Beaver Rock is a rural locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Beaver Rock had a population of 49 people.[1]

Beaver Rock Queensland
Beaver Rock
Coordinates	25.5080°S 152.8261°E / -25.5080; 152.8261 (Beaver Rock (centre of locality))
Population	49 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	0.925/km2 (2.395/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4650
Area	53.0 km2 (20.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Fraser Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Maryborough
Federal division(s)	Wide Bay
Suburbs around Beaver Rock: Prawle Tandora Great Sandy Strait Walkers Point Beaver Rock The Dimonds Boonooroo Plains Boonooroo Plains The Dimonds

Geography

The Mary River forms the northern boundary, including two reaches of the river (from west to east):

• Leslie Reach (25.5086°S 152.7644°E / -25.5086; 152.7644 (Leslie Reach))[3]
• Heath Reach (25.5011°S 152.7941°E / -25.5011; 152.7941 (Heath Reach))[4]

The river mouth into the Great Sandy Strait is at the north-east of the locality.[5]

Along the riverside is Upper Rocky Point (25.5084°S 152.7819°E / -25.5084; 152.7819 (Upper Rocky Point)).[6][7]

There are a number of named features within the river. Beaver Rock is a rock in the Mary River (25.49528°S 152.85083°E / -25.49528; 152.85083 (Beaver Rock)) and presumably the origin of the locality's name.[8] Brothers Islands is an island group (25.4955°S 152.8005°E / -25.4955; 152.8005 (Brothers Islands)).[9] It has one named feature, Fison Point (25.4983°S 152.8038°E / -25.4983; 152.8038 (Fison Point))[6][10] Middle Bank is a bar (25.5°S 152.8333°E / -25.5; 152.8333 (Middle Bank)).[11]

The land use is a mix of rural residential housing, mostly in the west of the locality, with the remainder being farmland, consisting of growing sugarcane and grazing on native vegetation.[12]

History

In May 2012, a 3.5-metre (11 ft) saltwater crocodile was found in the Mary River between Brothers Island and the mainland, significantly further south than the normal range for such a crocodile.[13][14] As per Queensland Government policy, crocodiles spotted south of the Boyne River are trapped and relocated to their natural habitat by wildlife official.[15] However, the crocodile eluded the trap for many months,[16][17] with wildlife officials reporting confirmed sightings of a second smaller crocodile in the river in July 2013. The smaller female crocodile was trapped in November 2013.[18] In November 2014, the larger male crocodile was harpooned approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) up the river at Grahams Creek to be relocated to Koorana crocodile farm at Rockhampton.[19]

In the 2016 census, Beaver Rock had a population of 49 people.[1]

Education

There are no schools in Beaver Rock. The nearest government primary school is Granville State School in Granville to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Maryborough State High School in Maryborough, also to the west.[12]

Amenities

There is a boat ramp on Beaver Rock Road on the south bank of the Mary River (25.5014°S 152.8357°E / -25.5014; 152.8357 (Beaver Rock, Beaver Rock Road boat ramp)). It is managed by the Fraser Coast Regional Council.[20]

References