28°S 151°E Millmerran – Queensland by Degrees

AT THE POINT

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ne

Looking north                              Looking east

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Looking south                       Looking west

Observations were carried out 280 m due west of degree confluence (thick vegetation between the road and point).
The area around the degree confluence is heavily forested. It lies on the divide between the catchments of the Weir River and the Macintyre River.

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Point information & photos: Col Grant 2008, Author's email:  cgrant@vnc.qld.edu.au

 

IN THE DEGREE SQUARE

 

 

Climate: The closest representative weather station is at Goondiwindi, which is 90 km south-west of the confluence, and has an elevation of 106 m.

 

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Year

Mean max
(ºC)

34.1

32.5

31.1

27.8

23.3

19.9

19.1

21.3

25.4

29.0

30.7

32.3

27.2

Mean min
(ºC)

20.2

19.7

16.9

12.9

8.6

5.8

4.5

5.4

9.3

13.6

16.6

18.6

12.7

Mean rain
(mm)

84.8

84.3

46.3

19.8

37.1

37.4

32.5

31.4

27.4

49.7

66.6

83.3

603.4

The highest temperature recorded was 44.2°C in November 1996, and the lowest was -4.2°C in July 1992. The greatest rainfall recorded in a year was 966.1 mm in 1996, and the lowest was 321.5 mm in 2006. These and other climate statistics for Goondiwindi can be found at: Australian Bureau of Meteorology, http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_041521_All.shtml

Extremes of Nature: Since 1906 there has been one cyclone to pass within 50 km of the degree confluence (1928, Unnamed), and a further 12 have passed within 200 km. Cyclone information for this area and all of Australia can be found at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website, http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/cyclones.cgi.

Cyclone tracks within 200 km of the confluence, 1906 to 2006 (Bureau of Meteorology web site)

Extreme heat can also be a potential danger. Records show that Goondiwindi experiences 36 days annually with temperatures over 35°C, although very rarely does it reach 40°C or warmer. Such extreme temperatures can cause heat stroke and death if appropriate measures are not taken such as avoiding strenuous physical effort, keeping as cool as possible and drinking lots of water. Heat waves kill more people in Australia than all other natural hazards combined.

Today:

The population of the degree square at the 2011 national Census was 5040. Of this total 1324 people lived in Millmerran; 819 in Inglewood and 202 in Cecil Plains.

MEASURE

1996

2001

2006

2011

Total population

5198

6203

5148

5040

Total males

2690

3565

2669

2569

Total females

2508

2638

2479

2471

Under 5 years

438

429

363

319

65 years and over

511

616

769

874

Indigenous

130

190

175

178

The spike in the 2001 population was probably associated with the construction phase of gas and power projects in the area.

Millmerran
Millmerran is the centre of a diverse area of agricultural production. While sheep and cattle grazing still occur in the district, much of the land is devoted to more intensive uses including poultry, pigs, grain, crops and vegetables.
To the west of town, large forests produce millable cypress pine and hardwood. The area has extensive coal deposits. The district suffered prom prickly pear infestation in the early 1900's.

mill

More to come

Edited by:  Hayley Freemantle