Tannum Sands, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tannum SandsQueensland |
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Beach at Tannum Sands, 2014
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Population | 5,145 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 61.03/km2 (158.1/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4680 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 84.3 km2 (32.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Gladstone Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Gladstone | ||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Tannum Sands is a coastal town and locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Tannum Sands had a population of 5,145 people.
History
The area south of the Boyne River was originally known as Wild Cattle Creek (being the name of the creek that flows through the area) and had been a popular fishing and picnic location for the people of Boyne Island, but remained unsettled due to its inaccessibility. Closer settlement began in the late 1930s when 12 beach front lots were auctioned. The town received its original name Tannum when a group of children returned from a Sunday School picnic to the beach quite sunburnt. The comment was made "we can really tan 'um over there." One of the people present worked for the Queensland Land Department thought it would be a good name for the area and registered the name.
On 12 April 1951, the town was renamed Tannum Sands.
Overview
Tannum Sands is primarily a tourist and residential town. It has a patrolled beach and is well known as a fishing venue with access to the Great Barrier Reef, the Boyne River and Lake Awoonga. It is a major residential area for the nearby Boyne Island Aluminium Smelter and Gladstone-based industries.
Boyne Island and Tannum Sands are also home to the Boyne Tannum Hookup, Australia's largest family fishing event held on the Queens Birthday long weekend. The event is held at Bray Park. This event is very popular with more than 3,000 entrants.
Sport
Boyne-Tannum has teams competing in soccer, rugby league, Australian rules football, cricket, touch football, netball, tennis, surf lifesaving, swimming, and hockey. The area has two sporting grounds: BITS (Boyne Island Tannum Sands) club for cricket, football, golf, soccer, and lawn bowls, and Dennis Park for touch football, netball, and rugby league. Within Tannum Sands itself is the Tannum Sands Tennis Association and the Tannum Sands Squash Centre. The latter also provides rock climbing and a gymnasium.
Kiteboarding is a rapidly growing sport in the region, with Tannum Sands becoming a nationally renowned location.
Education
Tannum Sands hosts a number of schools including a public primary school, a public high school, and a Catholic primary school. They draw students from both the local areas but also from the wider region including from Miriam Vale, Benaraby, and Calliope.
Tannum Sands State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Waratah Crescent (23°57′03″S 151°21′53″E / 23.9509°S 151.3648°E). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 736 students with 49 teachers (45 full-time equivalent) and 27 non-teaching staff (18 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 693 students with 52 teachers (46 full-time equivalent) and 35 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.
St Francis Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Francis Way (23°56′35″S 151°21′39″E / 23.9431°S 151.3609°E). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 231 students with 21 teachers (17 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 205 students with 21 teachers (16 full-time equivalent) and 14 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent).
Tannum Sands State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at 65 Coronation Drive (23°57′35″S 151°21′51″E / 23.9596°S 151.3643°E). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1,066 students with 86 teachers (82 full-time equivalent) and 44 non-teaching staff (31 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 986 students with 87 teachers (81 full-time equivalent) and 44 non-teaching staff (31 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.