Saunders Beach is a coastal town and

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 ...

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 ...

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. In the , the suburb of Saunders Beach had a population of 409 people.

Geography

Saunders Beach is by road north-west of the

Townsville CBD Townsville City is a coastal suburb at the centre of the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Townsville City had a population of 2,910 people. It is the city's central business district and a major hub for business ...

. The suburb is bounded to the north 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 west by Althaus Creek It is bounded to the west by Althaus Creek (). The town is situated just south-east of the mouth of Althaus Creek. The beach Saunders Beach () itself extending from Althaus Creek along the coastline of the suburb and neighbouring

Yabulu Yabulu is a town and coastal suburb in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the , Yabulu had a population of 697 people. Geography Yabulu is approximately north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The Bruce Highway passes thro ...

to the mouth of Black River, a total distance of approximately .

History

Saunders Beach was originally part of the Parish of Jalloonda, but was established as separate

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 ...

on 17 March 1984. Its status was changed to be a suburb on 28 February 2003. In 2004 a Beach Management Plan was put into place by Thuringowa City Council, to establish causes of

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is distin ...

and help manage any future detriment to the beach by means of both natural and unnatural erosion. In the , Saunders beach consisted of 407 residents,The New Townsville City: Townsville State Suburbs
, accessed 9 June 2008. of which are spread across 200 dwellings.Beach Management Plan for Saunders Beach - Introduction: Saunders Beach
, accessed 10 June 2008. A high proportion of the Saunders Beach population are aged in the 45-64 age bracket, with approximately 17.5% of the population aged between 45-54, and 11.3% aged between 55-64. In the , the suburb of Saunders Beach had a population of 409 people. In September 2021, a crocodile was captured in Althaus Creek having been seen hanging around the boat ramps and pontoons. Wildlife officers believed that fish scraps improperly discarded by fishermen had attracted the crocodile and urged people to correctly dispose of such material in bins or taking it away.

Education

There are no schools in Saunders Beach. The nearest government primary school is Bluewater State School in neighbouring Bluewater to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Northern Beaches State High School in Deeragun to the south-west.

Amenities

Saunders Beach Community Centre is on the western corner of Saunders Beach Road and Atoll Street (). Saunders Beach Rural Fire Station is at the community centre (). 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 ...

operate a mobile library service which visits the community centre every second Wednesday afternoon. There are two boat ramps in the suburb, both managed by the Townsville City Council, at: * Boat Ramp Road, on the south bank of Althaus Creek () * Purono Parkway, also on the south bank of the creek but further upstream ()

Attractions

Saunders Beach is a popular local tourist destination, the northern end of which offers free, limited camping reserves.Discover Thuringowa: Northern Beaches Camping Areas
, accessed 10 June 2008. Access to Althaus Creek is provided by means of a boat ramp, and other community facilities include a community centre, and numerous parks with children's playground equipment.

References

External links

University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Saunders Beach
{{Suburbs of Townsville Suburbs of Townsville