Wunjunga, Queensland

Wunjunga Queensland
Looking across Wunjunga to Beach Hill and Upstart Bay from Mount Inkerman, 2005
Wunjunga
Coordinates	19°46′28″S147°34′38″E / 19.7744°S 147.5772°E / -19.7744; 147.5772 (Wunjunga (centre of locality))
Population	13 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	0.183/km2 (0.474/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4806
Area	71.1 km2 (27.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	32.6 km (20 mi) SE of Home Hill 44.1 km (27 mi) SE of Ayr 130 km (81 mi) SE of Townsville 1,255 km (780 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Burdekin
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal division(s)	Dawson
Suburbs around Wunjunga: Inkerman Groper Creek Coral Sea Wangaratta Wunjunga Coral Sea Gumlu Gumlu Coral Sea

Wunjunga is a coastal locality in the Shire of Burdekin in Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Wunjunga had a population of 13 people. ^[1]

Geography

Wunjunga is located south of Home Hill in North Queensland. The coastal waters of Upstart Bay ( 19°45′04″S147°41′28″E / 19.751°S 147.691°E / -19.751; 147.691 (Upstart Bay) ) in the Coral Sea form the eastern boundary of the locality. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Saltwater Creek enters the locality from the west (Wangaratta) and forms the north-western boundary of the locality, until its confluence with Yellow Gin Creek, which then forms the northern boundary of the locality until it flows into Upstart Bay. Yellow Gin Creek also enters the locality from the (Wangaratta). ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Beach Hill rises to 149 metres (489 ft) above sea level on the northern headland of the locality ( 19°43′48″S147°35′09″E / 19.7299°S 147.5858°E / -19.7299; 147.5858 (Beach Hill) ) between Yellow Gin Creek and Upstart Bay. ^{[9] [10]} Apart from this hill, the locality is low-lying (close to sea level) and is mostly marshland. ^[6]

Housing near Beach Hill viewed from the beach at Upstart Bay with its rock formations, 2006

The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the south (Gumlu), forms the western boundary of the locality, and then exits to the north-west (Wangaratta / Inkerman). Beachmount Road commences at the highway and travels east to the coast and then turns north as Wunjunga Road to the Beach Hill area where there is a cluster of housing including holiday homes close to the beach. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

There is limited land use due to the extent of the marshland. Apart from the housing near Beach Hiil, there is some crop growing and grazing on native vegetation in the west of the locality near to the highway and some further grazing on small pockets of land within the marshland. ^[12]

History

In 2006, rubble still litters the beach some 17 years after Cyclone Aivu hit in 1989

On 4 April 1989, Cyclone Aivu made landfall at Upstart Bay, creating a storm surge that flooded the low-lying coastline of the bay. At Wunjunga, fishermen's huts along on the beach at Wunjunga were destroyed during the storm. ^[14]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Wunjunga had a population of 9 people. ^[15]

In the 2021 census, Wunjunga had a population of 13 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Wunjunga. The nearest government primary schools are Gumlu State School in neighbouring Gumlu to the south and Home Hill State School in Home Hill to the north-west. The nearest government secondary school is Home Hill State High School, also in Home Hill. ^[16]

There are also a Catholic primary school in Home Hill and a number of primary and secondary non-government schools in Ayr to the north. ^[16]

Attractions

The coastline at Wunjunga is informally known as Wunjunga Beach (or Beachmount) and is approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) of sand and suitable for four-wheel driving, picnics, fishing and walks. Local wildlife can be seen along Beachmount / Wunjunga Road. ^[13]

Short-term camping is available at the Funny Dunny Park camping groundson Wungunga Road ( 19°45′08″S147°35′45″E / 19.7523°S 147.5958°E / -19.7523; 147.5958 (Funny Dunny Park camping grounds) ). ^[17]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Wunjunga (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Wunjunga (entry 42305)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 14 January 2016.
3. "Wunjunga, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 14 August 2021.
4. "Bays - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
5. "Upstart Bay – bay in the Shire of Burdekin (entry 35853)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 12 July 2025.
6. "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses; Bays". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
7. "Saltwater Creek – watercourse in the Shire of Burdekin (entry 29516)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 12 July 2025.
8. "Yellow Gin Creek – watercourse in the Shire of Burdekin (entry 38609)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 12 July 2025.
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. "Beach Hill – mountain in Burdekin Shire (entry 1931)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
11. "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
12. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
13. "Wunjunga Beach". Tourism & Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
14. "Townsville-Thuringowa Storm Tide Study: Final Report: Part C – Appendices" (PDF). Townsville City Council & Thuringowa City Council. April 2007. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wunjunga (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
16. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
17. "Wunjunga Beach". Townsville North Queensland. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.