Thread: OK short quiz.

OK, what is the modern name for Kimberly, a coastal town which was to be the terminal for the overseas cable from Java, which terminated at Darwin instead? Kimberly was the supply point for vessels trading in the Gulf. The name was changed in the 1900's. Bob

Originally Posted by bob10

OK, what is the modern name for Kimberly, a coastal town which was to be the terminal for the overseas cable from Java, which terminated at Darwin instead? Kimberly was the supply point for vessels trading in the Gulf. The name was changed in the 1900's. Bob

Hint- near where Murrandoo Yanner hangs out, Bob

I was under the impression that the original Qld bid for the OTL was to terminate at Burketown which although not originally discovered by him, was set up by Robert Towns who also set up Townsville as ports to assist his pastoral developments. I hadn't heard of Kimberly before, will be interested to hear.
Regards
Glen

Karumba
Town in Australia

Karumba is a town in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia, 71 kilometres by road from Normanton and 2,159 kilometres from the state capital, Brisbane. The settlement was previously known as Norman Mouth and Kimberely.


Port of Karumba

The Port of Karumba is located at the mouth of the Norman River in the south-east corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Century Mine started exporting zinc concentrate trhough the port in December 1999. Zinc slurry is piped 304 kilometres to the port from the mine, dewatered and loaded onto a 5,000 tonne, fully enclosed transfer vessel for the 40 kilometre journey to the export ships that anchor in deep water in the Guld of Carpentaria, about 24 nautical miles off the coast.
Other facilities in the port provide for general cargo, fuel, fisheries products and the export of live cattle. Karumba also acts as a transhipment port for Mornington Island, other Gulf communities and the Port of Weipa for the majority of the year, with refrigerated semi-trailers bringing goods north to Karumba for transhipment.


Karumba, next small town from Burketown, at the mouth of the Norman River. Home base for Raptis [ I think] with a big processing plant. Part of the year the prawning fleet operates out of here. A family friend " twiggy", was the radio operator there for some years. A mate of mine, Karl Linden, was one of the first to get a license to prawn there. Twiggy has fond memories of this place, which really hummed when the fleet was in, we had a quiet beer there.





Apart from that, Karumba attracts amateur fishermen from all over. Fishing, Crabbing, at the right time of year. There is also a cloud phenomenon, which rolls in over the town attracting photographers . Called the morning glory, I will post a separate description of it. A local, a mate of twiggy's, has a 16 ft boat, which he takes to Sweers Island fishing. He goes there because he reckons Karumbas fished out! [ as if, he's just spoiled] Next time we are up there, I've booked my passage. It would be just over 100 kms from Karumba, looking forward to that one Bob

AH, Qld, beautiful one day, glorious the next! Bob [Just one thing. If you are at Karumba late in the season, & the first thunderstorms roll in, get out, otherwise you may be there for months. ] The road just before it disappeared








film footage, meteorological and tourist information by Rob Thompson

• Morning Glory Cloud Video
• Tourist Information

Telephone Rob in Australia +61 (0)429 493828 or email rob at aerialvideo dot com dot au
NEWSFLASH!
It looks like Sydney Motor Glider Flight Group may have a H36 Dimona motor glider based in the Gulf next September and October and it will be available with an experienced instructor. If you are interested in learning how to "surf the Glory" let them know. SMGFG conduct motor glider flights and gliding lessons at Camden near Sydney

The Morning Glory Cloud video footage here is from Aerial Video Australia who has high definition video footage available.
Dawn over the Gulf during the latter part of the dry season and if you're lucky the atmosphere will put on for you one of it's rarest and most spectacular displays....the Morning Glory Cloud, one of the world's most extraordinary meteorological phenomenon. Up to two kilometres high stretching from horizon to horizon this is a shockwave in the atmosphere of immense proportions which now attracts glider and hang glider pilots who ride it just as a surfboard rider does on the ocean.




