West Point, Queensland

West Point Magnetic Island,  Queensland
Road to West Point, 2009
West Point
Coordinates	19°07′59″S146°46′59″E / 19.1330°S 146.7830°E / -19.1330; 146.7830 (West Point (town centre))
Population	32 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	1.290/km2 (3.34/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4819
Area	24.8 km2 (9.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	12.3 km (8 mi) NW of Nelly Bay
LGA(s)	City of Townsville
State electorate(s)	Townsville
Federal division(s)	Herbert
Localities around West Point: Coral Sea Coral Sea Horseshoe Bay Coral Sea West Point Arcadia Coral Sea Picnic Bay Nelly Bay

West Point is an island town and suburb of Magnetic Island in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. ^{[2] [3]} In the 2021 census, the suburb of West Point had a population of 32 people. ^[1]

Geography

West Point from the ferry, 2009

The suburb has the following headlands:

• Liver Point ( 19°06′56″S146°47′24″E / 19.1155°S 146.7901°E / -19.1155; 146.7901 (Liver Point) ) ^{[4] [5]}
• West Point ( 19°07′43″S146°46′46″E / 19.1286°S 146.7795°E / -19.1286; 146.7795 (West Point) ) ^{[4] [6]}

The town of West Point is located south of the headland of the same name. It is accessed via West Point Road from Picnic Bay to the south. ^[7]

Mount Cook is in the east of the suburb ( 19°08′23″S146°49′46″E / 19.1396°S 146.8295°E / -19.1396; 146.8295 (Mount Cook) ), rising to 493 metres (1,617 ft). ^{[4] [8]}

Most of the suburb is within the Magnetic Island National Park, except for the strip along the west coast of the island where the town and some other residential housing is situated, together with the Magnetic Island Conservation Park 1 and the Bolger Bay Conservation Park. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

History

West Point is the original site of the Magnetic Island Quarantine Station Reserve proclaimed in Queensland Government Gazette in 1886. ^[12] The station was moved to Cape Pallarenda on the mainland near Townsville in 1915, creating the Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station (now heritage-listed). ^[2]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the suburb of West Point had a population of 32 people. ^[13]

In the 2021 census, the suburb of West Point had a population of 32 people, unchanged from 2016. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in West Point. The nearest government primary school is Magnetic Island State School in Nelly Bay on the island. The nearest government secondary school is Townsville State High School in Railway Estate in the Townsville mainland. ^[14]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "West Point (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "West Point – town in City of Townsville (entry 37066)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
3. "West Point – suburb in City of Townsville (entry 44651)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
4. "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.
5. "Liver Point – mountain in Townsville City (entry 19790)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
6. "West Point – mountain in Townsville City (entry 37068)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
7. "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations; Map labels; Population centres". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
8. "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourse". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
9. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
10. "Magnetic Island Conservation Park 1 – conservation park in the City of Townsville (entry 51451)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
11. "Bolger Bay Conservation Park – Conservation park in the City of Townsville (entry 43734)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
12. "Reserve for Quarantine Station, Magnetic Island, Townsville". Queensland Government Gazette . 1886. p. 39:1957.
13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "West Point (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
14. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 October 2025.

External links

• "Magnetic Island". Queensland Places. University of Queensland.