AT THE POINT
Observations carried out at exact degree confluence. Site is on the Qld-NSW border, between Culgoa Floodplain NP (Qld) and Culgoa NP (NSW), in the catchment of the Culgoa River. Point information & photos: Col Grant Sept 2008. Author's email cgrant@vnc.qld.edu.au IN THE DEGREE SQUARE More to come Climate: The closest weather station is at the Goodooga Post Office (048046), which is 46km east-south-east of the confluence, and has an elevation of 140m.
The highest temperature that has been recorded is 46.4°C in January 1973, and the lowest is -3.3°C in July 1972. The greatest rainfall recorded in a year was 1121.5 mm in 1950, and the least was 148.2 mm in 1944. These and other climate statistics for Goodooga can be found at: Australian Bureau of Meteorology, http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_048046_All.shtml Extremes of Nature: Since 1906 there have been no cyclones to pass within 50 km of the degree confluence, but 2 have passed within 200 km (1911, 1956). 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) The area can experience extreme heat throughout some of the year, with Goodooga having an average of 58 days annually that have maximum temperatures equal to or over 35°C. Today: The population of the degree square is probably less than 50. Culgoa National Park. The Culgoa River flows in a south-westerly direction, in the east of the degree square. It eventually joins the Barwon near Bourke (NSW), forming the Darling River. National Parks extend north and south from the degree confluence into Qld and NSW. On the Queensland side the Culgoa Floodplain NP is about 42,800ha. It is rich in aboriginal heritage, grazing history and wildlife. Border Fence, Brenda Crossing Brenda Crossing (Gate) connects Goodooga (NSW) and various properties in Qld. The border fence here is quite modest (shown heading eastwards into the distance). Landuse practices are shown to make a difference - left (north) of the fence is in Qld, the right side (south) is in NSW. Brenda Station has a long history. More to come. Edited by: Hayley Freemantle |