Douglas-Daly Experiment Station

Last updated

Douglas-Daly Research Farm
Established1965 [1]
Field of research
Agriculture
Address725 Jungwa Road [2]
Location Douglas-Daly, Northern Territory, Australia
13°50′04″S131°10′59″E / 13.8345°S 131.1831°E / -13.8345; 131.1831 Coordinates: 13°50′04″S131°10′59″E / 13.8345°S 131.1831°E / -13.8345; 131.1831 [3]
0822
Operating agency
Department of Primary Industry and Resources [2]
Northern Territory Government
Map
Australia Northern Territory location map blank.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Northern Territory

The Douglas-Daly Experiment Station was an extensive research site of the Northern Territory Administration (NTA) of the Government of Australia and, after statehood, of the Northern Territory Government. It formed part of a string of similar research sites in northern Australia. Located at the junction of the Douglas and Daly Rivers and covering an area of approximately 100 km², the site spanned three major soil types of the Top End of the Northern Territory — Blain, Tippera and Florina soil types.

Contents

The climate is hot-humid tropical with a distinct six-month dry season and an annual rainfall of around 1 m. It was used mainly for pasture, forage, and grazing experiments, with its main research activity beginning in the 1960s and continuing until the break-up of the site into development farms in the 1980s.

Research from the site is mainly documented in scientific journal papers and annals of the NTA. Among the researchers on the site have been Bruce Franks, John Sturtz, John Austin and Lindsay Falvey, who were supported by the manager Heinz Mollman. The site was also used by CSIRO, especially for the rock-phosphate research of Ray Swaby.

Douglas Daly School

The research farm has hosted a primary school for the children of farm employees and local residents since 1982. In 2018, the school, which is operated by the Northern Territory Government, had a total enrolment of 12 students and a teaching staff of three. [1] :12 [4]

Weather station

The Douglas-Daly Research Farm has been the site of an official weather station since January 1968. [1] :12

Climate data for Douglas River Research Farm (sic), Douglas-Daly, Northern Territory
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °C (°F)33.7
(92.7)
33.5
(92.3)
34.0
(93.2)
34.7
(94.5)
33.3
(91.9)
31.4
(88.5)
31.9
(89.4)
33.6
(92.5)
36.8
(98.2)
37.8
(100.0)
36.9
(98.4)
35.0
(95.0)
34.4
(93.9)
Average low °C (°F)23.9
(75.0)
23.7
(74.7)
23.2
(73.8)
20.5
(68.9)
16.7
(62.1)
13.7
(56.7)
12.9
(55.2)
14.0
(57.2)
18.6
(65.5)
22.3
(72.1)
23.6
(74.5)
23.8
(74.8)
19.7
(67.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches)290.0
(11.42)
283.2
(11.15)
226.0
(8.90)
49.9
(1.96)
9.9
(0.39)
2.0
(0.08)
2.4
(0.09)
1.2
(0.05)
5.2
(0.20)
35.8
(1.41)
124.8
(4.91)
214.5
(8.44)
1,245.8
(49.05)
Average rainy days14.413.311.23.20.90.10.20.20.73.17.911.066.2
Source: [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Shotton, Peter C. (2011), A historical overview of agricultural research at Douglas Daly Research Farm (1960s-2010) (PDF), Northern Territory Government, p. 1 & 12, ISBN   978-0-7245-4747-0
  2. 1 2 "Department of Primary Industry and Resources, ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018" (PDF). Department of Primary Industry and Resources. Northern Territory Government. p. 35. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  3. "Place Names Register Extract for "Douglas-Daly Experiment Station"". NT Place Names Register. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  4. "Douglas Daly School, Douglas-Daly, NT", My School, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2018, retrieved 30 October 2019
  5. "Douglas River Research Farm (sic)". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology . Retrieved 20 May 2019.

Further reading