Dingo Beach is a coastal rural locality in the Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Dingo Beach had a population of 169 people.[1]

Dingo Beach Queensland
Fishermen posing with stingrays at Dingo Beach, circa 1925
Dingo Beach
Coordinates	20.0936°S 148.4986°E / -20.0936; 148.4986 (Dingo Beach (centre of locality))
Population	169 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	76.8/km2 (199/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4800
Area	2.2 km2 (0.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	40.7 km (25 mi) N of Proserpine 166 km (103 mi) NNW of Mackay 271 km (168 mi) SE of Townsville 1,111 km (690 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Whitsunday Region
State electorate(s)	Whitsunday
Federal division(s)	Dawson
Suburbs around Dingo Beach: Hideaway Bay Coral Sea Coral Sea Cape Gloucester Dingo Beach Coral Sea Cape Gloucester Cape Gloucester Cape Gloucester

Geography

The Coral Sea forms the northern boundary of the locality.[3] Along the coast are (from west to east):

• Shoal Bay, at the north-west of the locality (20.0775°S 148.4862°E / -20.0775; 148.4862 (Shoal Bay))[4]
• Black Currant Island, a 7.2-hectare (18-acre) marine island (20.0799°S 148.4927°E / -20.0799; 148.4927 (Black Currant Island))[5][6]
• Dingo Beach (the beach) (20.0894°S 148.4974°E / -20.0894; 148.4974 (Dingo Beach))[7][8]
• Manta Ray Island, a 5.7-hectare (14-acre) marine island (20.0787°S 148.5126°E / -20.0787; 148.5126 (Manta Ray Island))[5][9]
• Nelly Bay, at the north-east of the locality (20.0909°S 148.5133°E / -20.0909; 148.5133 (Nelly Bay))[4]

History

In 1926, the growing use of automobiles enabled people to travel more widely and resulted in the "discovery" of the beach by motorist J. M. Harkness and it was named Dingo Beach.[10] People from Proserpine and Bowen then began using the beach for recreation, although the road was described as being very rough.[11] Despite this, the beach became a popular camping and holiday place for people living in Proserpine and Bowen.[2]

It officially became a town in 1966 but is no longer gazetted as a town today.[2]

In the 2016 census, Dingo Beach had a population of 169 people.[1]

Education

There are no schools in Dingo Beach. The nearest government primary school is Proserpine State School and the nearest government secondary school is Proserpine State High School, both in Proserpine to the south-east.[12]

Amenities

There is a single pub, petrol station and convenience store which services both Dingo Beach and nearby Hideaway Bay.^{[citation needed]}

Gloucester SES Facility is at 10 Dingo Beach Road (20.0934°S 148.4965°E / -20.0934; 148.4965 (Gloucester SES Facility)).[13]

There is a boat ramp off Deicke Crescent allowing boats to be launched into the Coral Sea at the beach Dingo Beach (20.0902°S 148.4990°E / -20.0902; 148.4990 (Dingo Beach boat ramp)). It is managed by the Whitsunday Regional Council.[14]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dingo Beach, Queensland.