History of Mount Isa Meteorological Office

HISTORY OF MOUNT ISA 

In February 1923, lone prospector John Campbell Miles discovered silver-lead-zinc ore in a low range about one kilometre across the valley from the sandy bed of the Leichhardt River in North West Queensland.  He named his prospecting leases Mount Isa, a corruption of Mount Ida, a West Australian gold field.  The horse that carried John Campbell Miles to the spot where he discovered silver-lead was named, aptly enough "Hard Times".  It was a prophetic name because "hard times" probably epitomises the early history of Mount Isa. 

Between 1923 and 1963 Local Government was administered by Cloncurry Shire Council, before the Mount Isa Shire Council came into existence in July 1963. The new Shire also included the former Barkly Tableland Shire Council (the Township of Camooweal and surrounding rural areas). The newly-created local authority's area was 41,225 square kilometres (boundary alteration in 1996 added 1679 km2) with an estimated population of 15,192.  City status was proclaimed on 30th of May 1968 when Mount Isa's population officially exceeded 18,000.  Significant population growth in the area continued to its peak in 1973 of approximately 33,000. 

 HISTORY OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 
 
A Meteorological office was initially opened at Cloncurry airport in 1939. Over intervening years, the office developed into a major surface and upper-air observing station for the Northwest region of Queensland. In Mount Isa, daily rainfall records began at the Post Office in 1926, with surface wind and temperature data included from 1957 until the site was closed in 1971. Mount Isa Mines have also recorded rainfall information since 1932, with more detailed climatic data being reported by the company from 1965 to 1992. 

In 1966, a Weather Services Office was opened by the Bureau of Meteorology at the Mount Isa airport, primarily to record Aerodrome Weather Reports and provide weather briefing services for Pilots. The surface and upper-air observations program continued at Cloncurry until 1975, when the station and staff were relocated to the current site at the southern end of the Mount Isa airport facility. 

Due to restructuring of Aviation Services throughout Australia, the Weather Services office was closed in 1991. The Observing station then developed into the current ’ Mount Isa Meteorological Office ’. In 1998, continuing advances in technology saw the aging WF3 wind finding radar and radiosonde system replaced by the "Autosonde" fully automated upper air sounding system. 

METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE 

The Mount Isa Meteorological office is located at the southern end of the airport facility, some eight kilometres north of the city. The Mount Isa office is a Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology station, consisting of two Technical Officers (Observer) working rostered shifts covering seven days a week. 

The primary function of the office is to take the necessary surface and upper-air observations according to a prescribed program approved by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the World Meteorological Organisation. The surface observations program also includes observations for Aviation Services. 

The office can provide a large range of Meteorological and Hydrological forecast, Observations and Warning services for the general public, Counter Disaster Organisations, industries and Government Agencies. 

The office also acts as the Regional ’shop front’ for the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology, with access to a wide range Meteorological and Climatological products and services available from our Regional Office and National Climate Centre in Melbourne. 

The office encourages visits from schools, community groups and members of the general public. However, timing of these is dependent upon staffing arrangements at the time. In all cases, it is desirable to contact the office with as much lead-time as possible to organise visits.