| NORMANTON - QUEENSLAND - 4890 | ||||
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Population: 1,300, Height above sea level:, 15m Latitude: =17.4000, Longitude: 141.1500 Location: 2,150km north west of Brisbane Highway: Matilda Hwy (83) Nearest Major Town: Normanton Nearest Airport: Mt Isa Touring Area: Tropical North |
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 Shire office - Normanton - Courtesy of Tourism Queensland | |
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Normanton was established in 1868 and is at the junction of the Burke and Gulf Development Roads
near the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is the gatweay to the prawn-fishing town of Karumba. Facilities when I was last there were few, but there is an adequate pub and several shops. Normanton is also the western terminus of the historic Normanton to Croydon railway which was established in the late 1800s when gold was discovered at Croydon 155km to the east. At that time Normanton was a busy port providing services to the miners. Today the historic 'Gulflander' railway runs between the two towns providing one of Australia's great rail journeys. Normanton and the rivers and coast around it are dangerous with many estuarine crocodiles and you should not camp too close to water or swim in it. In 1957 Australia's largest crocodile, 'Krys the Savannah King', over 8 metres long, was shot at nearby Archer's Creek and a lifesize replica of it will be seen in the council park at Normanton. PLACES OF INTEREST: ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES: 
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© Copyright Peter W. Wilkins