Howitt, Queensland

Howitt is a coastal locality in the Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Howitt had a population of 48 people.^[1]

Howitt Queensland
View from the Burke Development Road, Howitt, 2013
Howitt
Coordinates	17.2522°S 141.5686°E / -17.2522; 141.5686 (Howitt (centre of locality))
Population	48 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.00556/km2 (0.01441/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4890
Area	8,626.6 km2 (3,330.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	30.5 km (19 mi) NNE of Normanton 39.6 km (25 mi) E of Karumba 529 km (329 mi) NE of Mount Isa 875 km (544 mi) WNW of Townsville 2,097 km (1,303 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Carpentaria
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Howitt: Gulf of Carpentaria Gulf of Carpentaria Yagoonya Karumba Howitt Strathmore Normanton Karron Croydon

Geography

Karumba Developmental Road, 2013

Howitt is on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula facing the Gulf of Carpentaria.^[3]

The Burke Developmental Road passes through the locality from north-east (Yagoonya) to the south-west (Normanton). The Karumba Developmental Road enters the locality from the west (Karumba), terminating at its junction with the Burke Developmental Road in Howitt.^[3]

The land use is grazing on native vegetation.^[3]

History

Many towns and localities in this area have names connected to the Burke and Wills expedition. Although not officially recorded, it is likely that Howitt is named after Alfred William Howitt, who led a relief mission that rescued the only survivor John King and buried the bodies of Burke and Wills (Howitt later disinterred the bodies and returned them to Melbourne for burial).

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Howitt had a population of 24 people.^[4]

In the 2021 census, Howitt had a population of 48 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Howitt. The nearest government primary schools are Karumba State School in neighbouring Karumba to the west and Normanton State School in neighbouring Normanton to the south-west. The nearest government secondary school is Normanton State School (to Year 10). Some parts of Howitt are too distant from these schools and the alternatives are distance education and boarding school. There are no schools offering secondary Years 11 and 12 in the area; again the alternatives are distance education and boarding school.^[3]