Source: Bureau of Meteorology, Australia, data: 1986–2006
The place Kalumburu , which was formerly called Drysdale River Mission , is the northernmost settlement in the state of Western Australia and has about 410 inhabitants. The land belongs to the Aboriginal people of the Wunambal and Kwini . The site is 636 kilometers from Derby and 550 kilometers from Wyndham , and is accessible via Gibb River Road and Kalumburu Road . The road there is only accessible in the dry season with all-wheel drive vehicles.
The Benedictine order decided in 1905 to found a mission. This was built in 1908 northeast of today's location. When water ran out in 1937, the missionaries moved to the Kalumburu Pool on the King Edward River.
When the Second World War began, the Australian government decided to build an airfield for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The airfield was to serve as a base for hunting submarines . During the war years of 1943/44, the airfield was attacked several times from the base of the Japanese in Timor . There was damage to aircraft and buildings as well as the death of soldiers and civilians.
In 1951, the Drysdale River Mission was renamed Kalumburu and management of the area was transferred to the Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation . Since the distance to the nearest hospital is 568 kilometers, a hospital was built in 2008. This was done in cooperation with the Australian Army and the Western Australian Health Authority. The old Truscott Airport is available for medical emergencies.
Since the area belongs to the Aborigines, permission must be obtained in advance to access the Kalumburu Road . The only stop en route to the supply of gasoline and other goods is Drysdale River Homestead , where caravans are required to stay as only camping is allowed in the area.
You can fish in the King Edward Gorge River , which flows into the Indian Ocean , but watch out for the freshwater crocodiles . There are numerous significant works of Aboriginal art in the Kalumburu area.