The best location to see the Morning Glory is Burketown in far North Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria. The Glory generally goes through Karumba before dawn and arrives shortly after first light in the Burketown area. Towns are few and far between in this part of Australia - if you are travelling be prepared for some quite remote countryside with October temperatures over 40 degrees celsius at times. Many of the roads are dirt and the first thunderstorms of the wet season can start in mid to late October




This satellite image shows the Morning Glory appearing between Karumba and Burketown with a number of waves forming. Here is Morning Glory Cloud meteorological information including synoptic charts, computer modeling, photos and video footage which demonstrate the weather patterns that accompany the Morning Glory Clouds.









Here is tourist information on Burketown.


Other places in the Burketown region worth checking out are.......
Sweers Island: also has the roll cloud arriving shortly after dawn and is a tropical paradise not to be missed. Great fishing with boats and fishing gear included
Sweers Island aerial video:
Birri Resort: On Mornington Island for fishing and relaxing.
Lawn Hill Gorge: A stunning oasis with spring fed creeks and waterfalls...fabulous swimming and camping!
Aerial Video of Lawn Hill Gorge:

I'm terribly sorry, forgot to clarify the OTL link. Foolish me, Bob


History


Karumba - Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow

Yesterday

In the 1870s a telegraph station was built on the site of the present town of Karumba - this was during the gold mining boom in the Gulf. The overland telegraph line ran to the Gilbert River, Mt Surprise and on to the more populated centres on the East Coast. Initially the settlement was known simply as Norman Mouth being at the entrance of the Norman River into the Gulf waters.

The Queensland Government at one time considered the undersea cable, eventually laid to Darwin, might come ashore at Karumba. In fact the contractors building the famous overland telegraph from Darwin to Adelaide sailed to Karumba to transmit messages requesting materials and assistance during their contract.
Some ships were able to navigate the river to Normanton - a valuable transport system providing for the growing number of pioneers and residents to the region.
The name changed to Kimberley in 1876 for a short time, however the confusion with the Kimberley region in Western Australia brought about another change - Karumba - the name used by local indigenous people.
A meat-works was established where Raptis & Sons are located today by a firm called Shanns and later Andersons. Land allocations and the first moves into a pastoral industry in the Gulf region provided the catalyst for what is today a multi million $ industry. Beef was prepared in Karumba and frozen to be taken south by ship.
In 1937 the Flying Boat service operated by Qantas and BOAC established a base in Karumba to accommodate and refuel the Short Sunderland aircraft on their routes to London. The port then served as an RAAF Catalina base during WWII - the Catalinas operated from Karumba into the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), New Guinea and Timor.
After the war the base was taken over by a Melbourne identity - Rene Henri - who established the first fishing and hunting business which he named ‘Karumba Lodge'. The next owner was Ansett Airlines who used the Lodge as a base for their ‘Station Run', delivering mail and goods to cattle stations and flying barramundi to the booming centre of Mt Isa. Float planes still used the river until 1976.
By the 1950s Karumba was fast becoming a popular spot for people eager for a fishing adventure in the Gulf of Carpentaria. There were also the crocodile hunters who pursued these prehistoric reptiles for their valuable skins.
When large quantities of shrimp were discovered in the Gulf of Mexico, an Australian - Craig Mostyn reasoned that similar species should be found in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It took about two years to establish there were in fact commercial quantities to be found here as well - and from then on it was like a second gold rush.
In spite of opposition from the then Queensland treasurer, Craig Mostyn took over Karumba Lodge and went about building a packing factory on the burnt out site of the old meat-works. Modern housing soon followed to accommodate the burgeoning prawn industry skippers and factory workers. At the same time came the infrastructure like wharves, water storage, power and other supporting services, businesses and industries.
By the 1960s and 1970s Karumba had become the centre for the Gulf fishing industry. Today the prawn fishing and barramundi industry earn over $130 million each year.
In 1974 the biggest flood in living memory occurred and caused major damage - the marine wetland waterways and major river systems were inundated and escaped their natural courses to join forces and spread across the Gulf inland. Vast stretches of water were dotted with the odd small, raised area of land - the stock losses, erosion and damage took a heavy toll on the region with the water taking many days to subside.
In the early days road access was as you would expect - primitive - a punt ferry was established to cross the Norman River at Normanton and then it would take several hours to make your way across the bush track/cattle pad to Karumba. After the river was bridged, then came the formed road and eventually some sealed formation was achieved in 1978.

