The Murrumbidgee River was known to Europeans before it was first recorded by them.  In 1820 the explorer Charles Throsby informed the Governor of New South Wales that he anticipated finding "a considerable river of salt water (except at very wet seasons), called by the natives Mur-rum-big-gee". In the expedition journal, Throsby wrote as a marginal note: ""This river or stream is called by the natives Yeal-am-bid-gie ..."". The river he had stumbled upon was in fact the Molonglo River, Throsby reached the actual river in April 1821.