The Yass River, a perennial river that is part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the Southern Tablelands and South Western Slopes districts of New South Wales, Australia. Course and features The river rises in rugged country south west of Bungendore, near Wamboin and flows generally north north west then south west, joined by seven minor tributaries, towards its confluence with the Murrumbidgee River into the impounded waters of Lake Burrinjuck, west of Yass; dropping over its course. Etymology A number of competing theories exist as to the origin of the name "Yass". It is believed to be named after an Aborigine commented to explorer, Hamilton Hume, that "Yass boss, plains". An alternative theory is that Yass was named after comments made by Mr Angel, a member of Hume's exploration party, that "Yas, yas, plenty of clear country here". A third theory is that the local Aboriginal Gandangara people used the words Yarrh or Yharr as the name for the river, literally translated to mean "running water". See also List of rivers of Australia List of rivers of New South Wales (L–Z) Rivers of New South Wales References External links Rivers of New South Wales Tributaries of the Murrumbidgee River Rivers in the Riverina Yass Valley Council