Cowley Beach, Queensland

Cowley Beach is a beach, coastal town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Cowley Beach had a population of 65 people.^[1]

Cowley Beach Queensland
The "Notorious" anchored near Hutchison Island off Cowley Beach, 2017
Cowley Beach
Coordinates	17.6933°S 146.1113°E / -17.6933; 146.1113 (Cowley Beach (town centre))
Population	65 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.451/km2 (1.169/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4871
Area	144.0 km2 (55.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	15.1 km (9 mi) NE of Silkwood 29.6 km (18 mi) SSE of Innisfail 117 km (73 mi) SSE of Cairns 1,577 km (980 mi) NNE of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Cassowary Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Hill
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Cowley Beach: New Harbourline Mourilyan Harbour Coral Sea Moresby Cowley Beach Coral Sea Cowley Lower Cowley Kurrimine Beach Coral Sea

Geography

The locality of Cowley Beach is bounded to the north by the Moresby River, to the east by the Coral Sea, and to the south by Liverpool Creek.^[4]

The Australian Defence Force's Cowley Beach Military Training Area (17.690°S 146.113°E / -17.690; 146.113 (Cowley Beach Military Training Area (entrance))) occupies most of the locality includes the northern part of the beach and most of its hinterland as well as the nearby Lindquist Island.^[5][6] This facility is used for amphibious warfare training, and also includes a rocket range and a cantonment area.^[7][6][8]

Cowley Beach has the following mountains:

• Esmeralda Hill (17.6205°S 146.1311°E / -17.6205; 146.1311 (Esmeralda Hill)) 100 metres (330 ft)^[9][10]
• Georgie Hill (17.6054°S 146.1307°E / -17.6054; 146.1307 (Georgie Hill)) 140 metres (460 ft)^[9][11]

Cowley Beach has the following coastal headlands (from north to south):

• Camp Point (17.6017°S 146.1267°E / -17.6017; 146.1267 (Camp Point))^[9][12]
• Hall Point (17.6018°S 146.1322°E / -17.6018; 146.1322 (Hall Point))^[9][13]
• Hayter Point (17.6170°S 146.1366°E / -17.6170; 146.1366 (Hayter Point))^[9][14]
• Double Point (17.6487°S 146.1481°E / -17.6487; 146.1481 (Double Point))^[9][15]

Cowley Beach has the following beaches (from north to south):

• Robinsons Beach, south of Hayter Point (17.6213°S 146.1359°E / -17.6213; 146.1359 (Robinsons Beach))^[16][17]
• Browns Beach, north of Double Point (17.6379°S 146.1397°E / -17.6379; 146.1397 (Browns Beach))^[16][18]
• Cowley Beach, south of Double Point (17.6757°S 146.1225°E / -17.6757; 146.1225 (Cowley Beach))^[16][19]

There are a number of offshore islands including (from north to south):

• Lindquist Island (17.6566°S 146.1594°E / -17.6566; 146.1594 (Lindquist Island))^[20]
• Bresnahan Island (17.6670°S 146.1690°E / -17.6670; 146.1690 (Bresnahan Island))^[21]
• North Barnard Islands (17.6727°S 146.175°E / -17.6727; 146.175 (North Barnard Islands)), an island group named by Lieutenant Phillip Parker King of the HM Colonial Cutter Mermaid on 21 June 1819 after his friend Edward Barnard, consisting of:^[22]
  • Jessie Island (17.6735°S 146.1738°E / -17.6735; 146.1738 (Jessie Island))^[23]
  • Hutchison Island (17.6744°S 146.1691°E / -17.6744; 146.1691 (Hutchison Island), named after Lieutenant (later Captain) Hutchison of the Royal navy who served on the survey vessels HMS Herald from 1856 to 1861 and HM Colonial Schooner Beatrice from 1862 to 1864^[24]
  • Kent Island (17.6764°S 146.1799°E / -17.6764; 146.1799 (Kent Island)), named after lightkeeper Kent^[25]

There are also islands in the Moresby River (from north to south):

• Bradshaw Island (17.6175°S 146.1219°E / -17.6175; 146.1219 (Bradshaw Island))^[26]

• Lily Island (17.6197°S 146.1161°E / -17.6197; 146.1161 (Lily Island))^[27]

• Maizie Island (17.6280°S 146.1110°E / -17.6280; 146.1110 (Maizie Island))^[28]

History

The town takes its name from the beach which in turn takes its name from Ebenezer Cowley, a horticulturist and overseer at Kamerunga State Nursery. Prior to 16 November 1991 the town was called Inarlinga.^[2]

In December 1930, a public reserve along the beachfront of Cowley Beach was established.^[29] In January 1931 the beach was attracting increasing numbers of holiday makers.^[30][31]

The Cowley Beach Military Training Area was established in 1962 as the Joint Tropical Research Unit, so-called because it operated in collaboration with the British Ministry of Defence.^[8]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Cowley Beach had a population of 78 people.^[32]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Cowley Beach had a population of 65 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Cowley Beach. The nearest government primary school is Silkwood State School in Silkwood to the south-west. The nearest government secondary school is Innisfail State College in Innisfail to the north.^[4]

Amenities

There is a boat ramp in Bambarook Road (17.6965°S 146.1122°E / -17.6965; 146.1122 (Bambarook Road boat ramp)). It is managed by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.^[33]

Attractions

Cowley Beach is a 7.5-kilometre-long (4.7 mi) beach that extends from Double Point past the town down to the mouth of Liverpool Creek.^[34]