Tannum Sands, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tannum Sands Queensland
Tannum Sands from the air - May 2023
Tannum Sands Location in Queensland
Population	5,227 (2021 census)
• Density	62.00/km2 (160.6/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4680
Area	84.3 km2 (32.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	1.1 km (1 mi) E of Boyne Island 25.1 km (16 mi) SE of Gladstone CBD 133 km (83 mi) SE of Rockhampton 517 km (321 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Gladstone Region
State electorate(s)	Gladstone
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Localities around Tannum Sands: Boyne Island Coral Sea Coral Sea Wurdong Heights Tannum Sands Coral Sea Benaraby Iveragh Foreshores

Tannum Sands is a cool town right by the ocean in Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Gladstone Region. In 2021, about 5,227 people lived here. It's a popular spot for tourists and a home for many who work in nearby industries.

Exploring Tannum Sands' Location

A bird's-eye view of Tannum Sands in 2012

Tannum Sands is surrounded by water! The Coral Sea is to its northeast, and the Boyne River is to its northwest and west. A smaller stream called Station Creek is to the southwest. The main part of Tannum Sands town is in the northern area.

At the very top of Tannum Sands, you'll find Canoe Point. There's also a place called Wild Cattle Island. It's separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. The island has a long sandy beach called Wild Cattle Beach. Most of this island is a national park, which means it's protected nature.

Tannum Sands has a close neighbour, Boyne Island. These two towns are only separated by the Boyne River and are connected by a bridge. Many people who work at the Boyne Island aluminium smelter or in Gladstone live in Tannum Sands.

A Look Back: Tannum Sands' History

Motorbikes on Tannum Beach during a sports event in 1947

The area south of the Boyne River was first called Redcliff. Later, it was known as Wild Cattle Creek. It was a favourite spot for fishing and picnics for people from Boyne Island. But it was hard to get to, so not many people lived there at first.

Around the late 1930s, things started to change. Some land by the beach was sold, and people began to settle there. The town got its original name, Tannum, in a funny way. Some children came back from a picnic very sunburnt, and someone joked, "we can really tan 'um over there!" Someone from the Queensland Land Department heard this and thought it would be a great name for the area, so they officially registered it.

The Tannum Progress Association used to hold fun sports days. In 1949, over 1,000 people came to the New Year's Day event!

On April 12, 1951, the town's name was officially changed to Tannum Sands.

A big change happened when a bridge was built to connect Tannum Sands to Boyne Island. This bridge was needed because of the new Boyne island aluminium smelter. It opened on October 11, 1980.

• 1980: Tannum Sands Uniting Church was built.
• 1983: Tannum Sands State School opened its doors on January 24.
• 1996: The Boyne Tannum Hookup fishing competition started on June 7. It's been held every year since!
• 1998: Tannum Sands State High School opened on January 22. It started with 287 students in Years 7 and 8.
• 2005: St Francis Catholic Primary School opened in January.
• 2006: St Peter Chanel Catholic Church was built.

Who Lives in Tannum Sands?

The number of people living in Tannum Sands has grown quite a lot over the years:

Learning in Tannum Sands

An aerial view of Tannum Sands State High School in 2022

Tannum Sands has several schools for kids of different ages. Students come from the local area and even from places like Miriam Vale, Benaraby, and Calliope.

• Tannum Sands State School: This is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located on Waratah Crescent. The school also has a special education program.
• St Francis Catholic Primary School: This is a Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. You can find it on Francis Way.
• Tannum Sands State High School: This is a government high school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It's located at 65 Coronation Drive. This school also offers a special education program.

What to Do in Tannum Sands

Tannum Sands has many places and activities for everyone!

• The Queensland Country Women's Association has a branch here, meeting at the QCWA Hall on Steele Street.
• You can find the Tannum Sands Uniting Church on Silverton Drive.
• St Peter Chanel Catholic Church is located on Francis Way.
• Tannum Sands has a beautiful beach where surf lifesavers keep everyone safe.

There are also two boat ramps if you love being on the water:

• Wild Cattle Creek Road boat ramp, on the southern bank of Wild Cattle Creek.
• Tiller Street boat ramp, at Ibis Park on the western bank of the Boyne River.

Sports and Fun Activities

Boyne-Tannum is a great place for sports! There are teams for:

• Soccer
• Rugby league
• Australian rules football
• Cricket
• Touch football
• Netball
• Tennis
• Surf lifesaving
• Swimming
• Hockey

The area has two main sporting grounds:

• BITS (Boyne Island Tannum Sands) club: For cricket, football, golf, soccer, and lawn bowls.
• Dennis Park: For touch football, netball, and rugby league.

In Tannum Sands itself, you'll find the Tannum Sands Tennis Association and the Tannum Sands Squash Centre. The Squash Centre also has rock climbing and a gym!

The local rugby league team is called the Tannum Sands Seagulls. They play in the Gladstone District Rugby League competition.

Kiteboarding is becoming very popular here, and Tannum Sands is known nationally for it. You might also see people riding horses along the beach!

Exciting Events

Boyne Island and Tannum Sands host some big events:

• Boyne Tannum Hookup: This is Australia's largest family fishing event! It happens every year on the King's Birthday long weekend at Bray Park. More than 3,000 people join in the fun.
• Coconet Classic: This is an annual kiteboarding event. It used to be the National Kiteboarding Titles, but now it's an open event held during the Easter long weekend.

Tannum Sands is also famous for fishing. You can access the amazing Great Barrier Reef, the Boyne River, and Lake Awoonga for some great catches.

Staying Safe: Local Wildlife

It's good to know that saltwater crocodiles have been seen on Wild Cattle Island and in Wild Cattle Creek. Always be aware of your surroundings when near the water.