20°S 140°E Kajabbi – Queensland by Degrees

Looking north Looking east Looking south Looking west GPS reading Location: This confluence point is located on Coolullah station, about 2 km from an unnamed road about 5 km north-west of the settlement of Kajabbi. It is within Cloncurry Shire. The point was accurately located after travelling by vehicle to the end of the road, with the last two kilometres covered by foot. The Landscape: The terrain around the point is flat and has an elevation of 160 m ASL. It is within the floodplain of Six Mile Creek. The soil is a light red clay with small gravel. Vegetation around the point is low open woodland dominated by eucalypts such as Bloodwoods (Corymbia sp.) and Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah). Ground cover is a mixture of Mitchell Grass (Astrebla sp.), Spinifex and Prickly Acacia. The land is currently used for cattle grazing. The most notable fauna seen were kangaroos. The site sits on some of the most ancient geology in Queensland, the Proterozoic age (2500 to 545 million years) sediments of the Mary Kathleen Group. Point information and photos: Tony Hillier and Kev Teys, August 2008 WITHIN THE DEGREE SQUARE: The Country: The country ranges in elevation from a low of around 50 m ASL in the north in the floodplain of the Leichardt River and Dismal Creek, to heights of over 400 m in the Mount Godkin and Waggaboonyah Ranges in the south and south-west. The Leichardt River is the main drainage system - it flows to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The area has a very complex geology and contains some of the oldest rocks in Queensland including the small outcrops of Palaeoproterozoic age (2500 to 1600 million years) metadolerites and metagabros of the Cobbold formation and large areas of the Proterozoic age (anywhere between 2500 and 545 million years) Mary Kathleen Group quartzose and metasediments and Haslingden Group of mixed volcanic and sediments. MORE DETAIL NEEDED The Climate: The area has a climate classified as grassland with a winter drought. The nearest climate station at a similar elevation is Cloncurry. Cloncurry Airport (site 029141) 1978-2008 (elevation 186 m ASL) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean max (ºC) 36.6 36.4 35.9 33.7 29.4 26.4 26.3 28.6 33.1 36.4 37.9 38.7 33.3 Mean min (ºC) 24.6 24.5 22.5 20.0 15.4 11.6 10.3 12.3 16.5 20.3 23.0 24.8 18.8 Mean rain (mm) 172.9 103.1 80.2 22.0 5.4 6.3 1.0 2.3 5.7 24.4 29.1 86.5 504.7 The highest temperature ever recorded in Cloncurry was 46.9°C in December 2006 while the lowest temperature was 1.8°C in July 1979. Rainfall also varies greatly. The highest annual total of 996.8 mm was recorded in 1999 and the lowest total of 90.2 mm in 2008. Extremes of Nature: At least three cyclones have passed through the degree square. An unnamed cyclone which crossed the coast at Cairns in February 1920 caused major flooding throughout the interior with large losses of cattle. In April 1921 a cyclone that formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria penetrated south, again with heavy rainfall and widespread flooding. In February 1987 TC Jason which also formed in the Gulf, again penetrated south with heavy rain and widespread flooding. The area averages around 40 thunder days each year. Severe thunderstorms can bring destructive winds, intense rainfall causing localised flooding and lightning strikes that can spark bushfires if there is sufficient fuel available.In recent years major flood levels have been reached in 1974, 1991, 2004 and 2006. The National Earthquake Database maintained by Geoscience Australia does not contain any earthquake epicentres located within the degree square. Drought and heatwave are probably the most potentially dangerous natural hazards across the area. The Indigenous Story: The degree square covers the intersection of the traditional lands of the Mayi-Kutuna, Mayi-Yapi, Mayi-Thakurti and Wakabunga peoples. MORE INFORMATION EEDED European Exploration and Settlement: INFORMATION REQUIRED Today: The total population of the degree square at the 2006 national Census was 225. Measure 1996 2001 2006 Total Population 424 380 255 Total Males 271 227 146 Total Females 153 153 109 Under 5 27 27 17 65 Years and over 33 25 25 Indigenous 32 14 17 Infrastructure: In the degree square includes the Julius Dam on the upper Leichardt River which has a storage capacity of 107,500 ML. It was constructed to augment the water supply for Mt Isa and surrounding mines. An extensive road network is also present, most of it being unimproved dirt. The Burke Developmental Road is the major north-south route linking the Gulf area and Cloncurry. Cattle grazing and copper mining are the major economic activities. Location  Coolullah station about 5 km north-west of Kajabbi. Nearest town Kajabbi Access To within 2 km by vehicle then by foot Terrain Flat and open floodplain Catchment Leichardt River Geology & soils Proterozoic age sediments, red gravelly clays Vegetation Low open woodland of Bloodwood and Coolibah with Mitchell grass and Spinifex Land use Cattle grazing Climate Grassland with a winter drought Population in degree square 255 at the 2006 census Infrastructure Julius Dam on Leichardt River, Burke Development Road and local roads National Parks Nil Compilers: Tony Hillier and Kev Teys with additional material by Ken Granger, 2008

Last updated 20 November 2008. For more information email admin@rgsq.org.au Return to home