Midge Point is a coastal town and rural

locality Locality may refer to: * Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England * Locality (linguistics) * Locality (settlement) * Suburbs and localities (Australia), in which a locality is a geographic subdivis ...

in the

Mackay Region The Mackay Region is a local government area located in North Queensland, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by three previous local government areas with modern histories extending back as far as 1869. It has an estima ...

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. In the , the locality of Midge Point had a population of 464 people.

Geography

Midge Point is on the Whitsunday Coast and is the only settlement on the western shores of Repulse Bay (except the Laguna Quay Resort - Currently Closed) until Conway Beach via Proserpine, (Conway by boat 20 km away) and nothing south until St Helens (by boat 24 km away). Midge Point is the headland () from which the town takes its name. Midge Mountain () rises to . Midge Point closest major town being Proserpine in the

Whitsunday Region The Whitsunday Region is a local government area located in North Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by two previous local government areas with a history extending back to the establishment of regional local government ...

. 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 pass through Midge Point, it passes through the adjacent town of

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. Bloomsbury is home of the British Museum, the largest mus ...

with a turnoff to Midge Point Road, offering the traveller a scenic drive to Proserpine via Laguna Quay's.

Whitsunday Coast Airport Proserpine Airport (also known as Whitsunday Coast Airport) is located in Gunyarra, Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia, south of Proserpine, Queensland, Proserpine. The airport serves the mainland and offshore islands with flights to Br ...

(PPP) is only 24.2 km away.

History

In 1937 it was proposed to establish a town, called Midgetown, at Midge Point on 40 acres acquired from farmer A.P. Nielsen. However, the town lots could not be sold until a road had been constructed, including a bridge over the

O'Connell River The O'Connell River is a river in North Queensland, Australia. The headwaters of the river rise in a valley under Mount Millar in the Clarke Range, part of the Great Dividing Range, just north of the Eungella National Park. It flows in a north ...

. In November 1938, the

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the democratic administrative authority of the Australian state of Queensland. The Government of Queensland, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy was formed in 1859 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended fr ...

and the

Pioneer Shire Council The Shire of Pioneer was a local government area surrounding the city of Mackay and including all but its innermost suburbs. The shire, administered from Mackay itself, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 unt ...

had not come to an agreement in relation to paying for the road, so the

decided to release the land prior to the road's development. On 23 December 1938, the first town land sites were sold in Midgeton. At the time, Midgeton was described as follows:

"Midgeton is noted for its large stretch of unbroken sandy beachand safe bathing. A grassy esplanade runs to high-water mark, and there is a plentiful supply of fresh water. In adjacent waters there are excellent fishing grounds and a number of good catches were reported during the holidays."

In 1973 the town's name was changed to Midge Point. In the , the locality of Midge Point had a population of 464 people.

Education

There are no schools in Midge Point. Bloomsbury State School is the nearest school to Midge Point.

Amenities

The

Mackay Regional Council The Mackay Region is a local government area located in North Queensland, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by three previous local government areas with modern histories extending back as far as 1869. It has an estima ...

operates a mobile library service on a fortnightly schedule at Nielsen Parade. (currently not in service) St Peter's Catholic Church is at 1478 Midge Point Road (). It is part of the Farleigh parish. Public Toilets - available on Neilson Parade, located on the beach front and also at Bundesen Ave Park. BBQ facilities - available at Bundesen Avenue Park, Bundesen Ave and at the beach front, Neilson Pde. The Point Tavern - 7 Conder Pde. Lunch and Dinner. Normal Pub hours. Sealand Take Away and Cafe - 11 Conder Pde. All meals. Closed Tuesdays. Open 10.00am Accommodation - Whitsundays Cabins - 12 Patterson St. Swimming pool, volleyball court. Undercover parking. Travellers Rest Caravan and Camping Park - 29 Jackson St. Public Telephone - available on Bundesen Ave, just on the left entry of the Park. Post Office - 7 Conder Pde.

Attractions

Midge Point offers tranquility and remoteness from major towns. Exceptional fishing and crabbing, with boat access via the beach by tractor. The beach is 1.8 km long, south east facing with views to Gould island and Midge Island.The sandy low gradient shallow nature of the bay shore is great for families wanting a day out, kite flying and horse riding.

References

External links

{{authority control Towns in Queensland Mackay Region Coastline of Queensland Localities in Queensland