Kalumburu, Western Australia
Kalumburu Federal division(s) | Durack | ||||||||
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Kalumburu (postcode 6740) and Kalumburu Community (formerly Drysdale River Mission) are both bounded localities within the
According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 412 people[3] and is inhabited mostly by Aboriginal people from the Wunambal and Kwini language groups. Kalumburu Community is remote from any main roads – the nearest is the Gibb River Road, 270 km to the south via the Kalumburu Road. It was the site of a World War II airbase, which was attacked by Japanese planes in 1943.
History
In 1905, the
World War II
Following the outbreak of World War II, the Australian government commissioned an airfield at the mission. After Japanese forces occupied the
In February 1943, Allied signals intelligence suggested that Japanese aircraft would be built up in
On 27 September 1943, the base and settlement were attacked by 21 Japanese Kawasaki Ki-48 bombers, based at Kupang, Timor, with a fighter escort. The Superior of the mission, Father Thomas Gil O.S.B, aged 45 years, and five Aboriginal people ranging from the age of 1 to 45 years were killed. This included a mother and son. All victims were buried together on mission grounds, the Aboriginal people on either side of Father Thomas, following the funeral at the damaged church. Many buildings at the mission were also destroyed or severely damaged during the raid.
In April 1944,
The military significance of the airfield declined once Truscott Airfield was constructed, about 32 km (20 mi) north, in 1944.
Post-war
In 1951, Drysdale River Mission was officially renamed Kalumburu. Management of the community was later taken over by Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation, on behalf of the Kalumburu Community Council. The community retains strong links with the OSB, including a priest and several Benedictine nuns.[6]
Medical services
Kalumburu is 568 km via a poor quality road to the nearest hospital. During the dry season, this takes about 12 hours. There is a small clinic staffed by two remote area nurses with a visiting doctor once per week. This community has been extensively studied and is the subject of publications in regards to Aboriginal health (e.g. trachoma and kidney disease).
In 2008 a new clinic was being built, in collaboration with the Australian Army and Western Australia Health. There is provision for a small dialysis unit, although staffing and equipment are yet to be finalized.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service land on the Kalumburu strip to the north of the town. There is also the old Truscott Airbase which can be used in cases of emergency.
Population
According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 412 people in Kalumburu.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 91.4% of the population.
- 97.3% of people were born in Australia and 88.1% of people spoke only English at home.
- The most common response for religion was Catholic at 89.5%.[3]
Town planning
Kalumburu Layout Plan No.2 was prepared in accordance with State Planning Policy 3.2 Aboriginal Settlements. Layout Plan No.2 was endorsed by the community in 2004 and the Western Australian Planning Commission in 2005. The layout plan map-set and background report can be viewed at Planning Western Australia's website.[7]
Climate
The Köppen–Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as tropical savanna (Aw) with very hot daytime temperatures year round and cool winter nighttime temperatures.
Climate data for Kalumburu | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 40.3 (104.5) |
39.6 (103.3) |
39.2 (102.6) |
40.2 (104.4) |
39.0 (102.2) |
37.3 (99.1) |
38.3 (100.9) |
38.1 (100.6) |
41.4 (106.5) |
43.4 (110.1) |
42.1 (107.8) |
42.5 (108.5) |
43.4 (110.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 34.0 (93.2) |
33.6 (92.5) |
34.2 (93.6) |
35.0 (95.0) |
33.6 (92.5) |
31.8 (89.2) |
32.4 (90.3) |
33.8 (92.8) |
35.9 (96.6) |
37.1 (98.8) |
37.3 (99.1) |
35.5 (95.9) |
34.5 (94.1) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24.7 (76.5) |
24.4 (75.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
21.2 (70.2) |
17.0 (62.6) |
14.4 (57.9) |
13.9 (57.0) |
14.6 (58.3) |
19.1 (66.4) |
22.6 (72.7) |
24.7 (76.5) |
25.0 (77.0) |
20.4 (68.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | 21.0 (69.8) |
20.2 (68.4) |
17.3 (63.1) |
11.4 (52.5) |
7.0 (44.6) |
4.5 (40.1) |
5.0 (41.0) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.4 (47.1) |
14.7 (58.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
21.0 (69.8) |
4.5 (40.1) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 341.0 (13.43) |
294.5 (11.59) |
211.0 (8.31) |
37.0 (1.46) |
17.2 (0.68) |
2.3 (0.09) |
1.4 (0.06) |
0.3 (0.01) |
2.0 (0.08) |
37.2 (1.46) |
80.6 (3.17) |
233.4 (9.19) |
1,230.7 (48.45) |
Average rainy days | 20.2 | 17.9 | 15.7 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 8.8 | 15.9 | 94.3 |
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)
|
67 | 69 | 64 | 49 | 33 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 60 | 47 |
Source: [8] |
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kalumburu (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kalumburu (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021.
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kalumburu (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 August 2019. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- ^ "Kalumburu Airfield, Kalumburu". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011.
- ^ "People's Voice". peoplesvoice.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Father Anscar McPhee publishes a book for Kalumburu heroes ABC Kimberley radio, 17 August 2011.
- ^ "Layout plans". Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Climate statistics for Australian locations-Kalumburu". BOM.
Further reading
- Choo, Christine.(2001) Mission girls : Aboriginal women on Catholic missions in the Kimberley, Western Australia 1900-1950 Nedlands, W. A. : University of W.A. Press, 2001. ISBN 1-876268-55-7
- Peet, L. (1995). "Monks at War: Interpretations of the Kalumburu War Diary, 1942-1945." New Norcia Studies July 1995(3): 39–53.
- Peet, L. (2008). "A Very Convenient Location: Kalumburu Mission During World War II." New Norcia Studies September 2008(16): 4-10.
- Perez, E. (1958). Kalumburu "Formerly Drysdale River" Benedictine Mission North-Western Australia: A Golden Jubilee Publication (1908–1958). New Norcia, Service Printing Co Pty Ltd for Abbey Press:
- Perez, E. (1977). Kalumburu The Benedictine Mission and the Aborigines 1908 - 1975: The History of Kalumburu Mission in North Western Australia Kalumburu, Kalumburu Benedictine Mission:
- Perez, E. (1981). Kalumburu War Diary R. Pratt and J. Millington. Perth, Artlook Books: