Saunders Beach is a coastal town and suburb of Townsville in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia.[2][3][4] In the 2016 census, the suburb of Saunders Beach had a population of 409 people.[1]
| Saunders Beach Townsville, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Saunders Beach | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 19°09′25″S 146°36′26″E / 19.1569°S 146.6072°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 409 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 146.1/km2 (378/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4818 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 2.8 km2 (1.1 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Townsville | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Townsville | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Herbert | ||||||||||||||
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Geography edit
Saunders Beach is 32.8 kilometres (20.4 mi) by road north-west of the Townsville CBD.[5]
The suburb is bounded to the north and east by the Coral Sea and to the west by Althaus Creek It is bounded to the west by Althaus Creek (19°09′09″S 146°36′06″E / 19.15250°S 146.60167°E).[6][7]
The town is situated just south-east of the mouth of Althaus Creek. The beach Saunders Beach (19°10′02″S 146°37′22″E / 19.1671°S 146.6227°E) itself extending from Althaus Creek along the coastline of the suburb and neighbouring Yabulu to the mouth of Black River, a total distance of approximately 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi).[8][9][7]
History edit
Saunders Beach was originally part of the Parish of Jalloonda, but was established as separate locality on 17 March 1984.[2] Its status was changed to be a suburb on 28 February 2003.[3]
In 2004 a Beach Management Plan was put into place by Thuringowa City Council, to establish causes of erosion and help manage any future detriment to the beach by means of both natural and unnatural erosion.[10]
In the 2006 census, Saunders beach consisted of 407 residents,[11] of which are spread across 200 dwellings.[12] A high proportion of the Saunders Beach population are aged in the 45-64 age bracket, with approximately 17.5% of the population aged between 45-54, and 11.3% aged between 55-64.[13]
In the 2016 census, the suburb of Saunders Beach had a population of 409 people.[1]
In September 2021, a 3.8-metre (12 ft) crocodile was captured in Althaus Creek having been seen hanging around the boat ramps and pontoons. Wildlife officers believed that fish scraps improperly discarded by fishermen had attracted the crocodile and urged people to correctly dispose of such material in bins or taking it away.[14]
Education edit
There are no schools in Saunders Beach. The nearest government primary school is Bluewater State School in neighbouring Bluewater to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Northern Beaches State High School in Deeragun to the south-west.[7]
Amenities edit
Saunders Beach Community Centre is on the western corner of Saunders Beach Road and Atoll Street (19°09′30″S 146°36′10″E / 19.1582°S 146.6027°E).[15] Saunders Beach Rural Fire Station is at the community centre (19°09′30″S 146°36′10″E / 19.1583°S 146.6027°E).[16][17] The Townsville City Council operate a mobile library service which visits the community centre every second Wednesday afternoon.[18]
There are two boat ramps in the suburb, both managed by the Townsville City Council, at:[19]
- Boat Ramp Road, on the south bank of Althaus Creek (19°09′25″S 146°35′57″E / 19.1570°S 146.5993°E)[19]
- Purono Parkway, also on the south bank of the creek but further upstream (19°09′45″S 146°35′50″E / 19.1625°S 146.5973°E)[19]
Attractions edit
Saunders Beach is a popular local tourist destination, the northern end of which offers free, limited camping reserves.[20] Access to Althaus Creek is provided by means of a boat ramp, and other community facilities include a community centre, and numerous parks with children's playground equipment.
References edit
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Saunders Beach (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Saunders Beach – town in City of Townsville (entry 29986)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Saunders Beach – suburb in City of Townsville (entry 44638)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Saunders Beach – beach in City of Townsville (entry 29985)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Google (27 February 2022). "Townsville CBD to Saunders Beach" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "Althaus Creek – watercourse in City of Townsville (entry 481)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ Discover Thuringowa: Northern Beaches Archived 19 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 10 June 2008.
- ^ "Mountain ranges beaches and sea passages - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ Beach Management Plan for Saunders Beach Archived 30 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 10 June 2008.
- ^ The New Townsville City: Townsville State Suburbs Archived 20 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 9 June 2008.
- ^ Beach Management Plan for Saunders Beach - Introduction: Saunders Beach Archived 30 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 10 June 2008.
- ^ Townsville Region - Social Atlas: Age Structure Archived 27 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 10 June 2008.
- ^ "Saunders Beach crocodile removed from the wild". Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ Google (27 February 2022). "Saunders Beach Community Centre" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Building points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Mobile Library Service: 2022 Calendar" (PDF). Townsville City Council. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ a b c "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Discover Thuringowa: Northern Beaches Camping Areas Archived 19 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 10 June 2008.
