Karumba, Queensland
| Karumba Queensland | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Karumba Beach Gulf Savannah | |||||||||
| Population | 518 (2006 census)[1] | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4891 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft)[2] | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Carpentaria | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mount Isa | ||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Karumba is a town in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia, 71 kilometres (44 mi) by road from Normanton and 2,159 kilometres (1,342 mi) from the state capital, Brisbane. The settlement was previously known as Norman Mouth and Kimberely.[3] Karumba was used by the local aborigines to describe the place. This name was officially used for the township by the 1880s.[3]
Karumba forms part of Carpentaria Shire Council, the administrative headquarters of which is in Normanton. At the 2006 census, Karumba had a population of 518.[1]
The town is sited at the mouth of the Norman River, and enjoys the distinction of being the only town along the southern Gulf of Carpentaria that is within sight of the Gulf itself (the Gulf's extensive tidal flats prohibits settlement elsewhere along its shore). As such, the town's economy revolves largely around fishing. The Karumba port services the Century Zinc Mine as well as fishing. The prawn industry expanded in the 1960s.[3]
The rare Morning Glory cloud rolls through Karumba in the early hours of some mornings in September and October.
In the late 1930s the town was a refueling and maintenance stop for the flying boats of the Qantas Empire Airways.[3]
The Red Hot Chili Peppers song Animal Bar from their 2006 album Stadium Arcadium is about Karumba. It is named after a bar called the Animal Bar.
History
Karumba Post Office opened on 22 August 1889 and closed in 1919.[4]
Facilities
Karumba has a public library, visitor information centre, parks, bowls club, golf course, swimming pool, and a sports centre.[5]
Climate
Karumba has a tropical climate with warm, wet summers and mild, dry winters.
| Climate data for Karumba, Queensland (1938-2012) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 39.8 (103.6) |
37.6 (99.7) |
38.4 (101.1) |
38.9 (102.0) |
34.5 (94.1) |
32.8 (91.0) |
32.4 (90.3) |
35.4 (95.7) |
36.9 (98.4) |
40.4 (104.7) |
40.7 (105.3) |
41.3 (106.3) |
41.3 (106.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.1 (89.8) |
31.7 (89.1) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.6 (90.7) |
29.8 (85.6) |
27.9 (82.2) |
27.5 (81.5) |
28.6 (83.5) |
29.9 (85.8) |
31.3 (88.3) |
32.6 (90.7) |
32.4 (90.3) |
30.7 (87.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24.4 (75.9) |
24.1 (75.4) |
23.2 (73.8) |
20.7 (69.3) |
17.2 (63.0) |
15.2 (59.4) |
14.0 (57.2) |
15.2 (59.4) |
18.2 (64.8) |
21.0 (69.8) |
23.3 (73.9) |
24.4 (75.9) |
20.1 (68.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 19.6 (67.3) |
18.3 (64.9) |
18.0 (64.4) |
13.6 (56.5) |
8.0 (46.4) |
6.9 (44.4) |
6.1 (43.0) |
5.3 (41.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
12.2 (54.0) |
17.8 (64.0) |
17.9 (64.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 231.0 (9.09) |
260.3 (10.25) |
156.6 (6.17) |
30.3 (1.19) |
1.0 (0.04) |
8.5 (0.33) |
7.1 (0.28) |
2.0 (0.08) |
1.6 (0.06) |
7.3 (0.29) |
45.5 (1.79) |
142.1 (5.59) |
833.4 (32.81) |
| Average rainy days | 12.7 | 14.7 | 9.3 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 4.2 | 8.9 | 56.3 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology [6] | |||||||||||||
See also
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Karumba (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved on 2008-07-05
- ^ a b c d Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2002). Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback. State of Queensland. p. 97. ISBN 0-7345-1040-3.
- ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ "Karumba". Karumba Progress Association. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Climate Statistics for Karumba, Queensland". Retrieved March 21, 2012.
External links
- University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Karumba
- morningglorycloud.com has video of the Gulf of Carpentaria region and the Morning Glory Cloud
- Carpentaria Shire Council homepage
- General information from the Sydney Morning Herald