Balgal Beach, Queensland

Balgal Beach is 59 kilometres (37 mi) north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia, and 64 kilometres (40 mi) south of Ingham, Queensland.

The locality is bounded to the north-east and east by the Coral Sea and to the north-west and west by Rollingstone Creek, which flows into the Coral Sea at the northernmost point of the locality, where the town of Balgal is located (19.0142°S 146.4069°E / -19.0142; 146.4069 (Balgal (town))).[7]

The coastal strip features a long sandy beach, also known as Balgal Beach.[8]

The North Coast railway line forms part of the south-western boundary of the locality. Although the Bruce Highway does not enter the locality, it is adjacent to the south-west boundary of the locality where it has its junction with Balgal Beach Drive (the major thoroughfare in the locality extending to the town of Balgal).[7]

Balgal Beach was originally part of the Armidale pastoral lease, settled in 1883 by John Lambert before later changing name to Rollingstone.[9] The area of coastline to the north of Rollingstone was named Balgal Beach in 1947, when the first dwellings were constructed. The name "Balgal" was derived from an Aboriginal word meaning "stone."[5]

The land in this area was predominantly used for farming and grazing, and remained rural until the mid-1980s when the allocation of 500 rural/residential blocks at the Mystic Sands Estate saw the population increase nearly twofold.[10]

Mystic Sands Golf Resort opened in 1993.[11][12]

In the 2006 census, the population of Balgal Beach was 743, a 30.3% increase since the 1996 census.[13]

In the 2011 census, the population of Balgal Beach was 849.[14]

In the 2016 census, Balgal Beach had a population of 966 people.[15]

In the 2021 census, Balgal Beach had a population of 998 people.[6]

There are no schools in Balgal Beach. The nearest government primary school is Rollingstone State School in neighbouring Rollingstone to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Northern Beaches State High School in Deeragun to the south-east.[7]

Located a few kilometres north of the suburb of Rollingstone, Balgal Beach today is a popular destination for recreational activities such as boating, fishing and swimming. Facilities at Balgal Beach include a patrolled stinger enclosure from November to May, a general store/cafe, holiday units and designated camping areas.[16]

Mystic Sands Golf Resort is at 139 Mystic Ave (19.0432°S 146.4210°E / -19.0432; 146.4210 (Mystic Sands Golf Resort)).[11][12] It offers a 9-hole golf course with 18 tees, lawn bowls, swimming pool, tennis courts, an RV camp, restaurant and bar.[17]

There is a boat ramp and pontoon at the northern end of the Esplanade on the south bank of the mouth of Rollingstone Creek (19.0100°S 146.4047°E / -19.0100; 146.4047 (Boat ramp and pontoon)). It is managed by the Townsville City Council.[18] It provides access to Palm Island and Orpheus Island National Park.[16]

• Vidonja Balanzategui, Bianka; Thuringowa (Qld.). Council; Queensland. Environmental Protection Agency (2003), Thirty-three miles to Rollingstone : a short history of Rollingstone and Balgal, City of Thuringowa, ISBN 978-0-9577305-7-1

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balgal Beach, Queensland.

• "Balgal Beach". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.