Bluewater, Queensland

Bluewater is a town and coastal suburb in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia.[1][2] The coastal town of Bluewater Beach is also within the suburb.[3] At the 2016 census, Bluewater recorded a population of 1,040 people.[4]

Bluewater
Townsville, Queensland
Ditton Street with Bluewater Drive in the background
Bluewater
Coordinates19°10′28″S 146°33′1″E
Population1,040 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)4818
State electorate(s)Thuringowa
Federal Division(s)Herbert
Localities around Bluewater:
Clemant Coral Sea Toolakea
Clemant Bluewater Coral Sea
Saunders Beach
Bluewater Park Lynam Yabulu
Black River

Geography

Bluewater is approximately 28 kilometres (17 mi) north-west[5] of Townsville. As its name suggests, the town of Bluewater Beach is on the coast of the Coral Sea, while the town of Bluewater is inland on the Bruce Highway, which passes from south-east to the north-west through the locality.[6]

History

Bluewater is situated in the traditional Nyawigi Aboriginal country. [7] The origin of the suburb name Bluewater is from the adjacent Bluewater Creek that was shown on a district map from 1886.[8]

Bluewater was settled in the late nineteenth century, and was close to the Purono rail siding, constructed in 1919 on the extension of the North Coast railway line from Townsville to Ingham. During World War II, Bluewater became campground to a number of service personnel whose responsibility it was to resist Japanese invasion.

It was not until 1946 that land was first subdivided along Bluewater Beach, followed by subdivisions of Toolakea Beach and the Bluewater Township in the 1950s.[9]

Bluewater Post Office opened by May 1960.[10]

The community was badly flooded on 31 January 2019.[11] The wet weather and consequent flooding was expected to continue for another week.[12]

The suburb is popular with residents who prefer larger lot sizes and is home to a number of properties with hobby farms and horse agistment. It is also home to solar farms.[13]

Facilities

Today, Bluewater is a thriving community containing a number of facilities and attractions. Bluewater Park is a popular tourist destination with designated free campsites, and is located close to the Bluewater Store (currently closed for business), Bluewater Creek, and the newly developed Urban Forest and Fitness Trail. Toolakea and Bluewater Beach are popular recreational areas, and there is a boat ramp facility and waste transfer station towards the end of Bluewater Drive.[14]

Other facilities in the area include a community centre, a Girl Guides training and camping centre,[15] a Scout hall, and Bluewater State School.[16] There is also a Bluewater Caravan Park and Bluewater Medical Practice, however they are both technically located in Purono Park, on the Bruce Highway.

The Townsville City Council operate a mobile library service which visits the Community Centre at Bluewater on Monday afternoons.[17]

References
  1. "Bluewater – town (entry 3301)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  2. "Bluewater – suburb (entry 44573)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  3. "Bluewater Beach – town (entry 3303)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bluewater". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  5. Discover Thuringowa - Northern Beaches Archived 19 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 9 June 2008.
  6. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  7. "Wellbeing of Nywaigi Traditional Owners - Figure 1". Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  8. "Townsville City Council community profiles Division 1" (PDF). Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. Thuringowa Library Heritage Services: A History Of The Bluewater Area Archived 19 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 9 June 2008.
  10. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  11. "Bluewater, Far North Queensland, homes flooded after heavy rain". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  12. "Cow Swept Out To Sea, Tractors Washed Away In Wild Townsville Floods". 10 daily. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  13. "Council approves solar farm application in Bluewater". Townsville City Council. Townsville City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  14. Discover Thuringowa: Northern Beaches Archived 19 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 9 June 2008.
  15. Bluewater Training And Camping Centre Archived 15 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 9 June 2008.
  16. Bluewater State School Archived 18 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 9 June 2008.
  17. "Mobile Library Service" (PDF). Townsville City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
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