing locals and some decent writing. As with any journalism taking it in with a grain of salt is a good idea.
Well worth a read if you are interested in these parts of Australia.
At the moment there are still similar stresses on the system but a lot more rain has fallen all over Easter Australia with La Nina currently in play.
It's a much easier book to read while the country is not suffering as much in drought. Chris Hammer travelled up and down the river system, talking to locals and writing apt descriptions of the landscapes, almost to the point of feeling like you are there.
It falls down a bit as a piece of investigative journalism, he doesn't have the insider information from Federal government and all the senior stakeholders, something I thought he should have taken advantage of, or been able to nurture, as a Canberra based journalist.
Basic local knowledge seemed lacking, such as Canberra Lakes being not just ornamental and recreational spaces, but essentially Canberra Lakes are a series of pollution traps for city storm water.
For someone who is not an environmental scientist nor an agriculturist nor an economist, Chris basically did a quite interesting and readable piece of journalism by using basic observation, interviewing locals and some decent writing. As with any journalism taking it in with a grain of salt is a good idea.
Well worth a read if you are interested in these parts of Australia.
February 7, 2026
This is one of the best books I’ve read recently. Chris Hammer writes with great empathy, humour and insight as he navigates the iconic Murray Darling basin that at the time of writing has suffered a millennial 10 year drought. As he explores the main river courses and tributaries and meets the farmers, fishermen and small town residents the picture he paints is bleak. Over exploitation of the scarce water, interstate rivalry and grand irrigation schemes have put so much pressure on the once mighty river system that it can now hardly rate as a waterway, but more as a series of stagnant ponds. Hammer makes the complex subject of water control, competing interests and political pressures into a compelling read. And the subject is certainly one that will affect us all - of the world’s scare resources in a time of climate change, water, its control and management, will be one that presents an existential challenge across the globe.
As he faced the reality of the disastrous effects of the drought and the probability that climate change will exacerbate future such events, Hammer necessarily draws gloomy conclusions, both for the continuation of the rural way of life of so many courageous pioneering families, and for the Australian economy as a whole. His ability to see and appreciate different cultures and points of view with humour and humanity make this an archetypal “Good Read”
As he faced the reality of the disastrous effects of the drought and the probability that climate change will exacerbate future such events, Hammer necessarily draws gloomy conclusions, both for the continuation of the rural way of life of so many courageous pioneering families, and for the Australian economy as a whole. His ability to see and appreciate different cultures and points of view with humour and humanity make this an archetypal “Good Read”
January 25, 2026
I received this book as a Christmas gift, and I'll admit my immediate thought was 'why?' However, a gift is a gift and I decided to give it a go.
To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. The book was well-written, compelling and not at all what I was expecting. The focus is on the people whose lives are deeply intwined with the river system, the river itself both a backdrop and a character in it's own right. Hammer writes with compassion for both the people and the landscape, and while there is humour, it's rarely at someone's expense (except maybe his own). The edition I read was published over a decade after the original, and a short forward brings some much needed additional context.
I would recommend this for anyone who has spent some time in Australia. Fans of Hammer's crime writing will also find a lot to enjoy here. People with absolutely no connection to the place might find it a bit meandering and lacking in clear narrative direction. Much like the rivers it describes.
To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. The book was well-written, compelling and not at all what I was expecting. The focus is on the people whose lives are deeply intwined with the river system, the river itself both a backdrop and a character in it's own right. Hammer writes with compassion for both the people and the landscape, and while there is humour, it's rarely at someone's expense (except maybe his own). The edition I read was published over a decade after the original, and a short forward brings some much needed additional context.
I would recommend this for anyone who has spent some time in Australia. Fans of Hammer's crime writing will also find a lot to enjoy here. People with absolutely no connection to the place might find it a bit meandering and lacking in clear narrative direction. Much like the rivers it describes.
July 23, 2019
A tale of the once might Murray-Darling. Written before the current record-breaking drought, this is a frightening and sad reflection on the state of our waterways. Travelling thought the many towns and tributaries of this river system we see the hardened and resilient faces of the communities facing heartbreak and financial ruin. Communities lost or dying, fields laid bare and baking, livestock and wildlife disappearing and the harsh realities of our brutal climate. There are touches of optimism but you get a very real sense of the inevitable. The challenges of our dry continent and climate change, mismanagement and ignorance and the competing demands of vested interests place huge demands on our crippled waterways.
A great read for anyone interested in the controversy surrounding the Murray-Darling Basin plan and a valuable insight into how and why the situation is now so dire.
A great read for anyone interested in the controversy surrounding the Murray-Darling Basin plan and a valuable insight into how and why the situation is now so dire.
July 24, 2025
I love the idea of tracing a river from source to mouth - or vice versa. Chris Hammer journeys along the Murray-Darling Basin, looking for its source while hiking in the Snowy Mountains with his young son and contemplating its finish somewhere around the Coorong in South Australia. The journey took place in 2008-9, and I guess things haven't got much better. The book functions as a kind of drawn out elegy to rural life. We meet plenty of bush characters along the way, laugh at the strange claims to fame country towns advertise, listen to contrary arguments for how the river water should be divvied up and see, first hand, how climate change is evaporating an entire way of existence. It's a sad business.
December 29, 2025
The third edition of a book that all Australians who care about the environment should read. Sobering though. The combination of greed, political selfishness, inadequate scientific knowledge, ignorance of, and distain for, Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, climate change… have created a river system that is no longer coherent or viable. All done quite gently, and with a story-tellers flair. I really enjoyed that he deliberately didn’t write politicians into the book, but concentrated on hearing the stories of old timers who knew the part of the rivers that they lived beside. And tried to understand the different perspectives and didn’t take what he was looking at at face value. It’s even more valuable and relevant fifteen years after the first edition. Highly recommended.
