| Carnarvon Kuwinywardu (Yinggarda) Western Australia | |||||||||
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 The Carnarvon Fascine boardwalk | |||||||||
  Carnarvon | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 24°52′02″S113°39′40″E / 24.86722°S 113.66111°E /-24.86722; 113.66111 | ||||||||
| Population | 4,879 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||
| Established | 1883 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6701 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Carnarvon | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mid-West | ||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Durack | ||||||||
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Carnarvon (/kərˈnɑːrvən/kər-NAR-vən) is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres (560 mi) north ofPerth, in Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of theGascoyne River on theIndian Ocean. TheShark Bayworld heritage area lies to the south of the town and theNingaloo Reef and the tourist town ofExmouth lie to the north. Mungullah Aboriginal Community was formerly in the town however it has moved east of the town.
Inland, Carnarvon has strong links with the town ofGascoyne Junction and theBurringurrah Community. At the2021 census, Carnarvon had a population of 4,879.[1]
TheInggarda people are thetraditional owners of the region around Carnarvon. Before European settlement the place now called Carnarvon, located at the mouth of theGascoyne River, was known asKuwinywardu which means 'neck of water'.[2] Indigenous Australians associating with the Carnarvon area typically associate as beingYamatji, traditionally speaking theWajarri language.
The town was founded in 1883, initially as a port and supply centre for the surrounding region, and is the administrative centre for theShire of Carnarvon. The town site was officially gazetted on 4 June 1891, named afterHenry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, a pastSecretary of State for the Colonies.
The carnarvon Jetty was built in the late 1890s and had reached its maximum length in 1904.[3] In 2021, it was destroyed byCyclone Seroja.[4]
Carnarvon has had three tramways.[5][6]
TheCarnarvon Light Railway Association operated trains along restored tracks on the jetty;[8][9] however, due to unsafe conditions the jetty was closed to the public. In 2021 it was destroyed byCyclone Seroja.
From 1964 to 1965, 12sounding rockets were launched from Carnarvon to a maximum altitude of 120 kilometres (75 mi).[10][full citation needed]
During the 1960s,NASA set up atracking station nearby to support the Gemini andApollo space programs. The tracking station was closed in the mid-1970s. Only the foundations of the historical site remain. The site is adjacent to theOTC Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon.
On 20 May 1988, thebulk carrierKorean Star ran aground in bad weather near Cape Cuvier, within the port limits of Carnarvon.[11] Around 600 tonnes (1.3 million pounds) of fuel oil were spilled into the ocean. Damage was limited to 10 kilometres (6 mi) of remote beaches and coastline. The ship was not salvaged and left grounded; however, very little of the wreck remains to be seen.[citation needed]
Main economic activities of theGascoyne region include:
Radio Australia had a shortwave relay station (built during the 1970s) that used to relay programming to Europe, South Asia and Southeast Asia.[citation needed]
There are five schools in the town; one Catholic, three Western Australia Department of Education schools and one independent. These areSt Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic School, which was built in 1906,Carnarvon Community College (formerly Carnarvon Primary School, East Carnarvon Primary School, and Carnarvon Senior High School), CarnarvonSchool of the Air and Carnarvon Christian School.
Air travel is served byCarnarvon Airport which provides daily direct flights toPerth that are operated byRex Airlines.
The town is along theNorth West Coastal Highway that links betweenGeraldton andPort Hedland.
Carnarvon has ahot desert climate (BWh). Average yearly rainfall is 210 millimetres (8.27 in) with the rainiest months (and the most reliable rainfall) being between May and July as the northern edges of wintercold fronts brush the region. Occasionaltropical cyclones affect Carnarvon during the summer months bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Apart from this erratic source of rainfall summers are normally dry. Temperatures range from an average maximum of 33 °C (91 °F) in February to 22 °C (72 °F) in July. Average minimums are 23 °C (73 °F) and 11 °C (52 °F) respectively. On 18 February 2024, Carnarvon recorded its highest ever temperature of 49.9 °C (121.8 °F).[13] The town is extremely sunny, having 211.0 clear days annually.[13]
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °C (°F) | 47.8 (118.0) | 49.9 (121.8) | 47.8 (118.0) | 41.1 (106.0) | 38.2 (100.8) | 32.2 (90.0) | 32.5 (90.5) | 33.6 (92.5) | 38.8 (101.8) | 43.9 (111.0) | 43.4 (110.1) | 45.6 (114.1) | 49.9 (121.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.7 (89.1) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.1 (89.8) | 29.8 (85.6) | 27.1 (80.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.8 (74.8) | 24.8 (76.6) | 26.6 (79.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 30.1 (86.2) | 27.8 (82.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.8 (73.0) | 23.6 (74.5) | 22.4 (72.3) | 19.4 (66.9) | 14.8 (58.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 10.8 (51.4) | 11.6 (52.9) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 19.0 (66.2) | 21.1 (70.0) | 17.3 (63.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 15.9 (60.6) | 15.6 (60.1) | 13.2 (55.8) | 8.9 (48.0) | 6.1 (43.0) | 3.6 (38.5) | 2.4 (36.3) | 3.4 (38.1) | 5.9 (42.6) | 8.1 (46.6) | 10.7 (51.3) | 14.0 (57.2) | 2.4 (36.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 7.9 (0.31) | 17.2 (0.68) | 19.1 (0.75) | 15.4 (0.61) | 23.8 (0.94) | 42.5 (1.67) | 42.7 (1.68) | 15.9 (0.63) | 7.6 (0.30) | 3.0 (0.12) | 2.6 (0.10) | 12.7 (0.50) | 210.0 (8.27) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 23.0 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%)(at 15:00) | 57 | 58 | 55 | 55 | 51 | 49 | 50 | 48 | 50 | 50 | 52 | 55 | 53 |
| Averagedew point °C (°F) | 19.5 (67.1) | 20.4 (68.7) | 18.8 (65.8) | 16.8 (62.2) | 13.1 (55.6) | 9.9 (49.8) | 9.4 (48.9) | 9.5 (49.1) | 11.0 (51.8) | 13.0 (55.4) | 14.9 (58.8) | 17.5 (63.5) | 14.5 (58.1) |
| Source:Bureau of Meteorology: Carnarvon Airport[13] | |||||||||||||
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