It is said that since the early 1800’s, people have claimed to see a monster swimming beneath the surface of Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The river in which the creature is said to dwell, stretches 75mi and has a maximum depth of 45ft. Like most sea/lake/river monsters, this aquatic anomaly is described as looking like the classic image of an extinct plesiosaur. The Hawkesbury River Monster is said to be between 25-35ft long, has a large bulky body that is covered in patchy black and gray skin, a long neck that is topped off by a head shaped like an oversized football, four large flippers, and a thick tail that becomes skinnier the farther away from the body it stretches.

Depictions of a dinosaur-like creature with a long neck, long tail, and four flippers have been found within Aboriginal rock art found throughout the region. The age of these images date back to around 3,000yrs ago. When white settlers started to show up in Australia in the 1800’s, the Indigenous Australians would warn them not to go near the water’s edge for fear that the HRM would quickly pluck them from the shore and pull them back down into the water. They spoke of how many women and children had been attacked by the HRM while either in the water, or while upon its shore. Some managed to survive the attacks, while others met a much more gruesome fate between the large jaws and sharp teeth of the monster.

The most popular story/legend of the HRM took place in the 1980’s. It is said that one day, as a fisherman was making his way down the river in a small aluminum boat, a large creature suddenly appeared in the water beneath him. The fisherman could tell that something large was beneath his boat as the water around him grew dark, began to ripple, and started to swirl. Suddenly, the large creature slammed into the bottom of the boat and launched it 10ft into the air. The fisherman was tossed out of the boat and into the water where he made a desperate attempt to reach the shore. As he swam, the creature started to make its way in his direction, but suddenly changed course and dove under the water. With feet now firmly on shore, the fisherman made quick work of leaving the area and never came back.

Along with the story from the 80’s, there are also many other reports/stories of boats being found along the water’s edge smashed to pieces, or of overturned boats floating down the river completely void of their passengers. Some witnesses have even reported finding large slide marks along the bank that move back into the water, as if a large creature was recently there sunning itself not hours before. Much like that of a crocodile.

Many researchers feel that the sightings and stories about the HRM are just that, stories. No substantial evidence for the existence of the HRM has ever been found. There have been no credible photos or video taken of the creature, all reports and sightings have been strictly word of mouth. Most people believe that when witnesses claim to have seen the HRM, what they have actually seen is a rogue crocodile that has made its way into the river, an oversized catfish that has broken the surface, an oversized large eel, or a swimming goanna (monitor lizard).

-The Pine Barrens Institute

*Image Credit: Google

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