Bowen, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bowen Queensland
Top: Playground at Bowen Foreshore, Middle left: Bowen Foreshore, Middle right: Walkway along Santa Barbara parade, Bottom left: Muller's Lagoon, Bottom right: Bowen Skatebowl
Bowen Location in Queensland
Population	11,205 (2021 census)
• Density	6.7835/km2 (17.569/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4805
Area	1,651.8 km2 (637.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	67.6 km (42 mi) NW of Proserpine 201 km (125 mi) SE of Townsville 1,165 km (724 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Whitsunday Region
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal Division(s)	Dawson
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 28.5 °C 83 °F 19.8 °C 68 °F 1,009.6 mm 39.7 in
Localities around Bowen: Guthalungra Coral Sea Coral Sea Bogie Bowen Gregory River Bogie Lake Proserpine Mount Pluto

Bowen is a coastal town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia. It's located on the north-east coast of North Queensland. In 2021, about 11,205 people lived here.

The area also includes two other smaller towns:

• Heronvale
• Merinda

The Abbot Point coal port is also part of the Bowen area.

Where is Bowen Located?

Bowen is on the north-east coast of North Queensland. It's about halfway between the cities of Townsville and Mackay. It's also about 1,130 kilometers by road from Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.

Bowen is on a piece of land that sticks out into the ocean, called a peninsula. This means the Coral Sea surrounds it on three sides. To the south-east, you'll find Port Denison and Edgecumbe Bay. On the western side, the Don River flows through a flat, fertile area. This rich soil is perfect for farming.

Merinda is a town located inland, about 10 kilometers west of Bowen.

The Bruce Highway and the North Coast railway line both pass through the area. The railway line connects to the Bowen railway station and also extends to the Abbot Point port, which is important for shipping coal. Heronvale is a small coastal town south of Bowen. In the west of the area, you can find the Mount Aberdeen National Park.

A Look at Bowen's History

Bowen Turf Club, around 1910

The Biri and Yuru people are the traditional owners of the land around Bowen. Their languages are part of the rich Aboriginal language heritage.

In 1770, Captain James Cook sailed past this coast. He named Cape Gloucester, which later turned out to be Gloucester Island. This island is a big part of the view from Bowen's beaches. Behind the island is a great natural harbor.

Around 1850, a shipwreck survivor named James Morrill lived with the local Aboriginal people for a short time. He had been a castaway for 17 years.

In 1859, Captain Henry Daniel Sinclair explored the area. He was looking for a good port north of Rockhampton. He found a "most splendid harbour" and named it Port Denison. This was after William Denison, who was the governor of New South Wales at the time.

In 1860, George Elphinstone Dalrymple explored the area by ship. He found the Don River and noticed many Aboriginal camps. He decided the north-eastern shore of Port Denison was the best place for a settlement. This was because there were large natural wells that could provide water.

George Elphinstone Dalrymple

In 1861, Dalrymple returned with an overland group and ships to set up a permanent settlement. The town of Port Denison was officially founded on April 11, 1861. After Queensland became a separate colony from New South Wales, the town was renamed Bowen. This was in honor of Sir George Bowen, Queensland's first governor. The Post Office opened in April 1861.

For many years, people thought Bowen might become the capital of a new North Queensland colony. That's why its main streets are so wide and well-planned.

Bowen State School opened in 1865. Later, it split into separate schools for boys and girls. In 1961, Bowen State High School opened for older students. St Mary's School, a Catholic primary school, opened in 1872. It was started by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

The waters around Bowen have seen several shipwrecks. One famous one is the SS Gothenburg, which sank in 1875. More than 100 lives were lost. You can see many historical items from Bowen's past at the local museum.

In 1876, a very strong tornado hit the town, causing a lot of damage.

The Merinda meatworks (Bowen) started operating in 1894. It was a big employer and important for the town's economy for many years. It could process 150 cattle a day in 1922 and closed in 1997.

Several other schools opened and closed in the area over the years, including Warden Bend Provisional School (1891-1912), Merinda Provisional School (1898), Roseville State School (1913-1939), Don Delta State School (1913-1964), and Eden Lassie Provisional School (1916-1963).

