Normanton
Population
Shire 3898 (1996 Census)Location
70km from Karumba493km from Mt Isa
700km to Cairns
General Information
Normanton is the capital of the 68 111 km2 Carpentaria Shire and part of the only sealed access to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The shire is as large as Tasmania and only has 2 towns. The town of Normanton was founded as a port to the pastoral and mining ventures in 1870. Normanton is the third oldest town in Queensland north of Bowen and is home to the historic Gulflander Railway.
Climate
Being so far north, the town of Normanton experiences a distinct Monsoon and dry seasons. The Monsoon starts in November or December and brings spectacular storms and can even bring cyclones. The temperatures during this time hover in the high thirties and low forties and are accentuated by the oppressive humidity. The wet can play havoc with traffic attempting to use any of the non-sealed roads in the district. It is for this reason that tourist season in during the dry season. This dry season is from April to November and brings magnificent sunny days, with temperatures in the mid to high twenties.
History
Abel Tasman was the first European to explore the Normanton region, sighting the entrance to the Norman River in 1664 and naming it "Van Dieman's inlet". Burke and Wills came within 40 km of Normanton and 30 km of the Gulf of Carpentaria in their ill-fated transcontinental journey in 1860. The first European to navigate the Norman River was William Landsbrough in January 1867. It was then that he chose the site of the township, high above the apparent flood levels on an iron stone ridge and in May the first settlers arrived. An out break of "The fever" in the Albert River settlement (Near the present day Burketown) ensure the success of Normanton as the supply port for booming mining and pastoral properties.
Construction of a rail line to Cloncurry was under taken, but the gold rush in Croydon saw it diverted east. Construction of this 152km rail line began in 1888 and took only three years to complete. The original steel sleepers, track, station and goods sheds of this line still remain in use, making this the oldest original rail line in Australia, if not, the world. Tourists and a small amount of freight depart every Wednesday from the Normanton Station for the return journey to Croydon.
The Burns Philp's empire has its origins in Normanton. The Burns Philp Store is still standing today and there are plans to convert it into a tourism centre. Normanton penitentiary was the scene of the last hanging in the gulf and this historical building can be toured with permission from the council. The Normanton Westpac Bank Building dates from 1896 and is a classic example of Queenslander Architecture.
