Cape Hillsborough, Queensland

Cape Hillsborough Queensland
View from Twin Beaches Lookout, 2015
Cape Hillsborough
Coordinates	20°54′49″S149°01′42″E / 20.9136°S 149.0283°E / -20.9136; 149.0283 (Cape Hillsborough (centre of locality))
Population	39 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	3.33/km2 (8.63/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4740
Area	11.7 km2 (4.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.1 km (6 mi) SE of Seaforth 48.8 km (30 mi) NW of Mackay 1,010 km (628 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Whitsunday
Federal division(s)	Dawson
Suburbs around Cape Hillsborough: Coral Sea Coral Sea Coral Sea Ball Bay Cape Hillsborough Coral Sea Mount Jukes Belmunda Coral Sea

Cape Hillsborough is a coastal locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Cape Hillsborough had a population of 39 people. ^[1]

Geography

Cape Hillsborough national park, 2010

Wedge Island, accessible by a causeway at low tide, 2013

Wedge Island at low tide, 2024

The waters of the Coral Sea surround the locality to the north, east, and south. ^{[3] [4]}

Cape Hillsborough has the following coastal and close offshore features (clockwise):

• Ball Bay ( 20°54′18″S149°00′34″E / 20.9051°S 149.0094°E / -20.9051; 149.0094 (Ball Bay) ) ^[5]
• Smalleys Beach ( 20°54′47″S149°00′40″E / 20.9130°S 149.0112°E / -20.9130; 149.0112 (Smalleys Beach) ) ^[6]

• Cape Hillsborough ( 20°54′24″S149°02′56″E / 20.9066°S 149.0489°E / -20.9066; 149.0489 (Cape Hillsborough) ) ^{[7] [8]}
• Andrews Point ( 20°55′41″S149°03′32″E / 20.9281°S 149.0590°E / -20.9281; 149.0590 (Andrews Point) ) ^{[7] [9]}
• Wedge Island ( 20°55′22″S149°03′37″E / 20.9229°S 149.0604°E / -20.9229; 149.0604 (Wedge Island) ) ^{[10] [11]}
• Sand Bay ( 20°57′00″S149°03′13″E / 20.9501°S 149.0536°E / -20.9501; 149.0536 (Sand Bay) ) ^[5]

Further offshore are:

• Allonby Island ( 20°45′07″S149°09′41″E / 20.7520°S 149.1614°E / -20.7520; 149.1614 (Allonby Island) ) ^{[10] [12]}

• Finger and Thumb Islands ( 20°45′20″S149°13′10″E / 20.7556°S 149.2195°E / -20.7556; 149.2195 (Finger and Thumb Islands) ) ^[13]
• Coffin Island ( 20°44′02″S149°13′59″E / 20.7338°S 149.2330°E / -20.7338; 149.2330 (Coffin Island) ) ^{[10] [14]}
• Maryport Island ( 20°45′33″S149°16′17″E / 20.7593°S 149.2715°E / -20.7593; 149.2715 (Maryport Island) ) ^{[10] [15]}

The north of the locality is within the Cape Hillsborough National Park. ^[3] Apart from this protected area, the land use is mixture of grazing on native vegetation and rural residential housing. ^[16]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Cape Hillsborough had a population of 44 people. ^[17]

In the 2021 census, Cape Hillsborough had a population of 39 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Cape Hillsborough. The nearest government primary school is Seaforth State School in Seaforth to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Mackay North State High School in North Mackay to the south-east. ^[18]

Attractions

Kangaroo on the beach at Cape Hillsborough, 2017

Within the national park, the Cape Hillsborough Resort on Risley Parade provides accommodation ( 20°55′30″S149°02′53″E / 20.9250°S 149.0480°E / -20.9250; 149.0480 (CAPE HILLSBOROUGH RESORT) ). ^{[19] [20]} The Andrews Point walking track commences there, providing access to the following lookouts:

• Twin Beaches Lookout ( 20°55′35″S149°03′09″E / 20.9265°S 149.0524°E / -20.9265; 149.0524 (Twin Beaches Lookout) ) ^[21]
• Turtle Lookout ( 20°55′43″S149°03′26″E / 20.9285°S 149.0573°E / -20.9285; 149.0573 (Turtle Lookout) ) ^[21]
• Andrews Point Lookout ( 20°55′41″S149°03′32″E / 20.9280°S 149.0589°E / -20.9280; 149.0589 (Andrews Point Lookout) ) ^[21]
• Wedge Island Lookout ( 20°55′35″S149°03′26″E / 20.9263°S 149.0572°E / -20.9263; 149.0572 (Wedge Island Lookout) ) ^[21]

Seeing kangaroos on the beach is a popular tourist attraction. ^[22]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Cape Hillsborough (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Cape Hillsborough – locality in Mackay Region (entry 46769)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 May 2019.
3. "Cape Hillsborough, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 20 August 2021.
4. "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
5. "Bays - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
6. "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.
7. "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.
8. "Cape Hillsborough – mountain in Mackay Region (entry 15906)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
9. "Andrews Point – mountain in Mackay Region (entry 596)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
10. "Marine islands - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
11. "Wedge Island – island (entry 36871)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
12. "Allonby Island – island (entry 414)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
13. "Island groups - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
14. "Coffin Island – island (entry 7681)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
15. "Maryport Island – island (entry 21170)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
16. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Cape Hillsborough (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
18. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
19. "Building points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
20. "Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park". Cape Hillsborough Resort. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
21. "Tourist points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
22. "Wallabies On The Beach At Cape Hillsborough". Tourism & Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2025.