Ross Creek (Central Queensland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ross Creek (Yeppoon)Queensland |
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Henry Beak Bridge over Ross Creek
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 Ross Creek (Yeppoon)
Location in Queensland
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| Postcode(s) | 4703 |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Rockhampton Region |
| State electorate(s) | Keppel |
| Federal Division(s) | Capricornia |
Ross Creek is a river in Central Queensland, Australia. It flows into the Coral Sea at Yeppoon, a town in Queensland. The river is located on the Capricorn Coast in the Shire of Livingstone. A road called the Scenic Highway crosses Ross Creek. It uses the Henry Beak Bridge to connect Yeppoon with nearby towns like Cooee Bay.
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Fun Things to Do at Ross Creek
Even though no one lives right at Ross Creek, it's a busy place for the community. It has a park where you can relax and a boat ramp for launching boats. There are also public barbecues for cooking yummy food.
Fishing and Crabbing
Ross Creek is super popular for fishing! When the tide is low, muddy sandbars appear on one side of the bridge. This is a great spot to find yabbies, which are small freshwater crayfish. When the tide comes in, the creek fills up. Stone walls built by people on both sides of the creek offer many good fishing spots. You can also fish from a sandy beach near the creek's mouth. Common fish caught here include whiting, flathead, and silver bream. Further up the creek, where it's muddier, you can find mud crabs.
Community Markets
Every month, markets are held at Ross Creek. These markets are a fun way for people to gather and enjoy the area.
Plants and Animals of Ross Creek
Ross Creek is home to many interesting plants and animals. The area near the mouth of the creek is sandy. But further inland, past the bridge, the creek becomes muddier.
Mangrove Forests
Large areas of low land next to Ross Creek fill with water during high tide. This creates a perfect home for mangroves to grow. Mangroves are special trees that can live in salty water. They provide a safe place for small sea creatures like crustaceans, prawns, and fish. Studies by the Queensland Government have found ten different kinds of mangroves in the Ross Creek and Fig Tree Creek area.
Flying Fox Colonies
Ross Creek is also famous for its large groups of flying foxes. These are a type of bat. The mangroves offer a permanent home for about 2,000 black flying foxes. During certain times of the year, hundreds of thousands of little red flying foxes also come to stay here. It's like a big camping trip for them!
History of Ross Creek
Ross Creek has an interesting history, showing how the area has changed over time.
Bridges Over the Creek
The first bridge across Ross Creek was called the Livingstone Bridge. It was built in 1926. This bridge helped people develop the land in Cooee Bay. In 1972, a new bridge was built to replace it. This new bridge is called the Henry Beak Bridge. It was named after Henry Beak, who used to be the chairman of the Livingstone Shire Council.
Local Government Changes
For many years, the Livingstone Shire Council managed all the areas along the Capricorn Coast. In 2008, these areas joined with the Rockhampton Region. But then, in 2012, they separated again and became the Shire of Livingstone once more.
Fishing Industry and Old Pool
You can still see some trawlers (fishing boats) docked in Ross Creek. These are reminders of a time when there was a big sea scallop fishing industry here. This industry was based at Ross Creek until the 1970s, when Rosslyn Bay became the main fishing hub. Also, if you look closely at the eastern wall near the creek's mouth, you can see parts of an old concrete and stone pool. This saltwater pool was built in the 1950s. It was a safe place for children to swim.