Catalina flying boats from No. 11 Squadron RAAF

During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) used Bowen as a base for flying boats. These were planes that could land on water, like the PBY Catalina. You can still see the concrete ramps where these planes were launched.

From 2008, Bowen became part of the Whitsunday Region. Even though Proserpine is the main office for the council, Bowen still has council offices and hosts meetings.

Who Lives in Bowen?

In 2021, Bowen had a population of 11,205 people. About 9.2% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Most people (74.2%) were born in Australia. Other people came from countries like New Zealand, England, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan. English is the main language spoken at home.

Bowen's Important Places

Bowen has several places that are listed for their historical importance. These include:

• Flemington Road: Flemington Road Cemetery
• 6 Herbert Street: Bowen Harbour Board Building
• 46 Herbert Street: Bowen Post Office
• 29 Kennedy Street: Bowen State School
• 30 Williams Street: Bowen Courthouse

What Does Bowen Do?

Bowen has a strong economy based on several things:

• Farming: The rich soil is great for growing crops like tomatoes, rockmelons (cantaloupes), and capsicums (bell peppers).
• Cattle: Outside the farming areas, much of the land is used for raising beef cattle.
• Fishing: Being a coastal town, fishing is also important.
• Tourism: Many people visit Bowen for its beautiful beaches and attractions.
• Mining: Just north of Bowen is the Abbot Point coal port. Coal from inland mines is brought here by train and loaded onto large ships. This coal is mainly sent to countries like China and India.

Learning in Bowen

Bowen has several schools for different age groups:

• Bowen State School: A government primary school for students from Early Childhood to Year 6.
• Queens Beach State School: Another government primary school for Prep to Year 6 students.
• Merinda State School: A government primary school located in Merinda.
• St Mary's Catholic School: A Catholic primary school for Prep to Year 6 students.
• Bowen State High School: A government high school for students from Year 7 to Year 12.

TAFE Queensland North also has a campus in Bowen. This is a place where students can learn vocational skills for different jobs.

Community and Services

The Whitsunday Regional Council runs the Bowen Public Library on Herbert Street.

The closest major airport is Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) airport, which is south of Bowen.

The Bowen branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) meets at their hall on Herbert Street.

There are several churches in Bowen, including St Mary's Catholic Church and Bowen Uniting Church. The Uniting Church offers services in English, Korean, and Tongan.

Fun Things to Do in Bowen

Greys Bay, Bowen, 2020

Bowen is famous for its many beautiful beaches. Because it's on a peninsula, it has ocean on three sides. You can visit beaches like Kings Beach, Queens Beach, Horseshoe Bay, Murrays Bay, Greys Bay, Rose Bay, and Front Beach. Kings Beach offers great views of nearby Gloucester Island.

The Big Mango, Bowen, Queensland.

One of Bowen's most famous landmarks is the "Big Mango." It's a huge, 10-meter-tall fiberglass mango that was built in 2002 as a tourist attraction. It's a fun spot for photos!

Sports in Bowen

The most popular sport in Bowen is rugby league. The local team, the Bowen Seagulls, plays in the Townsville District Rugby League competition.

The Bowen Showground has a track for motorcycle speedway racing. It has hosted important championships.

Bowen's Weather

Bowen has a tropical savannah climate. This means it has a hot, wet season from December to April and a cooler, less humid dry season from May to November. Temperatures are usually warm to hot. The average high temperature is around 31.5°C in January and 24.5°C in July.

The nearby Gloucester Island creates a "rain shadow," which means Bowen gets less rain than some other tropical areas. The average yearly rainfall is about 894.9 millimeters. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 39.7°C, and the coldest was 3.2°C.

Television in Bowen

Bowen gets free television channels like ABC, SBS, Seven Queensland, WIN Television (which shows Nine Network programs), and Southern Cross Television (which shows Ten Network programs).

Famous People from Bowen

Some notable people who have lived in Bowen include:

• Sir Charles Newton Barton (1907–1987), who was important in public works.
• Edith Bethel (1871–1929), a political organizer.
• Douglas James (Jim) Darwen (1906–1988), a newspaper owner and editor.
• Korah Halcomb Wills (1828–1896), a former mayor of Bowen.

Sister City

Bowen has a sister city relationship with Oseto-cho in Japan.