Karumba, Queensland

Karumba is in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, {{convert|71|km|mi}} by road from Normanton and {{convert|2159|km|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).{{Cite web |title=Things to see and do - Karumba: Karumba Point Beach |url=https://www.carpentaria.qld.gov.au/discover/town-walk-karumba |access-date=28 March 2025 |website=Shire of Carpentaria}}

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

File:Sunset over the Gulf of Carpentaria at Karumba Beach, 2019.jpg

Karumba Point Beach is the only beach in the region that is accessible by bitumen road, and is renowned for its sunset views over the Gulf of Carpentaria.{{Cite news |last=Dick |first=Callum |date=21 August 2019 |title=Sunset at Karumba Point reveals hidden beauty of travel |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/sunset-at-karumba-point-reveals-hidden-beauty-of-travel/news-story/2c4576332c5eaa77ce873c1b7df179b9 |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=Sunshine Coast Daily}}

The port at Karumba is around the mouth of the Norman River where it enters the Gulf of Carpentaria (approx {{Coord|-17.482|140.8368|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Port of Karumba}}). Most of the wharves are located in the Norman River at the town of Karumba.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Ports; Marinas and wharf areas |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175447/https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |archive-date=19 December 2017 |access-date=1 July 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}} The port is used for the export of minerals, seafood,and cattle and for the import of goods needed by local communities, including those on Mornington Island. It is operated by Ports North, headquartered in Cairns.{{Cite web |title=Port of Karumba |url=https://www.portsnorth.com.au/karumba/ |access-date=1 July 2025 |website=Ports North}}

Karumba Airport is on Fielding Street. There are no regular commercial services from this airport; the nearest regular services are available at Normanton Airport.{{Cite web|last=|title=Airports|url=https://www.carpentaria.qld.gov.au/community/public-facilities/airports|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-05|website=Carpentaria Shire Council|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182557/https://www.carpentaria.qld.gov.au/community/public-facilities/airports}}

Before European colonisation and expropriation, the Karumba region had been inhabited for thousands of years by the Gangalidda and Waanyi peoples, who are the traditional custodians of the land. They relied on the rich marine resources and fertile coastal plains for sustenance.{{cite web |title=Exploring the Rich History of Karumba |url=https://sunsetcp.com.au/2023/05/28/the-history-of-karumba/ |publisher=Karumba Point Sunset Caravan Park |access-date=2024-01-18 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118070358/https://sunsetcp.com.au/2023/05/28/the-history-of-karumba/ |url-status=live }}

The settlement was originally known as Norman Mouth and Kimberley.{{Cite book |title=Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback |last=Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) |author-link=Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) |year=2002 |publisher=State of Queensland |isbn=0-7345-1040-3 |pages=97 }} The toponym, Kurumba, derives from the Aboriginal name for the area.Norman Tindale,Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names, Australian National University 1974 p.174. That name was being used for the township officially by the 1880s.

Karumba Post Office opened on 22 August 1889 and closed in 1919.{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&country=|title=Post Office List|last=Premier Postal History|publisher=Premier Postal Auctions|access-date=10 May 2014|archive-date=15 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515223132/http://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&|url-status=live}}

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

In the late 1930s, the town was a refuelling and maintenance stop for the flying boats of Qantas Empire Airways. No. 43 Squadron of the RAAF also operated Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats from the town between June 1943 and April 1944.{{cite web|title=No. 43 Squadron|url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3736/f/minisite/static/1469/RAAFmuseum/research/units/43sqn.htm|website=RAAF Museum Point Cook|publisher=Royal Australian Air Force|access-date=1 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326172850/https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3736/f/minisite/static/1469/RAAFmuseum/research/units/43sqn.htm|archive-date=26 March 2018|df=dmy-all}}

File:Karumba State School, circa 1970.jpg

Karumba State School opened in September 1968.{{Cite QldSchool|access-date=18 April 2019}}{{Cite web |date=2020-02-03 |title=History |url=https://karumbass.eq.edu.au/our-school/history |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Karumba State School |language=en |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926034746/https://karumbass.eq.edu.au/our-school/history |url-status=live }}

Regular services by the Uniting Church in Australia are held in the Community Church. They are provided by the McKay Patrol, an aerial service of the Uniting Church that operates out of Cloncurry. Supported by other denominations, the McKay Patrol operates a Cessna 182Q aeroplane to provide spiritual and practical help to people living in remote areas in the north-west of Queensland and the Eastern Tablelands of the Northern Territory, an area of approximately {{Convert|625,000|km2}} with a population of less than 10,000 people.

Karumba Public Library was opened in 1979.{{Cite web |url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf |title=Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017 |date=November 2017 |website=Public Libraries Connect |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf |archive-date=30 January 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=30 January 2018}}

The region is referred to in the song "Every Passing Day" by the Australian band Goanna, on their album Oceania.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VdrjORe7kw |title=Goanna - Every Passing Day |date=19 July 2008 |access-date=19 April 2018 |via=YouTube |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419144952/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VdrjORe7kw |archive-date=19 April 2018}}

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Animal Bar", from their 2006 album Stadium Arcadium is about Karumba, and refers to a local bar.{{Cite web |url=https://publocation.com.au/pubs/qld/karumba/karumba-lodge |title=Animal Bar, Karumba Lodge |access-date=30 January 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202043526/https://publocation.com.au/pubs/qld/karumba/karumba-lodge |archive-date=2 February 2017}}

