Cowley Beach, Queensland

Cowley Beach Queensland
The "Notorious" anchored near Hutchison Island off Cowley Beach, 2017
Cowley Beach
Coordinates	17°41′36″S146°06′41″E / 17.6933°S 146.1113°E / -17.6933; 146.1113 (Cowley Beach (town centre))
Population	65 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	0.451/km2 (1.169/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4871
Area	144.0 km2 (55.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	15.1 km (9 mi) NE of Silkwood 29.6 km (18 mi) SSE of Innisfail 117 km (73 mi) SSE of Cairns 1,577 km (980 mi) NNE of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Cassowary Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Hill
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Cowley Beach: New Harbourline Mourilyan Harbour Coral Sea Moresby Cowley Beach Coral Sea Cowley Lower Cowley Kurrimine Beach Coral Sea

Cowley Beach is a beach, coastal town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. ^{[2] [3]} In the 2021 census, the locality of Cowley Beach had a population of 65 people. ^[1]

Geography

The locality of Cowley Beach is bounded to the north by the Moresby River, to the east by the Coral Sea, and to the south by Liverpool Creek. ^[4]

The Australian Defence Force's Cowley Beach Military Training Area ( 17°41′24″S146°06′47″E / 17.690°S 146.113°E / -17.690; 146.113 (Cowley Beach Military Training Area (entrance)) ) occupies most of the locality includes the northern part of the beach and most of its hinterland as well as the nearby Lindquist Island. ^{[5] [6]} This facility is used for amphibious warfare training, and also includes a rocket range and a cantonment area. ^{[7] [6] [8]}

Cowley Beach has the following mountains:

• Esmeralda Hill ( 17°37′14″S146°07′52″E / 17.6205°S 146.1311°E / -17.6205; 146.1311 (Esmeralda Hill) ) 100 metres (330 ft) ^{[9] [10]}
• Georgie Hill ( 17°36′19″S146°07′51″E / 17.6054°S 146.1307°E / -17.6054; 146.1307 (Georgie Hill) ) 140 metres (460 ft) ^{[9] [11]}

Cowley Beach has the following coastal headlands (from north to south):

• Camp Point ( 17°36′06″S146°07′36″E / 17.6017°S 146.1267°E / -17.6017; 146.1267 (Camp Point) ) ^{[9] [12]}
• Hall Point ( 17°36′06″S146°07′56″E / 17.6018°S 146.1322°E / -17.6018; 146.1322 (Hall Point) ) ^{[9] [13]}
• Hayter Point ( 17°37′01″S146°08′12″E / 17.6170°S 146.1366°E / -17.6170; 146.1366 (Hayter Point) ) ^{[9] [14]}
• Double Point ( 17°38′55″S146°08′53″E / 17.6487°S 146.1481°E / -17.6487; 146.1481 (Double Point) ) ^{[9] [15]}

Cowley Beach has the following beaches (from north to south):

• Robinsons Beach, south of Hayter Point ( 17°37′17″S146°08′09″E / 17.6213°S 146.1359°E / -17.6213; 146.1359 (Robinsons Beach) ) ^{[16] [17]}
• Browns Beach, north of Double Point ( 17°38′16″S146°08′23″E / 17.6379°S 146.1397°E / -17.6379; 146.1397 (Browns Beach) ) ^{[16] [18]}
• Cowley Beach, south of Double Point ( 17°40′33″S146°07′21″E / 17.6757°S 146.1225°E / -17.6757; 146.1225 (Cowley Beach) ) ^{[16] [19]}

There are a number of offshore islands including (from north to south):

• Lindquist Island ( 17°39′24″S146°09′34″E / 17.6566°S 146.1594°E / -17.6566; 146.1594 (Lindquist Island) ) ^[20]
• Bresnahan Island ( 17°40′01″S146°10′08″E / 17.6670°S 146.1690°E / -17.6670; 146.1690 (Bresnahan Island) ) ^[21]
• North Barnard Islands ( 17°40′22″S146°10′30″E / 17.6727°S 146.175°E / -17.6727; 146.175 (North Barnard Islands) ), an island group named by Lieutenant Phillip Parker King of the HM Colonial Cutter Mermaid on 21 June 1819 after his friend Edward Barnard, consisting of: ^[22]
  • Jessie Island ( 17°40′25″S146°10′26″E / 17.6735°S 146.1738°E / -17.6735; 146.1738 (Jessie Island) ) ^[23]
  • Hutchison Island ( 17°40′28″S146°10′09″E / 17.6744°S 146.1691°E / -17.6744; 146.1691 (Hutchison Island) , named after Lieutenant (later Captain) Hutchison of the Royal navy who served on the survey vessels HMS Herald from 1856 to 1861 and HM Colonial Schooner Beatrice from 1862 to 1864 ^[24]
  • Kent Island ( 17°40′35″S146°10′48″E / 17.6764°S 146.1799°E / -17.6764; 146.1799 (Kent Island) ), named after lightkeeper Kent ^[25]

