River Heads, Queensland

River Heads Queensland
Sunset at River Heads, 2015
River Heads
Coordinates	25.4133°S 152.9136°E / -25.4133; 152.9136 (River Heads (town centre))
Population	2,044 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	98.74/km^2 (255.7/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4655
Area	20.7 km^2 (8.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	13.4 km (8 mi) S of Urangan 26.5 km (16 mi) SE of Hervey Bay 42.7 km (27 mi) NE of Maryborough 301 km (187 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Fraser Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Hervey Bay
Federal division(s)	Hinkler
Localities around River Heads: Bunya Creek Booral Great Sandy Strait Susan River River Heads Great Sandy Strait Susan River Susan River Great Sandy Strait

River Heads is a coastal town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of River Heads had a population of 2,044 people.[1]

Geography

River Heads is 18 kilometres (11 mi) south of the city of Hervey Bay. The town is built on a narrow peninsula surrounded by the Great Sandy Strait (to the east), the mouth of the Mary River (to the south) and the mouth of the Susan River (a tributary of the Mary River) to the south-west.[4]

River Heads Road enters the locality from the north (Booral) and extends south to the tip of the peninsula (being renamed Ariadne Street on the tip of the peninsula); it divides the locality with the urban area to the east and farmland to the west (mostly used as grazing on native vegetation).[4]

History

River Heads was originally called Bingham after Richard Bingham Sheridan, but was renamed on 22 November 1986.[2] Bingham, in turn, was previously called Tyroom, an aboriginal word.[5][6]

The first 40 town lots in Bingham were offered for sale in August 1864.[7]

Bingham State School opened on 10 May 1915 (possibly then known as Mary River Heads Provisional School).[8] It closed on 5 September 1926.[9][10] It was on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site.[11]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of River Heads had a population of 1,294 people.[12]

In the 2016 census, the locality of River Heads had a population of 1,539 people.[13]

In the 2021 census, the locality of River Heads had a population of 2,044 people.[1]

Education

There are no schools in River Heads. The nearest government primary school is Sandy Strait State School in Urangan to the north. The nearest government secondary school is Urangan State High School, also in Urangan.[4]

Transport

Fraser Island ferry arriving at River Heads, 2013

Vehicular ferries linking the mainland with Wanggoolba Creek and Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island depart from River Heads. The journey to Fraser Island takes 45 minutes.[14]

There are a number of boating facilities managed by the Fraser Coast Regional Council, including:[15]

• the barge ramp at Aridane Street used by the ferries (25.4300°S 152.9241°E / -25.4300; 152.9241 (River Heads, Ariadne Street barge ramp))
• the eastern boat ramp into the Great Sandy Strait (25.4295°S 152.9238°E / -25.4295; 152.9238 (River Heads (East), Ariadne Street boat ramp))
• the western boat ramp and floating walkway into the Mary River (25.4302°S 152.9234°E / -25.4302; 152.9234 (River Heads (West), Ariadne Street boat ramp))

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "River Heads (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "River Heads – town in Fraser Coast Region (entry 28531)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
3. "River Heads – locality in Fraser Coast Region (entry 46670)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
5. "TO THE BURRUM AND BACK, AND WHAT I SAW THERE". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. Vol. VI, no. 419. Queensland, Australia. 31 October 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 17 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "BRISBANE". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. Vol. I, no. 22. Queensland, Australia. 18 April 1861. p. 5. Retrieved 17 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "GOVERNMENT LAND SALES". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XIX, no. 2047. Queensland, Australia. 19 August 1864. p. 2. Retrieved 18 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "NEW STATE SCHOOLS". The Telegraph. No. 13, 199. Queensland, Australia. 11 March 1915. p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 18 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
9. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
10. "Agency ID 9284, Bingham State School: Description". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
11. "RESERVES PROCLAIMED". The Telegraph. No. 13, 664. Queensland, Australia. 7 September 1916. p. 3 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 18 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
12. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "River Heads (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "River Heads (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
14. Flynn, Justin; Olivia Pozzan; Paul Harding (2008). Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. Lonely Planet. p. 211. ISBN 978-1741047004. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
15. "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.

External links

• Town map of River Heads (northern section), 1983
• Town map of River Heads (southern section), 1983