Bingil Bay, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bingil BayQueensland |
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Timber boat on Bingil Bay beach, 2009
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 Bingil Bay
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 438 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 93.2/km2 (241/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4852 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 4.7 km2 (1.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Cassowary Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hill | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Bingil Bay is a lovely coastal town in Queensland, Australia. It's located right on a beautiful bay, also called Bingil Bay, in the Cassowary Coast Region. According to the 2021 census, about 438 people live here.
Contents
Exploring Bingil Bay's Geography
Bingil Bay is on the coast, with the bay itself forming its eastern border. A place called Ninney Point is on the north-east coast. From Ninney Point, a long sandy beach stretches south along the coastline. The main town area is found in the south-eastern part of the locality.
The land here is used for different things. Some areas have homes, while others are used for growing tropical fruits. You can also find land where animals graze on the natural plants.
A Look Back at Bingil Bay's History
The name Bingil comes from an Aboriginal word. It is thought to mean "a good camping ground". A pioneer settler named Frederick Cutten gave this name to the area.
Early Settlers and Tea Plantations
In 1884, four brothers, Frederick, Leonard, Sydney, and James Cutten, started something special. They created Australia's very first commercial tea plantation right here at Bingil Bay. It was part of their Bicton estate. They also grew other tropical fruits like coffee, mangoes, bananas, and pineapples. Back then, the only way to reach Bingil Bay was by boat.
A big cyclone hit in 1918 and destroyed most of the Bicton estate. The family rebuilt their home, but the rest of the farm was never fully restored. Years later, in 1958, Dr Allan Maruff found descendants of the original tea plants growing in the rainforest. These plants were used to start the famous Nerada Tea plantations.
Connecting Bingil Bay to the World
For a long time, Bingil Bay was quite isolated. In 1921, a rough overland path was made from El Arish, about 10 kilometres (6 miles) away. However, it was only good for a dray (a type of cart), and the trip took almost a whole day!
The area was first known as Clump Point, named after a nearby headland. But in 1929, a post office opened and was called Bingal Bay.
Finally, on 9 July 1936, a proper road from El Arish to Bingil Bay was finished. This made travel much faster, cutting the journey down to just 30 minutes. Percy Pease, a local politician, officially opened the road.
Lifesaving and Famous Visitors
The Bingil Bay Lifesaving Club opened its doors in 1936, helping to keep swimmers safe.
Around 1966, Harold Holt, who was the Prime Minister of Australia at the time, owned a holiday home in Bingil Bay with his wife, Zara Holt. They called their cottage "The Shack." It was high on a hill and had amazing views all the way to Dunk Island. The couple loved spearfishing in the clear waters. Their holiday home was a quiet escape, as it didn't even have a telephone.
Who Lives in Bingil Bay?
The number of people living in Bingil Bay has grown over the years. In the 2011 census, there were 369 people. By the 2016 census, the population had increased to 427. The latest count from the 2021 census shows that 438 people call Bingil Bay home.
Special Places: Heritage Listings
Bingil Bay has some important historical sites that are protected as heritage listings. These places tell stories about the past. They include:
- Ninney Rise, located at 405 Alexander Drive and Esplanade.
- Cutten Brothers' Graves, found on Holt Court. These are the graves of the pioneering Cutten brothers.
Learning and Daily Life
Schools Near Bingil Bay
There are no schools directly in Bingil Bay. For primary school, students usually go to Mission Beach State School in Wongaling Beach (to the south) or El Arish State School in El Arish (to the west). For high school, the closest option is Tully State High School in Tully (to the south-west).
Local Amenities
The Bingil Bay Cafe is a handy spot for locals and visitors. It offers meals and sells basic groceries. You can find it at 39 Bingil Bay Road.
