Whitemark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WhitemarkTasmania |
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 Whitemark
Location in Tasmania
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| Population | 308 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7255 | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Flinders Council | ||||||||||||||
| Region | North-east | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bass | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Bass | ||||||||||||||
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Whitemark is a small town located on Flinders Island in Tasmania, Australia. It's the main town on the island. In 2021, about 308 people lived there. Whitemark is part of the Flinders Council area in the North-east region of Tasmania.
Contents
What You'll Find in Whitemark
Whitemark has many useful places for its residents and visitors.
Shops and Services
- The local pub is called the Flinders Island Interstate Hotel.
- There is a post office where you can send mail.
- You can buy groceries at the supermarket.
- Fresh bread and treats are available at the bakery.
- There's a petrol station for cars and a mechanic to fix them.
- You can find books and more at the local library.
- There is also an Anglican Church.
- Many small businesses sell local products.
Whitemark's Past: A Brief History
Learn how Whitemark became the town it is today.
How Whitemark Got Its Name
Whitemark was officially named a "locality" in 1970. People think its name might come from a clear white mark that an early surveyor made. The Whitemark Post Office started operating around 1902.
Powering the Town
In the 1980s, a company called Hydro Tasmania set up the power supply for Whitemark. This helped bring electricity to homes and businesses.
Local News
For many years, the town had its own newspaper. It was called the Island News and was published from 1954 to 2004.
Where is Whitemark? Geography and Climate
Whitemark is located right by the ocean, which affects its weather.
Ocean Location
The western and southwestern edges of Whitemark touch the waters of Bass Strait. This is the sea that separates Tasmania from mainland Australia.
Whitemark's Weather: Climate Details
Whitemark has an oceanic climate, which means it has mild weather. Summers are warm and a bit dry, while winters are cool and wetter.
- Temperatures: The warmest month is usually February, with average high temperatures around 22.7°C. The coolest month is July, with average highs around 13.4°C.
- Rainfall: On average, Whitemark gets about 730.3 millimeters of rain each year. Most of the rain falls during winter. It rains on about 158 days a year.
- Sunshine: The town doesn't get a lot of clear, sunny days. It has about 108 cloudy days and only 47 clear days each year.
- Extreme Weather: The hottest day ever recorded was 41.5°C in January 2009. The coldest day was -3.5°C in July 1976.
- Weather Data Source: All this weather information comes from the Flinders Island Airport, which is about 3.7 kilometers northwest of Whitemark.
| Climate data for Whitemark (40º05'24"S, 148º00'00"E, 9 m AMSL) (1962-2024 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1942) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 41.5 (106.7) |
39.4 (102.9) |
35.6 (96.1) |
31.7 (89.1) |
27.4 (81.3) |
20.3 (68.5) |
21.4 (70.5) |
22.7 (72.9) |
29.5 (85.1) |
32.7 (90.9) |
35.9 (96.6) |
40.5 (104.9) |
41.5 (106.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.1) |
22.7 (72.9) |
21.4 (70.5) |
18.8 (65.8) |
16.3 (61.3) |
14.1 (57.4) |
13.4 (56.1) |
13.8 (56.8) |
15.2 (59.4) |
16.9 (62.4) |
18.7 (65.7) |
20.4 (68.7) |
17.8 (64.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.6 (56.5) |
13.8 (56.8) |
12.7 (54.9) |
10.8 (51.4) |
9.0 (48.2) |
7.1 (44.8) |
6.4 (43.5) |
6.7 (44.1) |
7.7 (45.9) |
8.7 (47.7) |
10.3 (50.5) |
12.0 (53.6) |
9.9 (49.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
4.0 (39.2) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
0.5 (32.9) |
2.5 (36.5) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 46.4 (1.83) |
38.2 (1.50) |
49.5 (1.95) |
57.8 (2.28) |
76.9 (3.03) |
72.4 (2.85) |
79.8 (3.14) |
74.9 (2.95) |
61.4 (2.42) |
59.8 (2.35) |
54.5 (2.15) |
57.3 (2.26) |
730.3 (28.75) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 8.7 | 8.0 | 9.8 | 12.6 | 15.8 | 17.0 | 18.3 | 18.0 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 11.3 | 10.5 | 158.8 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 61 | 62 | 63 | 67 | 73 | 74 | 74 | 71 | 70 | 67 | 65 | 64 | 68 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) |
13.1 (55.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
9.8 (49.6) |
8.2 (46.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
7.1 (44.8) |
7.8 (46.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
10.0 (50.0) |
11.2 (52.2) |
9.9 (49.8) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 238.7 | 220.4 | 220.1 | 183.0 | 148.8 | 117.0 | 142.6 | 192.2 | 192.0 | 223.2 | 228.0 | 244.9 | 2,350.9 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 53 | 57 | 58 | 55 | 48 | 42 | 48 | 59 | 54 | 55 | 53 | 53 | 53 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1962-2024 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1942) | |||||||||||||
Getting Around: Road Connections
The main road that goes through Whitemark is Route B85. This road is also known as Palana Road and Lady Barron Road. It runs from the northwest part of the town towards the south.
