Balgal Beach is a coastal

suburb A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...

and a beach in the

City of Townsville The City of Townsville is a local government area (LGA) located in North Queensland, Australia. It encompasses the city of Townsville, together with the surrounding rural areas, to the south are the communities of Alligator Creek, Woodstock ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The town of Balgal is within the locality. In the , Balgal Beach had a population of 998 people.

Geography

Balgal Beach is north of

Townsville Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...

, Australia, and south of

Ingham, Queensland Ingham is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Hinchinbrook, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Ingham had a population of 4,426 people. It is named after William Bairstow Ingham and is the administrative centre for the Shire o ...

. The locality is bounded to the north-east and east by the

Coral Sea The Coral Sea () is a marginal sea of the South Pacific off the northeast coast of Australia, and classified as an interim Australian bioregion. The Coral Sea extends down the Australian northeast coast. Most of it is protected by the Fre ...

and to the north-west and west by Rollingstone Creek, which flows into the Coral Sea at the northernmost point of the locality, where the town of Balgal is located (). The coastal strip features a long sandy beach, also known as Balgal Beach. The North Coast railway line forms part of the south-western boundary of the locality. Although the

Bruce Highway The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast on its way to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is part of the Australian Na ...

does not enter the locality, it is adjacent to the south-west boundary of the locality where it has its junction with Balgal Beach Drive (the major thoroughfare in the locality extending to the town of Balgal).

History

Balgal Beach was originally part of the Armidale pastoral lease, settled in 1883 by John Lambert before later changing name to

Rollingstone Rollingstone may refer to several locations: * Rollingstone, Queensland, Australia * Rollingstone, Minnesota, U.S. * Rollingstone Creek Rollingstone Creek is a stream in Winona County, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Rollingstone Creek is the f ...

. The area of coastline to the north of Rollingstone was named Balgal Beach in 1947, when the first dwellings were constructed. The name "Balgal" was derived from an Aboriginal word meaning "stone." The land in this area was predominantly used for farming and grazing, and remained rural until the mid-1980s when the allocation of 500 rural/residential blocks at the Mystic Sands Estate saw the population increase nearly twofold. Mystic Sands Golf Resort opened in 1993.

Demographics

In the 2006 census, the population of Balgal Beach was 743, a 30.3% increase since the 1996 census. In the , the population of Balgal Beach was 849. In the , Balgal Beach had a population of 966 people. In the , Balgal Beach had a population of 998 people.

Education

There are no schools in Balgal Beach. The nearest government primary school is Rollingstone State School in neighbouring

to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Northern Beaches State High School in Deeragun to the south-east.

Amenities

Located a few kilometres north of the suburb of

, Balgal Beach today is a popular destination for recreational activities such as boating, fishing and swimming. Facilities at Balgal Beach include a patrolled stinger enclosure from November to May, a general store/cafe, holiday units and designated camping areas. Mystic Sands Golf Resort is at 139 Mystic Ave (). It offers a 9-hole golf course with 18 tees, lawn bowls, swimming pool, tennis courts, an RV camp, restaurant and bar. There is a boat ramp and pontoon at the northern end of the Esplanade on the south bank of the mouth of Rollingstone Creek (). It is managed by the

Townsville City Council The City of Townsville is a local government area (LGA) located in North Queensland, Australia. It encompasses the city of Townsville, together with the surrounding rural areas, to the south are the communities of Alligator Creek, Woodstock an ...

. It provides access to Palm Island and

Orpheus Island National Park Orpheus Island National Park is a national park on Orpheus Island, in North Queensland, Australia. The Australian Aboriginal languages, Aboriginal (possibly Nyawaygi language, Nyawaygi) name for this island is Goolboddi Island. It is one of the ...

References

External links

* {{Suburbs of Townsville Suburbs of Townsville