No. 11 General Report on Lands of the Leichhardt–Gilbert Area, Queensland, 1953–54

Abstract

The Leichhardt–Gilbert survey covered about 300,000 km² in northwest Queensland. The main settlements included Burketown and Normanton in the northwest, Croydon, Georgetown and Einsleigh in the north and northeast, Hughenden and Richmond in the southeast and Julia Creek and Cloncurry in the south and southwest, but excluding the major mining centre of Mt Isa to the west of the survey area.

The survey identified 61 land systems in three physiographic divisions — two upland and an intervening area of broad erosional and alluvial lowland plains with the easterly upland province having some volcanic (lava) plains. Land systems range from 260 km² to 48,430 km² although some, mainly stream channels, are very small. The area, landforms, soils and vegetation of 286 land units are described.

Individual chapters in the report include:

1. Climate — general characteristics and their relation to plant growth and water requirements for irrigation
2. Geology — relations between geological units and land systems; with notes on economic geology and groundwater
3. Geomorphology — characteristics of three physiographic divisions and six geomorphological units; (Report No. 16 provides a more detailed account of the geology and geomorphology of this survey area)
4. Surface Hydrology — resource availability and issues in dam construction
5. Soils — agricultural characteristics and environmental relationships of 32 soil families
6. Vegetation — plant geography and classification; and the characteristics and distribution of 39 communities
7. Land Use — history, environment and potential for agriculture and grazing; and characteristics of 15 pasture lands in terms of their included land systems, total area, climate and growing season, their main native pasture types, and stocking rates

Map 1 — Lands of the Leichhardt–Gilbert area, Queensland, Australia. One sheet: Land Systems by RA Perry. Scale 1:1,000,000. With insets: Geology by CE Prichard; Geomorphic units by CR Twidale; Soils by JR Sleeman; Vegetation by RA Perry. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 11, 1964.

The map was digitised by the Queensland Government with permission of CSIRO. Access to the digital file can be obtained from the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water

Editor's Note: Most of the area is drained northwards to the Gulf of Carpentaria by three major rivers. Smaller areas are drained to the south and inland and east to the Pacific Ocean.