Karumba, Queensland

Karumba is a town and a coastal locality in the Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia.[3][4] In the 2016 census, Karumba had a population of 531 people.[1]

Karumba
Queensland
Karumba Beach Gulf Savannah
Karumba
Coordinates17.4838°S 140.8397°E / -17.4838; 140.8397
Population531 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density3.680/km2 (9.531/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4891
Elevation2 m (7 ft)[2]
Area144.3 km2 (55.7 sq mi)
Location
  • 2,159 km (1,342 mi) NW of Brisbane
  • 756 km (470 mi) W of Cairns
  • 570 km (354 mi) N of Mount Isa
  • 71 km (44 mi) NW of Normanton
LGA(s)Shire of Carpentaria
State electorate(s)Traeger
Federal Division(s)Kennedy
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
30.7 °C
87 °F		 20.1 °C
68 °F		 889.8 mm
35 in
Localities around Karumba:
Gulf of Carpentaria Gulf of Carpentaria Howitt
Gulf of Carpentaria Karumba Howitt
Normanton Normanton Normanton

Geography

Karumba is in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, 71 kilometres (44 mi) by road from Normanton and 2,159 kilometres (1,342 mi) from the state capital, Brisbane. Karumba is within the Shire of Carpentaria, the administrative headquarters of which is in Normanton. 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).

The rare Morning Glory cloud rolls through Karumba in the early hours of some mornings in September and October.

History

The settlement was previously known as Norman Mouth and Kimberley.[5] The toponym derives from the Kareldi native name, Kurumba, who were the indigenous landholders of this area before the onset of white colonization and expropriation.[6] This name was officially used for the township by the 1880s.[5]

Karumba Post Office opened on 22 August 1889 and closed in 1919.[7]

Given its access to the Gulf of Carpentaria, the town's economy has revolved largely around fishing. The prawn industry expanded in the 1960s.[5]

In the late 1930s the town was a refueling and maintenance stop for the flying boats of the Qantas Empire Airways.[5] No. 43 Squadron of the RAAF also operated Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats from the town between June 1943 and April 1944.[8]

Karumba State School opened in September 1968.[9][10]

Karumba Public Library was opened in 1979.[11]

The region is repeatedly mentioned in the song "Every Passing Day" by Australian band Goanna on their album Oceania.[12]

At the 2006 census, Karumba had a population of 518.[13]

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.[14] [15]

Economy

The Karumba port services the Century Zinc Mine as well as fishing industry.

Facilities

Karumba has a public library in Walker Street, visitor information centre, parks, bowls club, golf course, swimming pool, and a sports centre.[16][17]

The Carpentaria Shire Council operates a public library at Walker Street.[18]

Climate

Karumba has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with two distinct seasons. The “Wet” usually lasts from December to March and is extremely hot and humid, with wet bulb temperatures typically above 27 °C or 80.6 °F during the afternoons. Most roads during the “Wet” are usually closed by heavy rain, which can exceed 250 millimetres or 9.84 inches in a day due to the passage of tropical cyclones or monsoonal depressions which provide most of the rain. On occasions, however, as with all of Queensland the wet season may fail almost completely and produce less than 350 millimetres (13.78 in) in a full season.

The “Dry” usually lasts from April to the middle of November and is much more comfortable due to lower humidity and milder morning temperatures. This period of the year is essentially bone dry and almost completely cloudless: median rainfall is nil between May and September and over twenty days each month are completely clear.

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)
Average high °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)
Average low °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)		 893.3
(35.16)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 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 [19]

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Karumba (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. Bureau of Meteorology Archived 26 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 5 July 2008
  3. "Karumba - town in Shire of Carpentaria (entry 17782)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  4. "Karumba - locality in Shire of Carpentaria (entry 42910)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  5. Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2002). Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback. State of Queensland. p. 97. ISBN 0-7345-1040-3.
  6. Norman Tindale,Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names, Australian National University 1974 p.174.
  7. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  8. "No. 43 Squadron". RAAF Museum Point Cook. Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  9. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  10. "Karumba SS". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  11. "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. LampoCastor (19 July 2008). "Goanna - Every Passing Day". Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018 – via YouTube.
  13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Karumba (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  14. "Animal Bar, Karumba Lodge". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2OPCMtGcjo&feature=youtu.be
  16. "Karumba Library". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  17. "Karumba". Karumba Progress Association. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  18. "Karumba Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 9 February 2017. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  19. "Climate Statistics for Karumba, Queensland". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
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