No. 7 General Report on Lands of the Wiluna–Meekatharra Area, Western Australia, 1958

Abstract

CSIRO’s survey of the Wiluna–Meekatharra area covered 64,750 km² in a rectangular block stretching 110 km N–S and 595 km E–W. The survey included, and is named for the two towns of Wiluna and Meekatharra, both had a history of boom-and-bust gold mining. With a view to more sustainable development, CSIRO was requested to report on the nature and capability of the land.

After preliminary interpretation of aerial photographs and a reconnaissance, the survey team undertook more detailed photo-interpretation and selected 300 sites for sampling along ten traverse routes. The full field survey identified 48 land systems ranging between 100 km² and 5,700 km², with one large system having an area closer to 14,000 km².

The report describes the four to nine land units in each of the 48 land systems, or 275 land units in total, in terms of their area, landforms, soils and vegetation with distribution shown on block diagrams. General descriptions are given for the location, geology and geomorphology and land use of each land system.

Individual chapters describe:

1. Climate — principal controls and general characteristics of rainfall, temperature, humidity and evaporation and their effects on vegetation
2. Geology — rock types in relation to age; and key aspects of economic geology
3. Geomorphology — characteristics of four broad physiographic regions: lowland stony or alluvial plains draining to the Murchison River; a plateau surface with interior drainage; northeastern uplands; and central uplands
4. Soils — characteristics of seven groups with 37 sub-groups; their relation to landscapes and substrates; and their occurrence in the land systems
5. Vegetation — characteristics of alliances, sub-alliances and 75 communities
6. Pastures and Pasture Lands — characteristics and attributes of four types
7. Water Supply — surface water storage; groundwater yield, recharge, storage, depth and quality; prospects for irrigation
8. The Pastoral Industry — its history, relationship to environmental factors, present pasture condition and required improvements

Map 1 — Land Systems of the Wiluna–Meekatharra area, Western Australia by JA Mabbutt, NH Speck, RL Wright, WH Litchfield, DG Wilcox and J Sofoulis. Scale 8 miles to 1 inch. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 7, 1963.

Map 2 — Geology, Land Forms and Physical Provinces and Regions, Pasture Lands, Groundsurface Types and Drainage Catchments of the Wiluna–Meekatharra area, Western Australia. Four maps on sheet, each scale 1:1,000,000: Geology by J Sofoulis; Land Forms and Physical Provinces and Regions by JA Mabbutt; Pasture Lands by NH Speck and BG Wilcox; Groundsurface Types and Drainage Catchments by Muriel Brooksfield. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 7, 1973.