Karumba, Queensland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karumba
Queensland
Karumba
Coordinates 17°29′S 140°50′E / 17.483°S 140.833°E / -17.483; 140.833Coordinates: 17°29′S 140°50′E / 17.483°S 140.833°E / -17.483; 140.833
Population 518 (2006)[1]
Postcode(s) 4891
Elevation 2 m (7 ft)[2]
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) Mount Isa
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

Karumba is a town in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia, 71 km by road from Normanton and 2159 km 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.

Facilities

Karumba has a public library, visitor information centre, parks, bowls club, golf course, swimming pool, and a sports centre. [4]

Climate

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Karumba (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2008-07-05. 
  2. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved on 2008-07-05
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2002). Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback. State of Queensland. p. 97. ISBN 0-7345-1040-3. 
  4. "Karumba". Karumba Progress Association. Retrieved 13 November 2013. 
  5. "Climate Statistics for Karumba, Queensland". Retrieved March 21, 2012. 

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.