Rowes Bay, Queensland

Rowes Bay is a suburb of Townsville in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2016 census, Rowes Bay had a population of 573 people.^[1]

Rowes Bay Townsville, Queensland
Dusk at Soroptimist Park, Rowes Bay; looking northwards to Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park
Rowes Bay
Coordinates	19°14′33″S 146°46′37″E / 19.2425°S 146.7769°E / -19.2425; 146.7769 (Rowes Bay (centre of suburb))
Population	573 (2016 census)^[1]
• Density	205/km^2 (530/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4810
Area	2.8 km^2 (1.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	4.3 km (3 mi) NW of Townsville CBD 1,460 km (907 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	City of Townsville
State electorate(s)	Townsville
Federal division(s)	Herbert
Suburbs around Rowes Bay: Town Common Coral Sea Coral Sea Garbutt Rowes Bay Coral Sea Garbutt Garbutt Belgian Gardens

Geography

Rowes Bay is located in a low-lying area adjacent to the Cleveland Bay beach. Its borders are determined by the Coral Sea, Townsville Airport and Mundy Creek, and only a small portion of the suburb's area is taken up by housing. Neighbouring suburbs include Garbutt, West End and Belgian Gardens; however, Rowes Bay is relatively isolated from other suburbs due to its location surrounded by the Town Common.^{[citation needed]}

The Townsville Cemetery (also known as Belgian Gardens Cemetery) and a retirement village are located within the suburb.^{[citation needed]}

History

Rowes Bay was named after Charles Seville Rowe, one of the first settlers at Cleveland Bay. Only after World War II did the name Rowes come into general use; prior to this the area was recorded as Rose Bay and Ross Bay.^[3]

During World War II, Jimmys Lookout had an anti-aircraft gun and search light battery. Its purpose was to protect Townsville and in particular the military airport from Japanese airborne attacks.^[4][5]

The Queensland Police Service Academy (North Queensland campus) commenced training in October 1996.^{[citation needed]}

In the 2011 census, Rowes Bay had a population of 539 people.^[6]

In the 2016 census, Rowes Bay had a population of 573 people.^[1]

Education

Cleveland Education and Training Centre is a primary and secondary (5-12) special-purpose school for boys and girls in the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre on Old Common Road (19°14′59″S 146°47′03″E / 19.2496°S 146.7843°E / -19.2496; 146.7843 (Cleveland Education and Training Centre)).^[7][8] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 66 students with 24 teachers (21 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent).^[9]

There are no mainstream schools in Rowes Bay. The nearest government primary school is Belgian Gardens State School in neighbouring Belgian Gardens to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Townsville State High School in Railway Estate to the south-east.^[10]

Facilities

Cleveland Youth Detention Centre is for young people aged between 10 and 17 years who have been sentenced to detention or are being held on remand by the courts. It is on Old Comons Road (19°14′56″S 146°47′05″E / 19.2488°S 146.7848°E / -19.2488; 146.7848 (detention centre)).^[11]

Despite the name, Belgian Gardens Cemetery is within Rowes Bay at 62 Evans Street, but access to the cemetery is via the suburb of Belgian Gardens (19°14′37″S 146°46′58″E / 19.2435°S 146.7827°E / -19.2435; 146.7827 (Belgian Gardens Cemetery)).^[12] It is managed by the Townsville City Council.^[13]

The Townsville War Cemetery is within the Belgian Gardens cemetery (19°14′46″S 146°47′16″E / 19.2460°S 146.7879°E / -19.2460; 146.7879 (Townsville War Cemetery)).^[12] It has 222 burials from World War II. The Office of Australian War Graves is within the cemetery (19°14′45″S 146°47′17″E / 19.2458°S 146.7880°E / -19.2458; 146.7880 (OFFICE OF AUSTRALIAN WAR GRAVES)).^[14] The war cemetery is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.^[15][16]

Amenities

Rowes Bay Retirement Community is a retirement village at Havana Street off Cape Pallandera Road (19°14′08″S 146°47′07″E / 19.2355°S 146.7854°E / -19.2355; 146.7854 (Rowes Bay Retirement Community)).^[17]

There are a number of parks in the suburb, including:

• Hooper Street Park (19°14′54″S 146°47′18″E / 19.2484°S 146.7883°E / -19.2484; 146.7883 (Hooper Street Park))^[18]
• Rowes Bay Park (19°14′27″S 146°47′24″E / 19.2407°S 146.7899°E / -19.2407; 146.7899 (Rowes Bay Park))^[18]

Attractions

Rowes Bay is dominated by a scenic 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) Cleveland Bay beach, which has sweeping views of Magnetic Island. The beach is punctuated at intervals by tidal creeks. A short drive up Cape Pallarenda Road is located the suburb of Pallarenda which is equipped with a beachfront park and boat ramp. Cycling or jogging alone the sealed foreshore pathway is a popular pastime but swimming is not encouraged due to a risk of crocodile or jellyfish attack.^{[citation needed]}

At the southern end of the beach area is Soroptimist Park, which has lawns, barbecue facilities and an adventure playground designed specifically to be suitable for all children including those with disabilities. The park includes several attractive pieces of public art, contributed in 1988 and 1994. The northern end of the beach is a popular site for kitesurfing.^{[citation needed]}

Jimmys Lookout is off Old Commons Road on the western edge of the Belgian Gardens Cemetery (19°14′37″S 146°46′55″E / 19.2436°S 146.7819°E / -19.2436; 146.7819 (Jimmys Lookout)).^[19]

Gallery

•  
  View from Castle Hill towards Pallarenda, showing the Rowes Bay caravan park.
•  
  Walking path and bikeway towards Pallarenda.
•  
  Looking towards Magnetic Island.
•  
  Looking towards Pallarenda.
•  
  Post-cyclone beach near Heatleys Parade, on dusk. Looking towards Pallarenda.
•  
  Detail of public art sculpture, Soroptimist Park, Townsville.
•  
  Public art sculpture, Soroptimist Park, Townsville.
•  
  Queensland Police Service Academy (North Queensland campus).
•  
  Rowes Bay Golf Club clubhouse, near the Town Common.
•  
  Rowes Bay Golf Club wetlands near the 11th hole.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Rowes Bay (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
2. "Rowes Bay – suburb in City of Townsville (entry 46542)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
3. . Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
4. "Jimmy's Lookout Anti-aircraft Gun & Search Light Battery". Queensland WWII Historic Places. 30 June 2014. from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
5. "Jimmy's Lookout, Townsville". Australia@War. from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
6. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Rowes Bay (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 January 2016.  
7. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
8. "Cleveland Education and Training Centre". from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
9. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
10. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
11. "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
12. "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
13. "Cemeteries". Townsville City Council. 7 February 2022. from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
14. "Building points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
15. CWGC. "Townsville War Cemetery | Cemetery Details". CWGC. from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
16. "Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia". Virtual War Memorial Australia. from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
17. "Rowes Bay Retirement Community". Bolton Clarke. from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
18. "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
19. "Jimmys Lookout – lookout in City of Townsville (entry 17228)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 February 2022.