Airlie Beach, Queensland

Airlie Beach is a coastal locality and resort town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Airlie Beach had a population of 1,312 people.^[3]

Airlie Beach Queensland
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach
Coordinates	20°16′28″S 148°42′54″E / 20.2744°S 148.715°E / -20.2744; 148.715 (Airlie Beach (centre of locality))
Population	1,312 (SAL 2021)^[1]
Postcode(s)	4802
Location	3.9 km (2 mi) NE of Canonvale 26.1 km (16 mi) NW of Proserpine 274 km (170 mi) SE of Townsville 1,114 km (692 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Whitsunday Region
State electorate(s)	Whitsunday
Federal division(s)	Dawson
Suburbs around Airlie Beach: Coral Sea Coral Sea Coral Sea Cannonvale Airlie Beach Mandalay Cannonvale Cape Conway Jubilee Pocket

Geography

Airlie Beach is one of many departure points for the Great Barrier Reef. Cruise ships visit the area, anchoring offshore while passengers are transported via ship's tender to the marina.^[4] Near latitude 20 degrees south, Airlie Beach, Proserpine and the nearby Whitsunday Islands enjoy a tropical climate and lifestyle.^[5]

The Proserpine–Shute Harbour Road (State Route 59) passes through the locality from west to east.^[6]

Each year the residents of Airlie Beach celebrate The Blessing of the Fleet on Whitsunday or Pentecost Sunday.^[7]

History

The name derived from the former town of Airlie and unbounded locality of Airlie Beach. Airlie was named following a request by the Lands Department in December 1935 for the Proserpine Shire Council to provide a name for a new sub-division on the coast.^[2] It is almost certain that the town was named for the parish of Airlie, in Scotland, as the name was suggested by the chairman of the former Proserpine Shire Council, Robert Shepherd, who was born in nearby Montrose, Scotland. The official name was Airlie from 1936 until 1987, when it was amalgamated into the larger town of Whitsunday while Airlie Beach became the official name of the locality.^[2][8]

Airlie Beach Post Office opened on 2 November 1959.^[9]

In December 1956, 18 allotments were offered for auction as Perpetual Town Leases by the Department of Public Lands office. The map advertising the auction states the allotments were situated approximately 15 miles north-east of Proserpine.^[10]

Busking was made legal in June 2010 through an adopted draft policy created by Whitsunday Regional Council.^{[11][12][13][14]}

In the 2010s, there were several shark attacks off the coast of Airlie Beach. In 2018, there were 2 near fatal attacks and another attack occurred on 29 October 2019.^[15][16][17]

Airlie Beach has a high number of residents working in the tourism and hospitality industries and in 2020 the town was named one of the most likely Australian towns to suffer for the longest from the economic downturn caused by the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.^[18]

Demographics

At the 2016 census, the locality of Airlie Beach had a population of 1,208. 50.9% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England at 9.2%. 71.2% of people only spoke English at home. The most common response for religion was No Religion at 34.7% of the population.^[19]

In the 2021 census, Airlie Beach had a population of 1,312 people.^[3]

Education

There are no schools in Airlie Beach. The nearest government primary school is Cannonvale State School in neighbouring Cannonvale to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Proserpine State High School in Proserpine to the south-west.^[20]

Facilities

 

Police Vessel George R. Young, based at Airlie Beach, 2014

There are two marinas in Airlie Beach:

• Abel Point Marina (20°15′58″S 148°42′36″E / 20.2660°S 148.7100°E / -20.2660; 148.7100 (Abel Point Marina))^[21]
• Port of Airlie Marina (20°16′13″S 148°43′30″E / 20.2703°S 148.7250°E / -20.2703; 148.7250 (Port of Airlie Marina))^[21]

There are two boat ramps, both managed by the Whitsunday Regional Council:

• at Abel Point off Shingley Drive (20°15′58″S 148°42′44″E / 20.2662°S 148.7123°E / -20.2662; 148.7123 (Abell Point Marina boat ramp))^[22]
• at Port of Airlie (20°16′25″S 148°43′32″E / 20.2736°S 148.7256°E / -20.2736; 148.7256 (Port of Airlie boat ramp))^[22]

Airlie Beach Water Police Station is at 38 Shingley Drive (20°15′58″S 148°42′47″E / 20.2661°S 148.7130°E / -20.2661; 148.7130 (police station / emergency services building)).^[23] The station's area of responsibility extends from Cape Upstart to north to St Lawrence to the south.^[24]

Events

Annually, The Great Barrier Reef Festival is held in Airlie Beach and includes attractions ranging from fireworks on the foreshore to live music by local artists. The event is hosted by local company Cruise Whitsundays.^[25]

In November each year, the Airlie Beach Festival of Music is held in the area and spans over multiple days. The event includes both Australian and international musicians that play throughout the festival.^[26]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Airlie Beach (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
2. "Airlie Beach (entry 46849)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Airlie Beach (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
4. "Whitsundays Cruise Port". from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
5. . Auinfo.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
6. Google (25 August 2022). "Airlie Beach, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
7. "Blessing of the Fleet". Whitsunday Sailing Club. from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
8. "Whitsunday – town in Whitsunday Region (entry 37374)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
9. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
10. "Government sale of seaside allotments, to be offered at auction, as perpetual town leases, at the Land Office, Proserpine" (1956) [Map]. Collections. State Library of Queensland.
11. "He's breaking the law by busking". Dailymercury.com.au. 13 July 2010. from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
12. Ben Glover (25 February 2010). "The busking blues". Whitsunday Times. from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
13. James Tolmie (22 July 2010). "Busker happy with decision". Whitsunday Times. from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
14. James Tolmie (2 September 2010). "Busker still not happy with rules". Whitsunday Times. from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
15. "Two people seriously injured in shark attack at Airlie Beach". 9news.com.au. from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
16. "Whitsundays shark attack: woman and child bitten in shallow waters". The Guardian. 10 January 2019. from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
17. Natalie Wolfe (8 November 2018). "Crisis talks to be held over horror Whitsundays shark attacks". News.com.au. from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
18. "Byron Bay, Cairns 'most vulnerable' to lasting COVID-19 damage". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 April 2020. from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
19. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Airlie Beach (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
20. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
21. "Marinas – Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
22. "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
23. "Building areas – Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
24. Smith, Steve (27 January 2014). "Know your local Police – Whitsunday Water Police". Mackay. from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
25. "Home | Great Barrier Reef Festival". greatbarrierreeffestival.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
26. "Home". Airlie Beach Festival of Music 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.

External links

 

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Airlie Beach.

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Airlie Beach, Queensland.

• "Airlie Beach". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
• Aerial film footage of Queensland places, State Library of Queensland. Contains aerial footage of Airlie Beach