Guthalungra, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guthalungra Queensland
Guthalungra scenery, 2013
Guthalungra Location in Queensland
Population	112 (2016 census)
• Density	0.1133/km2 (0.293/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4805
Area	988.7 km2 (381.7 sq mi)
LGA(s)	Whitsunday Region
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal Division(s)	Dawson
Localities around Guthalungra: Coral Sea Coral Sea Coral Sea Gumlu Guthalungra Bowen Bogie Bowen Bowen

Guthalungra is a town and a coastal locality in the Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia.

Geography

The Bruce Highway traverses the locality from east to west passing through the town. The North Coast railway line runs almost immediately parallel with the highway with the Guthalungra railway station servicing the town.

The northern boundary of the locality is the Coral Sea including the large headland of Cape Upstart. The northern half of Cape Upstart is protected as the Cape Upstart National Park. Cape Upstart was named by Lieutenant James Cook on 5 June 1770 during his voyage along the eastern coast of Australia in the HM Bark Endeavour.

The Elliot River flows from south to north through the locality and the town into the Coral Sea to the west of Cape Upstart.

Being a coastal locality, much of the land is low-lying but there are a number of local prominences, including Cape Upstart in the north (680 metres), Mount Abbot in the south (1040 metres) and Mount Mackenzie in the south-east (510 metres).

History

The town was named in 1889, using the name of a significant local Aboriginal Australian.

Guthalungra Provisional School opened in 1948, becoming Guthalungra State School on 27 February 1957. The school closed in 1988.

Economy

Guthalungra is predominantly an agricultural area, mostly grazing with some crop production. Pacific Reef Fisheries operate the Guthalungra Prawn Farm near the mouth of the Elliot River. The company uses the farm as a hatchery for black tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) and a place to conduct their breeding program. The prawns are then raised for harvest and processing at the company's 93 hectare facility at Ayr.