Rainbow Beach, Queensland

Rainbow Beach
Queensland

Rainbow Beach, Queensland, 2013
Rainbow Beach
Coordinates 25°54′S 153°5′E / 25.900°S 153.083°E / -25.900; 153.083Coordinates: 25°54′S 153°5′E / 25.900°S 153.083°E / -25.900; 153.083
Population 1,103 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1969
Postcode(s) 4581
Elevation 14 m (46 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Gympie Region
State electorate(s) Gympie
Federal Division(s) Wide Bay
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
25.4 °C
78 °F		 16.6 °C
62 °F		 1,218.2 mm
48 in
Localities around Rainbow Beach:
Inskip Inskip Pacific Ocean
Cooloola Rainbow Beach Pacific Ocean
Cooloola Cooloola Cooloola

Rainbow Beach is a coastal town in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, east of Gympie. At the 2011 census, Rainbow Beach had a population of 1,103.[1] It is a popular tourist destination, both in its right and as a gateway to Fraser Island.

Geography

The town's name derives from the rainbow-coloured sand dunes surrounding the settlement; according to the legends of the Kabi people, the dunes were coloured when Yiningie, a spirit represented by a rainbow, plunged into the cliffs after doing battle with an evil tribesman.[2] Much of the sand colors stem from the rich content of minerals in the sand, such as rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite. A black dune of ilmenite sands, overgrown by dune vegetation can be found north west of the main town. This is currently being removed for sale in China with complete removal expected to take two years.

The Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park borders the town to the south. A number of walking tracks through the national park depart from the southern outskirts of Rainbow Beach.[3] This includes the northern end point of the Cooloola Great Walk.[4]

By road, Rainbow Beach is located 75 kilometres (47 mi) from the Bruce Highway town of Gympie, and 239 kilometres (149 mi) from the Queensland state capital, Brisbane.

History

Originally known as Black Beach, Rainbow Beach was renamed after the coloured sands located near the town which lies to the south of Fraser Island on Wide Bay. It was gazetted as late as 1969 when it was established to service the local sandmining industry. Until that time there was no road to Rainbow Beach, with the only access being via boat from Tin Can Bay.

Sandmining ceased in 1976 and the economic focus changed to recreation and tourism.

The Singaporean-owned Cherry Venture a 1600-ton cargo vessel was empty when it grounded on 8 July 1973 during gale force conditions. The freighter was bound for Brisbane from New Zealand and floundered in the heavy seas and gale force winds. The anchor cable had parted in the 12 metre seas as the Captain had attempted to hold the ship into the wind. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to refloat her, she was then stripped of her fittings and left to the elements.

Propeller from the wrecked ship Cherry Venture, saved and displayed at Rainbow Beach, 2016

Up until 2007 her rusted hulk was a major tourist drawcard and even boasted its own ice-cream vendor. The huge stainless steel propeller was taken off the vessel and is now on display in the Laurie Hanson Park, which overlooks the beach at Rainbow Beach.

War memorial, "In memory of those who gave their lives from the Great War onwards", 2016

The town's war memorial commemorating those who died in the World War I and subsequent conflicts was refurbished in 1993 and is also located in Laurie Hanson Park.[5]

Economy

The town's economy is now dominated by tourism, featuring quiet and idyllic holidays, fishing and retirement getaway. The town caters to beach-orientated holiday-makers with hotels, motels, and caravan parks. The town promotes itself as the "Gateway to Fraser Island" as vehicular ferries for Fraser Island depart from Inskip Point, north of town. Double Island Point, a popular destination amongst 4WD enthusiasts, is located east of town. It is also promoted as an eco-tourism destination.

Although it has a permanent population of about 900, about 70,000 visitors come to the town each year.[6]

Sinkholes

In 2011, a large sinkhole consumed much of the beach at Inskip Point, with the hole size estimated at 100 m+ long and 50 m+ deep.[7]

A large sinkhole opened up near Queensland's Rainbow Beach, affecting campers along Inskip Point in September 2015.[8] Fishermen were the first to notice the shoreline quickly receding into the ocean around 10:30 pm, the Brisbane Times reports. Casey Hughes told ABC news it sounded like thunder as the sinkhole was opening. The sinkhole was 150 meters long, 50 meters wide and three meters deep. The sinkhole swallowed up one car, a caravan, a camper trailer and several tents. 140 people were evacuated from the campground, but no injuries were reported.[8] Most of the campers were able to move their vehicles out of harm's way before their campsites were submerged in water.

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Rainbow Beach (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Hues of a rainbow, Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30-08-2006.
  3. ↑ Travel: Rainbow Beach, Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30-08-2006.
  4. ↑ Jo Skinner (29 March 2010). "$1.3m Cooloola Great Walk opens". ABC News. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "Rainbow Beach War Memorial". Queensland War Memorial Register. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "Rainbow Beach Foreshore: Park Development Plan" (PDF). Gympie Regional Council. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  7. ↑ (27 June 2011) Georgia Waters.Sinkhole swallows south-east Queensland beach.
  8. 1 2 "Sinkhole swallows car, caravan at campsite near Queensland's Rainbow Beach". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
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