The Hill River drains a catchment area of 230 square kilometres (89 sq mi).

The river has a low gradient which, combined with a broad and shallow catchment valley, renders it unsuitable as the site of any significant reservoir.

In some areas the clearing of native vegetation has led to erosion and steep banks.

[4] For over 100 years the date of European discovery and name origin for the river was confused.

[5] The issue was finally resolved in 2015 with the publication of John Hill : South Australia's Discoverer of Rivers, which emphatically concludes that Eyre discovered the river on 5 June 1839 and named it after John Hill, the explorer who discovered the Clare Valley