Landscape and grazing
This large region of 320,000 square kilometres stretches north
west from the Desert Uplands region of Queensland across into the
Northern Territory. It is dominated by the largely treeless plains
of Mitchell Grass (grasses of the genus Astrebla ). The land
area in this region is almost totally given over to
pastoralism—unsurprising as the region is defined by a grass
type that is good for grazing cattle.
Cattle culture
The sparse population is distributed in towns that support the
cattle industry like Longreach and Camooweal in Queensland and
Elliott in the Northern Territory. Even other significant
industries in the area like tourism exploit the cattle station
culture as seen in the Longreach Hall of Fame.
 |
|
Mitchell Grasslands: the
area is largely tree-less and dominated by plains of Mitchell
grass. Photo: PWCNT
|
Climate
The Mitchell Grasslands is the only landlocked region of the
tropical savannas and the driest. Annual rainfall averages diminish
from 600 mm in the north to less than 400 mm in the south. The
region's hottest temperatures occur pre-wet season but the slightly
cooler, maximum January temperatures range between 36oC
and 39o C when cloud cover and rain are most frequent.
During the longer winter dry season minimum temperatures range
between 9oC and 12o C and frosts are a
possibility in the far south-east sector on clear nights.
Biogeographic region
This area is defined by the single biogeographic region, the
Mitchell Grass Downs. For more information on this biogeographic
region go to: ERIN's Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of
Australia (IBRA), see website link below .
|
Town
|
Total Population
|
Indigenous Population
|
|
Julia Creek
|
525
|
46
|
|
Richmond
|
641
|
22
|
|
Tambo
|
359
|
14
|
|
Longreach
|
3,673
|
78
|
|
Winton
|
1,321
|
105
|
|
Elliot
|
419
|
274
|
|
Table is based on Urban Centres and
Localities figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001
Census.
|
Population snapshot
The population figures below are based on the Australian Bureau
of Statistics censuses of 2001 which was conducted in early August
of that year. These more standardised Urban Centres and Localities
figures replace earlier ones on this site based on Statistical
Local Areas and Census Collection Districts.
The Mitchell Grasslands is sparsely populated.
Land use
Measured by area, the only major land-use in the region is
pastoralism. The map below shows pastoralism in white, Aboriginal
land use in tan, conservation land use in dark brown.
For more detailed information on this region click on the
topics menu on the left
