Whitemark

Whitemark is a rural residential locality on Flinders Island in the local government area (LGA) of Flinders in the North-east LGA region of Tasmania. The 2021 census recorded a population of 308 for the state suburb of Whitemark.^[1] It is the main settlement of Flinders Island.

Whitemark Tasmania
Whitemark
Coordinates	40°07′17″S 148°00′58″E
Population	308 (2021 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	7255
LGA(s)	Flinders Council
Region	North-east
State electorate(s)	Bass
Federal division(s)	Bass
Mean max temp[2] Mean min temp[2] Annual rainfall[2] 17.8 °C 64 °F 9.9 °C 50 °F 730.3 mm 28.8 in
Localities around Whitemark: Blue Rocks Memana Memana Bass Strait Whitemark Lackrana Bass Strait Ranga, Loccota Ranga

Buildings

Whitemark has a local pub, called the Flinders Island Interstate Hotel.^[3] It also has a post office, a supermarket, a bakery, a petrol station, a mechanic, an Anglican Church and a library as well as small local produce businesses.^{[citation needed]}

History

Whitemark was gazetted as a locality in 1970. The name may be derived from a conspicuous white mark placed by an early surveyor.^[4] Whitemark Post Office opened around 1902.^[5]

The Hydro Tasmania developed power supply for the settlement in the 1980s.^[6]

The local newspaper was the Island News from 1954 to 2004.^[7]

Geography

The waters of Bass Strait form the western and south-western boundaries.^[8]

Climate

Whitemark has a oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), with tepid, somewhat dry summers summers and cool, wetter winters. Average maxima vary from 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) in February to 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) in July while average minima fluctuate between 13.8 °C (56.8 °F) in February and 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) in July.^[9] Mean average annual precipitation is moderate, 730.3 mm (28.75 in) spread between 158.8 precipitation days, and is concentrated in winter. The town is not very sunny, with 108.6 cloudy days and only 47.6 clear days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from 41.5 °C (106.7 °F) on 29 January 2009 to −3.5 °C (25.7 °F) on 28 July 1976. Climate data was sourced from Flinders Island Airport, 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) 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)[2]

Road infrastructure

Route B85 (Palana Road / Lady Barron Road) passes through from north-west to south.^[4][10]

References

1. "2021 Whitemark, Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
2. "Flinders Island Airport Climate Statistics (1942-2024) (nearest AWS)". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
3. "Interstate Hotel". Interstate Hotel.
4. "Placenames Tasmania – Whitemark". Placenames Tasmania. Select "Search", enter "1310R", click "Search", select row, map is displayed, click "Details". Retrieved 16 January 2021.
5. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
6. Tasmania. Hydro-Electric Commission (1983), Whitemark Power Station, Flinders Island : draft environmental impact statement, The Commission, retrieved 3 April 2015
7. Worsley, K. G (2004), Island news : 50 years serving the Furneaux Islands, 9th July 1954 to 9th July 2004, Committee of Island News, retrieved 3 April 2015
8. "Whitemark, Tasmania" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
9. "Flinders Island Airport Climate (1942-2024)". FarmOnline Weather. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
10. "Tasmanian Road Route Codes" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2021.