February 7, 2021
I’d recently read the first two of Chris Hammer’s novels when I discovered he’d written a non-fiction book about the Murray-Darling river system while working as a journalist. I knew I had to read it while living in one of the Darling’s iconic towns.
He brilliantly managed to visit the length of both rivers, and interview representatives of most of the grass roots stakeholders, listening to their stories and reporting them.
The people responsible for the river management plan should read this book. It was written ten years ago. Sadly, nothing appears to have improved, and in many areas, we are going backwards.
He brilliantly managed to visit the length of both rivers, and interview representatives of most of the grass roots stakeholders, listening to their stories and reporting them.
The people responsible for the river management plan should read this book. It was written ten years ago. Sadly, nothing appears to have improved, and in many areas, we are going backwards.
April 1, 2024
Interesting account of the drought condition in early 2000s and how it affect the murray-darling
water system that runs from queensland to nsw, victoria and eventually SA.
The underlying thoughts is the climate change is causing alot less water on the river and
water usage by the farms (dished out by license and levees) are adversely affecting the natural river
landscape. and also causing collapse of a lot of farms. Ultimately the river get to flow all the way
to the end in Adelaide,SA. Silk buld up cause very high salinity in Adelaide water systems.
Real first hand accounts by farmers are really interesting.
His writing style is abit hard to follow at times though.
water system that runs from queensland to nsw, victoria and eventually SA.
The underlying thoughts is the climate change is causing alot less water on the river and
water usage by the farms (dished out by license and levees) are adversely affecting the natural river
landscape. and also causing collapse of a lot of farms. Ultimately the river get to flow all the way
to the end in Adelaide,SA. Silk buld up cause very high salinity in Adelaide water systems.
Real first hand accounts by farmers are really interesting.
His writing style is abit hard to follow at times though.
May 9, 2019
Before he became a novelist, journalist Chris Hammer took a journey following the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin. This book is the result, and it is a fascinating account of the people who live in this area, what has happened to the rivers at the hands of the government, farming and the weather, and what the future might hold. There is a lot to worry about; at times it is depressing, and on the whole the future seems bleak, but there is also a lot of great, Aussie spirit where people are doing it tough, and this book is full of their stories.
December 5, 2022
I'm a massive fan of Chris's fiction writing, having read all of his releases to date, however I think I enjoyed this non-fiction work even more. I can see now where the inspiration comes from for some of the locations and characters in his later novels.
The relaxing style of prose, along with the almost incidental way he engages with some of the characters during his journeys is beautiful to read. Thoroughly enjoyed this one, and look forward to reading The Coast next. It would be a real shame if he has no further non-fiction works of this nature.
The relaxing style of prose, along with the almost incidental way he engages with some of the characters during his journeys is beautiful to read. Thoroughly enjoyed this one, and look forward to reading The Coast next. It would be a real shame if he has no further non-fiction works of this nature.
March 29, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, both the subject and the style it was written. The author himself describes that this book has been categorised in different terms as history, Australiana, Travel Writing, Politics and Current Affairs. That just about sums it up. Written during the peak of the 2010 drought, it is quite depressing in parts but 14 years later with recent heavy rainfalls, dams are full and the rivers are relatively healthy. However the spectre of future droughts and the confusion surrounding the Murray Darling River Plan still exists. Really well written and thoroughly enjoyable.
May 28, 2025
A insightful book to the effect of over-use of the upper reaches of the Murray and Darling river systems has on life downstream. I drove through a lot of these places not long after Chris had written this book and my reflections are so different because I was there just as the drought broke. I don't know that I can bear to see it how it really is for the majority of time (since we screwed it up).
December 3, 2022
I bought a copy of the revised edition in the Menindee information centre full points to the volunteers. Just the book I wanted, I’ve read it and I want to explore the river and the history and the stories
December 26, 2024
The first half was very interesting but the second half was hard to get through.
August 8, 2025
A fascinating book about the river Murray, its ecological decline, and the effect of that decline on the people who depend on the river for a livelihood. The book is a series of travels taken by the author, where he meets and talks personally with people who have intimate contact with the river. This format makes the book easily readable, but at times it can make it a little disconnected. Sometimes I am not quite sure where he is on the river ( maps would be really helpful!).
That sense of disconnectedness can also apply to the ongoing picture being constructed of the ecological decline of the river. I learned a lot reading this book. The explanations of various phenomena are well-written and easy to understand. The format of the book means they are never really connected into an ongoing, coherent picture however. Maybe that's just the trade-off for the very engaging series of portraits of people and their lives, because overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
That sense of disconnectedness can also apply to the ongoing picture being constructed of the ecological decline of the river. I learned a lot reading this book. The explanations of various phenomena are well-written and easy to understand. The format of the book means they are never really connected into an ongoing, coherent picture however. Maybe that's just the trade-off for the very engaging series of portraits of people and their lives, because overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
September 25, 2015
A reasonable first book by this new author. The most rewarding part was gaining a greater awareness of some of the environmental issues plaguing the river. However I did find the authors writing style very pessimistic - granted the topic and what's happening to the Murray is exactly that. I suspect he may have made a few enemies in some of the town councils after publishing the book, particularly Echuca. The book also follows a reoccurring pattern of travelling between towns, describing the landscape, and interviewing people. I'd like to have seen a greater exploration of some of the environmental concepts. In fairness, this wasn't the authors intent and he made it clear this wasn't a birds eye view book rooted in statistics.
May 28, 2015
Great description of Australian culture, the rural landscape, and the political mindset in a time of drought and hardship.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews