Sarina, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sarina Queensland
Plane Creek Sugar Mill
Sarina Location in Queensland
Postcode(s)	4737
Area	250.7 km2 (96.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	38.2 km (24 mi) S of Mackay 301 km (187 mi) NNW of Rockhampton 936 km (582 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Mirani
Federal Division(s)	Capricornia
Localities around Sarina: Sunnyside Munburra Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach Sarina Beach Blue Mountain Sarina Freshwater Point Armstrong Beach Sarina Range Koumala Coral Sea

Sarina is a town and coastal area in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. It's a rural place, meaning it's mostly countryside with farms. In 2021, about 5,619 people lived in Sarina.

Where is Sarina?

Sarina is located on the east coast of Queensland. It's about 34 kilometers (21 miles) south of the city of Mackay. It's also about 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of Rockhampton.

The Bruce Highway, a major road, and the North Coast railway line both pass through Sarina. The town itself is built near Plane Creek, which flows into the Coral Sea. Most of the town is on the north side of this creek.

There are also smaller areas, called neighborhoods, around Sarina. These include Plane Creek West, Oonooie, Mount Convenient, and Swayneville.

A Look Back at Sarina's History

The land around Sarina has a long history. It is the traditional country of the Yuwibara people, an Aboriginal group.

Sarina was first known as Plane Creek. It got its current name from the Sarina Inlet. This inlet was named after Sarina, a mythical enchantress from ancient Greek stories. A surveyor named William Charles Borlase Wilson gave it this name before 1882.

Schools started opening in the area in the late 1800s:

• Plane Creek Provisional School opened in 1897 and later became Sarina State School in 1912.
• Plane Creek Upper Provisional School opened in 1900 and closed in 1969. It was renamed Plane Creek West State School in 1928.
• St Anne's Catholic Primary School opened in 1925.
• Swayneville State School opened in 1935.
• Sarina State High School opened in 1964. In 2014, the high school celebrated its 50th birthday!

Over the years, Sarina's population has grown. In 2006, there were 3,285 people. By 2021, the population had increased to 5,619.

Important Places in Sarina

Sarina has some places that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites:

• The Sarina Air Raid Shelter on Broad Street. This shelter was built to protect people during air raids.
• The Sarina War Memorial also on Broad Street. This memorial honors those who served in wars.

What Sarina is Known For

Sarina's main industries are growing and processing sugar cane, raising cattle, and other types of farming.

The town is a big producer of ethanol. This comes from the Wilmar International's Plane Creek sugar mill, which processes the sugar cane.

About 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of Sarina is Hay Point. This is one of the largest places in Australia for exporting coal. It's also one of the biggest coal shipping terminals in the world!

Schools in Sarina

Sarina has several schools for students of all ages:

Swayneville State School, 2021

Sarina State High School, 2021

• Sarina State School is a primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located on Broad Street.
• Swayneville State School is another primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's on Sarina Marlborough Road.
• St Anne's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. You can find it on Range Road.
• Sarina State High School is a secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It's located on Anzac Street.

All these schools also offer special education programs to support students with different learning needs.

Things to Do and See in Sarina

• Sarina Library: The local library is on Broad Street. It's a great place to find books and learn.
• Churches: Sarina has several churches, including St Michael's Catholic Church, St Luke's Anglican Church, Sarina Uniting Church, and others.
• Sarina Arts & Craft Centre: This center is in Railway Square. It's housed in three old buildings: the old court house (built in 1906), the old jail (around 1906), and the former Mount Pelion State School building (built in 1926). It's a place where local artists and crafters can share their work.
• Sarina Museum: Also in Railway Square, the museum is in the former Catholic presbytery building. It was moved there in 2001 and tells the story of Sarina's past.
• Sarina Sugar Shed: This is a special information center about the sugar industry. It shows how sugar cane is grown and processed. You can even see a small working sugar mill!

Sports in Sarina

Sarina is famous for its rugby league club, the Sarina Crocodiles. Many talented players who went on to represent Queensland and Australia started their careers here. Some of these players include Martin Bella, Dale Shearer, Kevin Campion, Daly Cherry-Evans, and Wendell Sailor.

Sarina's Big Cane Toad

Buffy, the Big Cane Toad

In the center of Sarina, right on the Bruce Highway, you'll find a giant cane toad statue named Buffy! This big statue honors Sarina's history of cane farming. Buffy was made from fiberglass in the early 1980s for a parade. Her name, Buffy, comes from the scientific name for cane toads, bufo marinus. Buffy is quite famous and has even been painted in different colors for the "State of Origin" football games. She's chained down to prevent her from being stolen, but that doesn't stop people from decorating her with flags and banners!

Famous People from Sarina

Sarina has been home to some well-known people, especially in the world of rugby league:

• Martin Bella – A former professional rugby league player who played for Australia and Queensland.
• Kevin Campion – Another former professional rugby league player who represented Queensland.
• Daly Cherry-Evans – A professional rugby league player who has played for Queensland and Australia.
• Wendell Sailor – A professional player who excelled in both rugby league and rugby union.
• Dale Shearer – A former professional rugby league player who represented Australia and Queensland.