[2] The headwaters of the river rise west of Mount Boorama near Mount Tracey in the Selwyn Range and initially flows north west then turns north travelling more or less parallel with the Cloncurry-Dajarra road before crossing the Flinders Highway near the town of Cloncurry.

The river continues north westward flowing under Mount Marathon past Fort Constantine and crossing the Wills Developmental Road.

[5] The watershed south of the town of Cloncurry occupies an area of 5,975 square kilometres (2,307 sq mi).

The Kalkatunga language region is North-West Queensland including the local government areas of the City of Mount Isa.

[7] The river was named by the explorer Robert O'Hara Burke on New Years Day 1861 during his disastrous expedition after a friend from Ireland, Lady Cloncurry.