| Happy Valley Queensland | |
|---|---|
 Beach at Happy Valley, 2004 | |
  Happy Valley | |
| Coordinates | 25°20′15″S153°12′02″E / 25.3375°S 153.2005°E |
| Postcode(s) | 4581 |
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| LGA(s) | Fraser Coast Region |
| State electorate(s) | Hervey Bay |
| Federal division(s) | Wide Bay |
Happy Valley is a coastal town in the locality of K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. [1]
The island K'gari is divided into two localities, one very small one, Eurong, and a very large one called K'gari (the locality) with Happy Valley being its only township. Happy Valley is located approximately halfway up the east coast facing the Pacific Ocean. [2]
One will need a 4WD vehicle to drive along the beach in order to get there. [3]
From August 1934, tourists started coming to the Fraser Island Tourist Resort, a group of huts "offering every comfort and convenience" at Happy Valley. [4] [5]
On 7 December 2020 a bushfire, started in October by an illegal campfire, threatened the town and caused residents to evacuate their homes as it burned out of control. [6] Early in the morning (3:35am) the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) issued an emergency warning in which residents were advised to "leave immediately". [7] Heavy rainfall in mid-December helped contain the fire and the QFES handed control back to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). [8] Up to 14 December 2020 the fire had been burning for over two months and more than half the island had been "blackened". Though the fire was still burning the island was declared safe for visitors and reopened on 15 December. [9]
K'gari, formerly Fraser Island, is a World Heritage-listed sand island along the south-eastern coast in the Wide Bay–Burnett region, Queensland, Australia. The island is approximately 250 km (160 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is within the Fraser Coast Region local government area. The world heritage listing includes the island, its surrounding waters and parts of the nearby mainland which make up the Great Sandy National Park. In the 2021 census, the island had a population of 152 people. Up to 500,000 people visit the island each year.
Maryborough is a city and a suburb in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. At the 2021 Census, the suburb of Maryborough had a population of 15,287.
Hervey Bay is a city on the coast of the Fraser Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. The city is situated approximately 290 kilometres (180 mi) or 3½ hours' highway drive north of the state capital, Brisbane. It is located on the bay of the same name open to the Coral Sea between the Queensland mainland and nearby K'gari. The local economy relies on tourism which is based primarily around whale watching in Platypus Bay to the north, ferry access to K'gari, accessible recreational fishing and boating and the natural north facing, calm beaches with wide undeveloped foreshore zones. In October 2019, Hervey Bay was named the First Whale Heritage Site in the world by the World Cetacean Alliance, for its commitment to and practices of sustainable whale and dolphin watching.
Biggenden is a rural town and locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Biggenden had a population of 788 people.
Burnett Heads is a coastal town and locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Burnett Heads had a population of 2,908 people.
River Heads is a coastal town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of River Heads had a population of 2,044 people.
The City of Maryborough was a local government area located in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban locality of Maryborough as well as the southern half of Fraser Island. The City covered an area of 1,233.9 square kilometres (476.4 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1861 until 2008, when it was amalgamated with the City of Hervey Bay, Shire of Woocoo and the 1st and 2nd divisions of the Shire of Tiaro to form the Fraser Coast Region.
Howard is a rural town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It is a southern boundary of the Dundaburra peoples of the Northern Kabi Kabi Isis districts and surrounds. It is located 284 kilometres (176 mi) north of Brisbane and 37 kilometres (23 mi) west of Hervey Bay. In the 2021 census, the locality of Howard had a population of 1,394 people.
The Fraser Coast Region is a local government area in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about 250 kilometres (160 mi) north of Brisbane, the state capital. It is centred on the twin cities of Hervey Bay and Maryborough and also contains K'gari. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Cities of Maryborough and Hervey Bay and the Shires of Woocoo and most of Tiaro. The resident population at the 2021 census was 111,032 and the estimated population in 2023 was 117,940.
A bushfire season occurred predominantly from June 2009 to May 2010. Increased attention has been given to this season as authorities and government attempt to preempt any future loss of life after the Black Saturday bushfires during the previous season, 2008–09. Long range weather observations predict very hot, dry and windy weather conditions during the summer months, leading to a high risk of bushfire occurrence.
Dingo attacks on humans are rare in Australia, and when they do occur are generally on young children. However, dingoes are much more of a danger to livestock, especially to sheep and young cattle. The 5,614-kilometre-long (3,488 mi) Dingo Fence was constructed in Southeast Australia to protect the livestock there from attacks.
Brooweena is a rural town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Brooweena had a population of 91 people.
Theebine is a rural town and locality split between the Gympie Region and the Fraser Coast Region, both in Queensland, Australia.
Wide Bay–Burnett is a region of the Australian state of Queensland, located between 170–400 km (110–250 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane. The area's population growth has exceeded the state average over the past 20 years, and it is forecast to grow to more than 430,000 by 2031. It is the subject of the Draft Wide Bay–Burnett Regional Plan, which aims to facilitate this growth while protecting over 90% of the region from urban development.
Tinana is a rural town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Tinana had a population of 5,872 people.
Owanyilla is a rural town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Owanyilla had a population of 245 people.
Eurong is an island town and a locality on K'gari in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Eurong had a population of 11 people.
Grahams Creek is a rural locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Grahams Creek had a population of 149 people.
The 2020–21 Australian bushfire season was the season of summer bushfires in Australia. Following the devastating 2019–20 bushfires in Australia, authorities were urged to prepare early for the 2020–21 Australian bushfire season. The bushfire outlook for July to September 2020 was predicting a normal fire potential in Queensland with a good grass growth in many areas giving an increased risk of grass fires, an above normal season in the Kimberley region of Western Australia as a result of good rains from tropical cyclones, a normal but earlier season in the Northern Territory, an above normal season on the south coast of New South Wales and normal seasons elsewhere.
George Nathan Seymour is an Australian politician currently serving as the mayor of Fraser Coast Region in Queensland. Prior to his election to the mayoralty in a 2018 by-election, Seymour served as the Deputy mayor of Fraser Coast from 2013 to 2018, and the Councillor for Division 10 from 2012 to 2018. He also served as Acting Mayor between February and May 2018. Seymour was re-elected in 2020 with one of the highest primary votes in the State of 77.55% and again in 2024 with a primary vote of 74.89%.
Media related to Happy Valley, Queensland (Fraser Island) at Wikimedia Commons
