No. 3 Survey of the Barkly Region, Northern Territory and Queensland, 1947–48

Abstract

The Barkly Region survey covered 310,800 km² extending from sea level to ~430 m with a large part between 180 m and 300 m — hence the designation of most of its area as the Barkly Tableland.

The survey identified 38 land systems in three geomorphological divisions — one draining to the Gulf of Carpentaria, one draining south to the continental interior and one with internal drainage. Land systems range from ~780 km² to ~41,000 km² and most have between three and five land units which are described in terms of their position in the landscape, topography, vegetation and soils. For each land system, general descriptions are given for location, climate, geology and geomorphology, and drainage.

The report describes five land-use groups in relation to their Mitchell Grass communities. These groups include 15 land systems covering more than 100,000 km².

Individual chapters describe:

1. Climate — general characteristics and their relation to plant growth
2. Geology — geological history and distribution of groups and formations
3. Geomorphology — origins and characteristics of three geomorphological divisions and component units
4. Hydrology — surface and underground water resources and water quality
5. Soils — diagnostic and agricultural characteristics of 32 soil units
6. Vegetation — characteristics and species associations of 40 communities
7. Land Use Groups — eleven land use groups comprising between one and nine land systems were identified with assessments of their rainfall, soils, pastures and stocking rates. The report describes five land-use groups in relation to their Mitchell Grass communities. These groups include 15 land systems covering more than 100,000 km².

Map 1 — Land Systems of the Barkly region Northern Territory and Queensland. Scale approximately1:1,000,000. 1950. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 3, 1954.

Map 2 — Geomorphological Units of the Barkly region Northern Territory and Queensland. Scale approximately 1:1,000,000. 1950. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 3, 1954.

Map 3 — Land Use Groups of the Barkly region Northern Territory and Queensland. Scale approximately 1:1,000,000. NMO/124/52, 1952. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 3, 1954.

Map 4 — Land Traverses of the Barkly region, Northern Territory and Queensland by CSIRO field party 1947–1948. Scale approximately 1:1,000,000. NM52/039, 1952. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 3, 1954 (black and white with red traverses).

The maps were digitised by the Queensland Government with permission of CSIRO. Access to the digital files can be obtained from the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water.

Editor's Note: The main centers are Mt Isa (2011 population ~24,000) in the east and Tennant Creek (2011 population ~6,000) in the west. In addition to its pastoral and mineral resources, the area is now valued for tourism and for conservation of biodiversity – notably of Mitchell Grass. Recently, a Mitchell Grass Bioregion (~93,000 km²) has been identified as subject to ‘threatening processes’, mainly associated with increased grazing linked to the expansion of watering points.