Walkamin

History

The name Walkamin was taken from its railway station, which in turn was named by the Queensland Railways Department on 8 November 1943, based on a suggestion by organist Sydney Lionel May who proposed it because it was the name of an Aboriginal language associated with the area, probably the Wakaman language documented by Norman Tindale. Walkamin State School opened on 19 May 1958. In 1982 the school celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Walkamin Research Station was established by the Queensland Government in late 1959 to investigate the economic use of irrigation water from the Tinaroo Dam.

Geography

Walkamin is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland between Mareeba and Tolga. The Kennedy Highway traverses the locality from the south-east to the north-east passing through the town. Walkamin has a tropical savannah climate, bordering on a dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Aw/Cwa). The town has a hot and humid wet season from mid-November to mid-April and a warm, sunny dry season from mid-April to mid-November; though the climate is made cooler and drier by the town's elevation. Average maxima vary from in December to in July, while average minima fluctuate between in February and in July. Mean average annual precipitation is moderate, spread between 83.8 precipitation days (above the threshold). Extreme temperatures have ranged from on 6 January 1994 and 19 November 1990 to on 4 July 1984.

Most-observed species

• Peaceful Dove

  Geopelia placida Gould, 1844 · Aves
  4,836
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  4,698
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  4,475
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  4,237
• Brown Honeyeater

  Lichmera indistincta (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) · Aves
  4,097
• Australasian Figbird

  Sphecotheres vieilloti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 · Aves
  3,685
• Bar-shouldered Dove

  Geopelia humeralis (Temminck, 1821) · Aves
  3,343
• Yellow Honeyeater

  Stomiopera flava (Gould, 1843) · Aves
  3,226

Most recent

• M 3.6 — 2011-03-15
  30 km NE of Innisfail Estate, Australia