Air travelers had been using a large saltpan area near what is now Karumba Point - however after the 1974 flood this area became unusable. Eventually there was the development of an airstrip along the shore dune line where it is located today.
Sea transport in the early days was the most essential and reliable way to travel - then as roads improved and trucks began to provide faster services the scene changed. Cattle were initially moved on droving runs to the railhead at Julia Creek and this too eventually changed to truck transport. Marine contractors started live cattle transport by sea to the meatworks in Cairns - this was by barge initially. Today purpose built ships can lift in excess of 1000 head at a time.
Some important history reminders exist today and you can take a sentimental journey around Karumba to see:
Raptis & Sons - this is the site of the first meat-works. It was originally built from brick made locally in Normanton. At one time there was a piggery associated with the meat works further up river.
The factory and accommodation was sold to Raptis & Sons in 1977. When the factory burnt down in 1984 the current depot was built in its place.
Water Supply - An artesian bore provided the town's first main water supply until 1988 (other than rainwater) - today if you look behind the fire station shed you can see a header tank and an A frame which is all that remains. An additional water supply was provided through a well at the Point during the 1950's & 60's. This water was very sulphuric and unsafe and was subsequently dismantled. In 1998 Karumba was connected to the Normanton water supply from Glenore Weir via pipeline.
B Block - This was built sometime before WWII to provide accommodation for the staff servicing the Empire Flying Boats and reflects an example of South African architecture.
During the war the RAAF took over the building and used it for a radio & weather communications base. At the front of the building on the banks of the river there are still signs of the air-raid shelter.
In the late 1950's B Block was purchased by Ansett ANA who turned it, and another building into the Karumba Lodge Hotel. This is the lodge Craig Mostyn bought in 1963. The first school, with an enrolment of 8 students was established underneath the building.
The Karumba Lodge Hotel today does not include B Block - the main hangar for the Catalina provided the first building - then the Animal bar came about with the first slab of concrete being laid following the 1974 floods - initially it was going to be a supermarket.
Karumba Point - The Point has a history that goes back as far as 1872 when a telegraph link was established from Karumba to Cardwell. There is information indicating there was a small community here from as early as 1876 when gold was discovered in Croydon.
Old Wharf / Bunded Area - It was here that the first catch of commercial prawns was landed by Noel Sykes in the "FV Rama" on 25th May 1964. During the 1974 flood, car bodies and any other large debris was placed on the bank here to stop the fuel tanks going into the river. The old wharf was demolished in 1993.

Originally Posted by bob10;2157469






Just a ps. There was an ex Kangaroo playing A grade for Colts. Can't remember his name. Rang the brother, he can't either , but told me a story about he & two mates got caught outside the RSL , Dalby, with beer. [ 21 drinking age.

The ex Kangaroo was the local detective, took them to the cop shop, called Dad. Dad came down, the coppers put the wind up the boys by telling them they were going to lock them up, and they would miss the grand final they were due to play in that weekend. Dad, his mate, & the local coppers drank all the boys beer, & sent them home, with the old " don't do it again! ". Wish I could remember his name....

Brother came good, his brain clicked in, albeit a few days late. The Kangaroo was Noel Hazard, also Wayne Murphy & Clive Hall played for Colts. Clive played Bulimba cup , Bob

From about 1900 to 1930, mixed race children were taken from the communities from towns such as Burketown, Croydon & Normanton, and placed in the care of missionaries, in a Cape York Mission, where was that mission? Bob