In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the town of Karumba had a population of 518 people.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL331000|name=Karumba (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=5 July 2008|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Karumba had a population of 531 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC31507|name=Karumba (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Karumba had a population of 487 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL31492|name=Karumba (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

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

Les Wilson Barramundi Hatchery is the world's only breeder of the Southern Gulf barramundi.{{Cite web |title=Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery Karumba |url=https://www.outbackqueensland.com.au/attractions/les-wilson-barramundi-discovery-centre-hatchery-karumba/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Outback Queensland}}

The prawning industry makes an important economic contribution to the town.{{Cite news|date=8 February 2004|title=Travel: Normanton|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/Normanton/2005/02/17/1108500203650.html|url-status=live|access-date=11 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531073843/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/Normanton/2005/02/17/1108500203650.html|archive-date=31 May 2014}}

Karumba State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 5 Yappar Street ({{coord|-17.4829|140.8403|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Karumba State School}}).{{cite web |date=9 July 2018 |title=State and non-state school details |url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |archive-date=21 November 2018 |access-date=21 November 2018 |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{Cite web |date=2020-02-03 |title=Karumba State School |url=https://karumbass.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=Karumba State School |language=en |archive-date=1 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401225914/https://karumbass.eq.edu.au/ |url-status=live }} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 28 students with 3 teachers and 7 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).{{cite web |title=ACARA School Profile 2018 |url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx |access-date=28 January 2020 |publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority |archive-date=27 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx |url-status=live }}

There are no secondary schools in Karumba. The nearest government secondary school is Normanton State School (to Year 10) in neighbouring Normanton to the south. There are no schools offering secondary education to Year 12 in Karumba or nearby; the options are distance education or boarding school.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=29 August 2022}}

Karumba has a public library in Walker Street, visitor information centre, parks, bowls club, golf course, swimming pool, and a sports centre.{{Cite web|url=http://www.carpentaria.qld.gov.au/web/archive-council/karumba-library/vic|title=Karumba Library|access-date=30 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202063357/http://www.carpentaria.qld.gov.au/web/archive-council/karumba-library/vic|archive-date=2 February 2017|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |url= http://karumba.qld.au/health-wellbeing |title= Karumba |publisher= Karumba Progress Association |access-date= 13 November 2013 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140114055341/http://karumba.qld.au/health-wellbeing |archive-date= 14 January 2014 |df= dmy-all }}

The Carpentaria Shire Council operates a public library at Walker Street.{{Cite web|url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/carpentaria/karumba_library|title=Karumba Library|date=9 February 2017|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=State Library of Queensland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130145501/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/carpentaria/karumba_library|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live|access-date=30 January 2018|df=dmy-all}}

St James' and St John's Community Church at 59 Yappar Street is shared by the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting congregations. It is within the Gulf Savannah Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns.{{Cite web|title=Gulf Savannah Parish|url=http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/gulfsavannah.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118104932/http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/gulfsavannah.html|archive-date=2020-11-18|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns}}

Regular services by the Uniting Church in Australia are held in the Community Church. These are provided by the McKay Patrol, an aerial service of the Uniting Church in Australia that operates out of Cloncurry. Supported by other denominations, the McKay Patrol operates a Cessna 182Q aeroplane to provide spiritual and practical help to people living in remote areas in the north-west of Queensland and the eastern Tablelands of the Northern Territory, an area of approximately {{Convert|625,000|km2}} with a population of less than 10,000 people.{{cite web|title=Find a Church|url=https://ucaqld.com.au/find-a-church/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024234524/https://ucaqld.com.au/find-a-church/|archive-date=24 October 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|website=Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod}}{{Cite web|title=About the McKay Patrol|url=http://www.ucanq.com.au/mckaypatrol/about.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311193146/http://www.ucanq.com.au/mckaypatrol/about.php|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=12 September 2021|website=McKay Patrol}}{{Cite web|title=About MJZ|url=http://www.ucanq.com.au/mckaypatrol/mjz.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311193959/http://www.ucanq.com.au/mckaypatrol/mjz.php|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=12 September 2021|website=McKay Patrol}}

Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre at 149 Yappar Street ({{Coord|-17.5025|140.8262|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery}}) is a tourist attraction providing interactive experiences to learn about barramundi at a working barramundi hatchery.

Karumba has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with two distinct seasons. The "Wet" usually lasts from December to March and is hot and humid, with wet bulb temperatures typically above {{convert|27|C|F|1|disp=or}} during the afternoons. Most roads during the "Wet" are usually closed by heavy rain, which can exceed {{convert|250|mm|in|2|disp=or}} 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 {{convert|350|mm|in|2}} in a full season.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

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 each month, over twenty days are completely clear.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

{{Portal|Queensland}}

• Karumba Airport

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikivoyage|Karumba}}

{{commons category|Karumba, Queensland}}

• {{cite web|url=https://www.queenslandplaces.com.au/karumba|title=Karumba|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland|website=Queensland Places}}
• [http://www.morningglorycloud.com morningglorycloud.com] has video of the Gulf of Carpentaria region and the Morning Glory Cloud
• [http://www.carpentaria.qld.gov.au/ Carpentaria Shire Council homepage]
• [http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/Karumba/2005/02/17/1108500203462.html General information from the Sydney Morning Herald]
• [https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-karumba-1979.jpg Town map of Karumba, 1979]

{{Shire of Carpentaria}}

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Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:Coastal towns in Queensland

Category:North West Queensland

Category:Gulf of Carpentaria

Category:Shire of Carpentaria

Category:Fishing communities in Australia

Category:Localities in Queensland

Category:Aquaculture in Australia