There are also islands in the Moresby River (from north to south):

• Bradshaw Island ( 17°37′03″S146°07′19″E / 17.6175°S 146.1219°E / -17.6175; 146.1219 (Bradshaw Island) ) ^[26]

• Lily Island ( 17°37′11″S146°06′58″E / 17.6197°S 146.1161°E / -17.6197; 146.1161 (Lily Island) ) ^[27]

• Maizie Island ( 17°37′41″S146°06′40″E / 17.6280°S 146.1110°E / -17.6280; 146.1110 (Maizie Island) ) ^[28]

History

The town takes its name from the beach which in turn takes its name from Ebenezer Cowley, a horticulturist and overseer at Kamerunga State Nursery. Prior to 16 November 1991 the town was called Inarlinga. ^[2]

In December 1930, a public reserve along the beachfront of Cowley Beach was established. ^[29] In January 1931 the beach was attracting increasing numbers of holiday makers. ^{[30] [31]}

The Cowley Beach Military Training Area was established in 1962 as the Joint Tropical Research Unit, so-called because it operated in collaboration with the British Ministry of Defence. ^[8]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Cowley Beach had a population of 78 people. ^[32]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Cowley Beach had a population of 65 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Cowley Beach. The nearest government primary school is Silkwood State School in Silkwood to the south-west. The nearest government secondary school is Innisfail State College in Innisfail to the north. ^[4]

Amenities

There is a boat ramp in Bambarook Road ( 17°41′47″S146°06′44″E / 17.6965°S 146.1122°E / -17.6965; 146.1122 (Bambarook Road boat ramp) ). It is managed by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council. ^[33]

Attractions

Cowley Beach is a 7.5-kilometre-long (4.7 mi) beach that extends from Double Point past the town down to the mouth of Liverpool Creek. ^[34]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Cowley Beach (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Cowley Beach – town in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 46583)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
3. "Cowley Beach – locality in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 45688)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 1 September 2023.
5. "Environmental Management". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
6. AECOM (12 June 2015). "Talisman Sabre 2015 Final Public Environment Report" (PDF). AECOM. p. 67. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
7. Bateman, Daniel (26 August 2015). "Cowley Beach to be transformed in Defence exercise". Cairns Post. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
8. "Cowley Beach Innisfail, Queensland" (PDF). Australian Department of Defence . 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
9. "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.
10. "Esmeralda Hill – mountain in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 11869)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
11. "Georgie Hill – mountain in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 13608)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
12. "Camp Point – mountain in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 5956)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
13. "Hall Point – mountain in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 15233)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
14. "Hayter Point – mountain in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 15581)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
15. "Double Point – mountain in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 10418)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
16. "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.
17. "Robinsons Beach – beach in the Cassowary Coast Region (entry 28602)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 11 December 2021.
18. "Browns Beach – beach in the Cassowary Coast Region (entry 51724)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 11 December 2021.
19. "Cowley Beach – beach in the Cassowary Coast Region (entry 8608)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 11 December 2021.
20. "Lindquist Island – island in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 19448)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
21. "Bresnahan Island – island in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 4443)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
22. "North Barnard Islands – island group in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 24584)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
23. "Jessie Island – island in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 17159)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
24. "Hutchison Island – island in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 16538)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
25. "Kent Island – island in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 17986)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
26. "Bradshaw Island – island - feature appears absent in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 4264)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
27. "Lily Island – island in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 19347)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
28. "Maizie Island – island in Cassowary Coast Regional (entry 20651)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
29. "INNISFAIL NOTES". Townsville Daily Bulletin . Vol. LII, no. 325. Queensland, Australia. 22 December 1930. p. 3. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
30. "PERSONAL". Johnstone River Advocate And Innisfail News . Vol. XXVI, no. 48. Queensland, Australia. 6 January 1931. p. 4. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
31. "POPULAR COWLEY BEACH". Johnstone River Advocate And Innisfail News . Vol. XXVI, no. 51. Queensland, Australia. 16 January 1931. p. 3. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
32. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Cowley Beach (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
33. "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
34. "Cowley - Beach in Cowley Beach Cassowary Coast QLD". SLS Beachsafe. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2021.