Sir Edward Deas Thomson KCMG, CMG, the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales at the time of discovery.

[5] Draining the Alma Range, part of the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, the northernmost headwaters of the river begin as Torrens Creek, inland from Charters Towers.

The river continues in a south westerly direction, passing the towns of Longreach, Stonehenge and Jundah, before reaching its confluence with the Barcoo River, 40 km north of Windorah, to form Cooper Creek.

[citation needed] From source to mouth, the Thomson is joined by 41 named tributaries over its 350 km (210 miles) course.

[7] Due to the flat nature of the country traversed, the river can then become many kilometres wide.