Freshwater Point is a coastal locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Freshwater Point had a population of 174 people.[3]
| Freshwater Point Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Freshwater Point | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 21°24′22″S 149°15′54″E / 21.4061°S 149.265°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 174 (SAL 2021)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4737 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 19.7 km2 (7.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Mackay Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mirani | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Capricornia | ||||||||||||||
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Geography edit
The locality is bounded to the west by the Goonyella railway line, to the north-west (loosely) by Plane Creek, to the north and north-east by the Sarina Inlet (into which Plane Creek flows), to the east by the Coral Sea, to the south-east by Deception Inlet and Llewellyn Bay, and to the south-west by Freshwater Point Road.[4]
The locality has the following coastal features (clockwise):
- Pumpkin Point (21°24′08″S 149°17′07″E / 21.4022°S 149.2852°E)[5]
- Sarina Inlet (21°24′11″S 149°17′50″E / 21.4031°S 149.2972°E)[6]
- Freshwater Point (21°25′59″S 149°20′05″E / 21.4331°S 149.3346°E)[7][8]
- Deception Inlet (21°25′22″S 149°19′09″E / 21.4228°S 149.3193°E)[6]
- Llewellyn Bay (21°26′33″S 149°18′31″E / 21.4425°S 149.3086°E)[6]
The land in the north of the locality adjoining Plane Creek and the Sarina is mostly low-lying marshland close to sea level and is undeveloped. The land use in the south-west of the locality is agriculture, mostly growing sugarcane with some grazing on native vegetation. The residential land is on the higher ground of the headland Freshwater Point which rises to 40 to 50 metres (130 to 160 ft) above sea level; it is a mix of suburban-sized land parcels and larger rural residential land parcels.[4] The residential area is accessed via Armstrong Beach, the locality to the south.[4]
History edit
The locality takes its name from the headland Freshwater Point.[2]
Before 1908, an earlier settler had a hut at Pumpkin Point and grew the first pumpkins in the district, giving the point its name.[5]
The locality was officially named and bounded on 4 June 1999.[2]
Demographics edit
In the 2016 census, Freshwater Point had a population of 135 people.[9]
In the 2021 census, Freshwater Point had a population of 174 people.[3]
Education edit
There are no schools in Freshwater Point. The nearest government primary and secondary schools are Sarina State School and Sarina State High School in neighbouring Sarina to the west.[10]
Amenities edit
Pumpkin Point has a sandy beach and is often used as a family picnic ground.[5]
References edit
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Freshwater Point (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Freshwater Point – locality in Mackay Region (entry 46787)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Freshwater Point (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Pumpkin Point – point in Mackay Regional (entry 48225)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Bays - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Freshwater Point – mountain in Mackay Region (entry 13225)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Freshwater Point (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
External links edit
- "8755-23 Armstrong Beach" (Map). Queensland Government. 2012. — includes Freshwater Point