Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay ( /ˈhɑrvi ˈbeɪ/) is a city in Queensland, Australia. The city is situated approximately 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane, and lies on the coast of a natural bay between the Queensland mainland and nearby Fraser Island. The local economy relies on tourism, for which whale watching, Fraser Island and Lady Elliot Island and Hervey Bay's calm beaches are the major drawcards. In 2008, Hervey Bay was the fastest growing statistical division in the country.^[3]

History

The first recorded sighting of Hervey Bay was made by James Cook while carrying out his running survey of the east coast of Australia, on the 22 May 1770. "By noon Cook's ship was in a position a little over half-way across the opening of Hervey Bay heading for Bundaberg. Cook named the bay "Hervey's Bay" after Augustus John Hervey (1724–1779), later Third Earl of Bristol, a naval officer who became a Lord of the Admiralty the year Endeavour returned".^[4]

Until around the mid 80's the area was serviced by a rail link from the Main North Coast line that diverted from Aldershot and went through Takura, Walligan, Nikenbah then on to Pialba and Urangan. The line was a major freight point for the Port of Maryborough and for the sugar cane industry until road transport assumed the role.

Transport

Hervey Bay is situated approximately 3½ hours drive north of Brisbane, via the Bruce Highway and 30 minutes drive north-east of Maryborough. The city is also serviced by the high speed Tilt Train which has connections from Maryborough West or nearby Howard. The city is served by the Hervey Bay Airport, with direct flights from Brisbane (QantasLink) and Sydney (Virgin Australia). The City of Hervey Bay (now the Fraser Coast Region) has released an Airport Master Plan which includes future provisioning of a taxiway parallel to the main runway, a 900-metre (980 yd) cross runway, additional car parking facilities and larger terminal. The city is also served by passenger ferry to Fraser Island, as well as both scheduled and unscheduled vehicle Ferrys.

Railway

Despite Hervey Bay's growing popularity, no plans have been made for a new railway line to be extended into the city. The previous passenger and freight line branched off the North Coast main line at Colton, just above Maryborough. Trains stopped at many stations along the line, however the main stations were Pialba and Urangan. The railway then extended along the Urangan Pier. The line carried out many pineapples and local goods from the city. The line was closed in 1993. The tracks from Nikenbah to Urangan were ripped up and the Pialba – Urangan line was converted into a mobility corridor.^[5] Traces of the railway line are still visible in Urangan. There are two semi-removed crossings (Everything but the tracks were removed) near the end of Pier Street and the track's ballast is still slightly visible from where the mobility corridor ends.

Governance

Hervey Bay is the largest population centre within the Fraser Coast Region. The current mayor of the Fraser Coast Regional Council is Mick Kruger.^[6]

Hervey Bay is represented in the Parliament of Queensland by LNP member Ted Sorensen, who defeated Labor's Andrew McNamara in the 2009 Queensland state elections, and in the Commonwealth Parliament by the Nationals member for Hinkler, Paul Neville.^[7]

Climate

The area has a mild, sub-tropical climate with an average 30 °C (86 °F) in summer and 23 °C (73 °F) in winter. The coast is predominantly affected by the south east trade winds which keep a cool breeze throughout the summer.

Cyclones are a threat at times. In March 2009, Cyclone Hamish threatened the area, however it did not cross the coast. Fraser Island protects Hervey Bay from such extreme weather. Average rainfall for the year is 1,100 millimetres (43 in) with an average of 300 sunny days.

Localities

Hervey Bay began as a dispersed community spread over numerous small, seaside villages. As the area grew, these communities amalgamated and became suburbs of the new city. The current city includes Dundowran, Dundowran Beach, Eli Waters, Kawungan, Nikenbah, Pialba, Point Vernon, Scarness, Takura, Torquay, Urangan, Urraween, Walligan and Wondunna.

Townships outside the Hervey Bay city limits include: Aldershot, Booral, Burrum Heads, Craignish, Howard, River Heads, Toogoom and Torbanlea.

Education

There are numerous primary schools, including both a special school and two private schools. At the secondary school level there are two state high schools and two private secondary schools.

Hervey Bay has two Higher Education institutes, a campus of the University of Southern Queensland and the Wide Bay Tafe.^[8][9]

Sister cities

According to the Australian Sister Cities Association, Hervey Bay has two sister cities;

• Otsuki, Japan
• Leshan, China.^[10]

Sports

Hervey Bay has a diverse range of sporting activities available. Some competitions are Hervey Bay based only, but the majority of sports are played against nearby cities Bundaberg, Maryborough and Gympie. Popular sports include rugby league, rugby union, tennis, cricket, basketball, netball, softball, baseball, hockey, AFL, touch football, soccer, track and field athletics, and beach volleyball. The Hervey Bay Triathlon started in 1988 and has been raced annually since. Recreational water sports are played along the beaches. Hervey Bay has two AFL clubs competing in the AFL Wide Bay competition.^[11]

References

External links

• Fraser Coast Regional Council
• Old Hervey Bay City Council Website
• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Hervey Bay
• Homepage for The Oceania Project. Humpback Whale Research Expedition, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia