The Bureau of Meteorology says this January has been Australia's warmest ever since records began.
The average temperature for January averaged across country exceeded 30 degrees ((Celsius)).
Rainfall was below average for most areas, but the monsoonal weather brought rain to northern Queensland late in the month.
Bureau senior climatologist Dr Andrew Watkins says the heat through January is unprecedented.
Meanwhile…
One hundred homes in Townsville could be flooded under a risky plan to save the city from more widespread flooding.
Townsville residents say shopping centres are underwater due to flooding, and crocodiles have apparently been seen on football fields and highways.
Schools in the area remain closed.
Major releases from the Ross River Dam have been ordered, with ninety to one hundred homes downstream from it being evacuated, although Townsville's mayor admits there is no certainty that the plan will work.
