Halifax Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Halifax |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | North Queensland |
Halifax Bay is a beautiful bay located in the Coral Sea, right off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It's part of a larger area called Far North Queensland.
This bay is surrounded by interesting places. To the north, you'll find the town of Ingham. To the south is the city of Townsville. Just off the coast to the east is Great Palm Island.
Many small towns and beaches are located along Halifax Bay. These include Mount Low, Bushland Beach, Yabulu, Saunders Beach, Toolakea Beach, Bluewater, Toomulla Beach, Rollingstone, Balgal Beach, Paluma, Mutamee, Taylors Beach, and Allingham (which used to be called Forrest Beach).
Several creeks and rivers flow into Halifax Bay. In the northern part, you'll find Trebonne Creek, Cattle Creek, and Crystal Creek. In the southern part, Rollingstone Creek, Bluewater Creek, Black River, and the Bohle River all flow into the bay.
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History of Halifax Bay
Halifax Bay has a long and interesting history. Long ago, the Warakami and Wulgurkaba Aboriginal tribes lived here. These were likely some of the people that Captain James Cook saw when he explored the bay between June 6 and 8, 1770. He was the one who named Halifax Bay.
In the early 1860s, George Elphinstone Dalrymple explored the Halifax Bay area. Soon after, the first European settlers arrived in the Herbert River Valley. The town of Ingham was first settled in 1865. The southern parts of Halifax Bay grew more slowly. The area south of Crystal Creek became part of the new Thuringowa Land Division in 1879.
Halifax Bay During World War II
During the Second World War, the southern part of Halifax Bay, including Great Palm Island, was very important for defending the area. Townsville had a major air base, and Halifax Bay was a perfect spot for signals and battery locations.
Important operations included Fort Kissing Point in Townsville and a signal and radar station on Mount Spec. There was also a radio station at Mount Low and a seaplane base at the north end of Great Palm Island. A US Army Hospital even operated at Black River. Rattlesnake Island, also in Halifax Bay, was used for live firing practice, and it still is today.
After the war, the southern part of Halifax Bay started to change. It went from being mostly rural to having more homes and beach developments, especially from the 1960s onwards. In 1971, a very strong storm called Cyclone Althea hit the southern Halifax Bay area hard.
Industries in Halifax Bay
Halifax Bay is an important area for different types of industries. In 1974, a large Nickel Refinery (QNI Nickel) started operating at Yabulu, on the south side of Halifax Bay.
The northern part of Halifax Bay is a major area for growing sugar. The first settlers in this northern area were cattle farmers. However, sugar became the main focus when the Mackenzie Brothers built the first sugar cane mill in 1872. By 1970, over 2,000,000 tonnes of sugar cane were being processed in the district each year.
Ecology and Wildlife
Halifax Bay is a very important place for nature in Australia. The bay itself is part of the amazing Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This means it's protected because of its unique natural beauty and importance. Also, the Paluma Range nearby is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, another protected natural area.
The water in Halifax Bay is often a bit cloudy, but it's full of life! It's home to many different kinds of fish that are important for fishing, both for fun and for business. You can also find prawns and scallops here.
Halifax Bay is also a special place for some amazing marine animals. It provides important homes for Dugongs, which are gentle sea creatures. It's also a significant nesting area for Green Turtles, where they come to lay their eggs. People who operate businesses in the area, like sugar growers and the Yabulu Refinery, work with environmental groups to make sure their activities don't harm this important natural environment. The military also assesses its impact from using Rattlesnake Island.
