Bargara, Queensland

Bargara
Queensland
Bargara
Coordinates 24°50′0″S 152°25′0″E / 24.83333°S 152.41667°E / -24.83333; 152.41667Coordinates: 24°50′0″S 152°25′0″E / 24.83333°S 152.41667°E / -24.83333; 152.41667
Population 6,893 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 4670
Location
LGA(s) Bundaberg Region
State electorate(s) Burnett
Federal Division(s) Hinkler
Localities around Bargara:
Mon Repos Coral Sea Coral Sea
Qunaba Bargara Coral Sea
Windermere Innes Park Coral Sea

Bargara /bəˈɡɑːrə/[2] is a coastal town and suburb in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia.[3][4] The town lies 384 kilometres (239 mi) north of the state capital Brisbane and just 13 kilometres (8 mi) east of Bundaberg. Bargara is considered to be a satellite suburb of Bundaberg, with only sugar cane fields separating the two centres. Between 1912 and 1948, a railway connected the two centres.[5] At the 2011 census, Bargara had a population of 6,893.

Bargara has grown significantly over the last decade, becoming a popular tourist and retirement destination. The main streets of Bargara are The Esplanade and The Promenade. The Esplanade runs along the Bargara Beach foreshore, and is lined with several modern holiday homes and units. The Promenade contains several hotels, restaurants and clothing shops. Bargara is also a popular fishing, swimming and surfing location.

The Mon Repos turtle rookery is located just north of Bargara. A wall in the reserve dating back to the very early days of settlement was constructed using Kanaka labour and rocks taken from the nearby sugarcane fields. Most of the coastline of Mon Repos is part of the Mon Repos Conservation Park, established to protect the nesting areas of turtles. Inland of the conversation park, much of the land is state reserves or subject to other restrictions designed to support the wildlife objectives of the conversation park.

History

Bargara Golf Clubhouse, October 1931

Prior to 1913, Bargara was officially known as Sandhills. The Sandhills Provisional School opened in 1893,[6] and was renamed Bargara State School in 1921. The name Bargara is derived from the names of two adjacent localities, Barolin and Woongarra.[3][7]

Bargara Post Office opened by 1923 (a receiving office had been open since 1912).[8]

On Australia Day 2013, Bargara was struck by a tornado spawned by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald. The tornado damaged over 150 properties, and injured up to 17 people, 2 seriously.[9]

Demographics

As of 2011 Census, the population of Bargara was 6,893. 76.6% of residents were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were 6.8% England, 2.8% New Zealand, 1.3% South Africa, 1.0% Scotland, 0.7% Germany, 0.6% Netherlands, 0.5% United States of America, 0.5% Ireland.

91.5% of people living in Bargara only speak English at home. The other top languages spoken are 0.6% German, 0.4% Italian, 0.2% Spanish, 0.2% Dutch, 0.1% Vietnamese.

Retirement resorts

Bargara is serviced by two major retirement resorts that cater to a predominantly older demographic; Palm Lake Resort and Carlyle Gardens Retirement Village.

Commerce

The main commercial precincts are the strips on Bauer Street between See Street and The Esplanade, and the section of See Street south of Bauer Street.

Bargara Central Shopping Centre located at the corner of Davidson Street and Bargara Road is main large-scale shopping centre servicing the town. It has one supermarket, Woolworths, with an Aldi due to open in December 2016. There are several restaurants and fast food stores.

Three other plazas lie adjacent to the Bauer Street commercial precincts, namely Coral Coast Plaza, Bargara Beach Plaza. One more small shopping complex exists at the entrance to the Carlyle Gardens Retirement Village on Woongarra Scenic Drive.

Religion

Education

Despite being a mediumtown, Bargara does not have an educational institution within its boundary. The nearest school located on the outskirts of the town, Bargara State School, actually lies in the nearby locality of Mon Repos.

Transport

The town is serviced by the main roads of Bargara Road, Bauer Street, See Street, The Esplanade, Miller Street and Woongarra Scenic Drive.

Bus route no. 4 connects Bargara with the City and Sugarland Shopping Centre, running 7 days a week via Bauer Street, The Esplanade, Miller Street and Innes Park North.

Parks and open spaces

Sport

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Bargara (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  2. ↑ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  3. 1 2 "Bargara - town (entry 40971)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Bargara - locality (entry 44684)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, November 1964, pp. 210–217
  6. ↑ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland schools". Department of Education and Training. Queensland Government. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Bargara State School". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  8. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  9. ↑ Marsh, Vanessa (26 January 2013). "Tornado couple transferred to Brisbane hospital". NewsMail. Bundaberg. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
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