Julia Creek experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), with a short, erratic wet season from December to March; and a long, relatively cooler dry season from April to November. Although average maxima remain warm to hot year-round, average minima have greater variation: from 9.1 °C (48.4 °F) in July to 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) in January. Average annual rainfall is low, 463.7 mm (18.26 in), and is extremely unpredictable, evident by the 738.6 mm (29.08 in) of rain recorded in January 1974 alone. The town is very sunny, averaging 175.1 clear days and only 37.4 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −0.9 °C (30.4 °F) on 25 June 1965 to 46.5 °C (115.7 °F) on 9 November 1965.[10]
Climate data for Julia Creek (20º39'36"S, 141º45'00"E, 123 m AMSL) (1965-2001 normals and extremes, rainfall 1912-2011)
The name Julia Creek was named after the niece of Donald McIntyre (younger brother of explorer Duncan McIntyre), the first white settler in the area.[12] McIntyre took up a property called Dalgonally about 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of the present site of the town in 1864, only a few years after the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition passed through the area.[citation needed]
The name Oorindi is the Aboriginal name for the Williams River (which is about 12 kilometres [7.5 mi] west of Oorindi) and means stones.[14]
Julia Creek Post Office opened by September 1910 (a receiving office had been open from 1907).[15]
Julia Creek State School was a one-room school established in 1911 with nine students, and was expanded in 1932 and again in 1934.[16][17] A separate high school was constructed in 1963.[12]
In 1952, the town was serviced with electricity.[citation needed]
St Joseph's School opened in 1955 and closed in 1995.[18]
A sixteen-bed hospital was established in 1972.[19]
Julia Creek Public Library was opened in 1994.[20]
The Dirt n Dust Festival sporting and music festival was held in the town annually from 1995 to 2019 and was considered one of Queensland's largest events of its type. After cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced in July 2021 that due to a lack of volunteers, and there being no committee to run the event, the Dirt n Dust Festival would no longer be held.[21][22] But in December 2021, an organising committee was formed and the 2022 festival was held on 22-24 April and continues to be held annually.[23][24]
In 2022, Julia Creek made headlines by its inability to attract a doctor for general practice work in the town for over 2 years, despite offering an annual salary of over $500,000 and providing a rent-free house.[25] The position was filled in December 2022.[26]
Demographics
In the 2016 census. the locality of Julia Creek had a population of 511 people.[27]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Julia Creek had a population of 549 people.[1]
Economy
The town's main industries are farming, (especially the beef and wool industries), and mining, which is mainly centred on the South32 mine at nearby Cannington. The town is a major centre for cattle sales and stock trucking, with a large saleyard and associated facilities. Prior to the expansion of the railway to the larger towns of Cloncurry and Mount Isa, the town was also a major transport hub for freight and passengers.[citation needed]
Environment
Julia Creek dunnart area
Julia Creek is also home to the Julia Creek dunnart which is now endangered because of feral animals (wild cats, dogs and foxes).[citation needed]
St Barnabas Anglican Church is at 1 Burke Street. Anglican services recommenced in 2020.[33]
Regular services by the Uniting Church in Australia are held in St Baranabas Anglican Church. These are provided by the McKay Patrol, an aerial service of the Uniting Church in Australia that operates out of Cloncurry. Supported by other denominations, the McKay Patrol operates a Cessna 182Q aeroplane to provide spiritual and practical help to people living in remote areas in the north-west of Queensland and the eastern Tablelands of the Northern Territory, an area of approximately 625,000 square kilometres (241,000 sq mi) with a population of fewer than 10,000 people.[34][35][36]
Julia Creek also has a visitor and cultural centre, swimming pool, tennis courts, parks as well as a sports centre.[citation needed]
Events
Julia Creek hosts the annual Dirt n Dust Festival. The next event is to be held on 11-13 April 2025.[37]
^"ON THE OUT-BACK TRACK". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. XXIV, no. 7724. Queensland, Australia. 10 July 1907. p. 10. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Julia Creek Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
Wallace, Jan, (compiler.); Brown, Robert, (photographer.); Julia Creek Historical Society; Julia Creek Information Centre (issuing body) (2006), Discover Mckinlay : Julia Creek, McKinlay, Kynuna, Nelia, Corinda, Qld. Pictorial Press Australia, Julia Creek Information Centre, McKinlay Shire Council, ISBN978-1-876561-41-3{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
