Tin Can Bay, Queensland

Geography

The locality of Tin Can Bay is bounded on the east by the Great Sandy Strait, which separates mainland Queensland from Fraser Island. The area is a Ramsar Convention wetland of International Importance and an Important Bird Area of Australia.

The town is located on a peninsula between Snapper Creek and the Great Sandy Strait.

History

European settlement began in the 1870s as the point where logs would be floated to the timber mills at Maryborough. It later became, and still remains, an important fishing port, with a focus on prawns as well as recreational fishing.{{cite web | access-date = 2007-05-25 | archive-date = 8 June 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608040258/http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/QLDTinCanBay.shtml | url-status = live

In July 1932, town and suburban land sales occurred in the Town of Wallu. The town's name was officially changed to Tin Can Bay in 1937. The origins of "Tin Can" are uncertain, but is believed to be derived from an indigenous name, possibly tinchin meaning mangrove in the Yugarabul dialect of the Yuggera language, or tinken meaning vine with large ribbed leaves from Doombarah Clan, Dulinbara dialect, Kabi language.

In 1934, the Wallu post office was opened in Mr V. G. Mason's premises, noting the name Tin Can Bay was already in use at this time. Arrangements were also made for a telephone connection. Mason also erected a hall.

Wallu State School opened on 1 February 1934 in a school building which had been relocated from the Wolvi area. It was renamed Tin Can Bay State School on 21 April 1937, reflecting the town's name change on 25 February 1937.{{Cite QSA Agency|5760|Tin Can Bay State School|10 November 2024

In 1939, the first Catholic mass was held in the public hall. In 1945, a house on 1 acre of land was converted to become St John Vianney's Catholic Church.

In 1952, the Baptists constructed a timber church using volunteer labour. The Baptist Church was opened on 16 February 1952.

The Tin Can Bay Library opened in 1985 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2005.

Tin Can Bay was formerly in the Shire of Cooloola until its amalgamation in 2008 into the Gympie Region.

Demographics

In the , the locality of Tin Can Bay had a population of 1,994 people.

In the , the locality of Tin Can Bay had a population of 2,242 people.

In the , the locality of Tin Can Bay had a population of 2,293 people.

Heritage listings

Tin Can Bay has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Tin Can Bay Picnic Shelter, Cod Street
• Tin Can Bay Memorial Hall, Gympie Road
• Tin Can Bay Church, 22–24 Gympie Road (facing Bream Street, )
• Wide Bay Military Reserve, Tin Can Bay Road ()

Education

Tin Can Bay State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at 2 Schnapper Creek Road (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 271 students with 26 teachers (24 full-time equivalent) and 22 non-teaching staff (15 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

For secondary schooling to Year 12, the nearest government secondary school is Gympie State High School in Gympie to the south-west.

Amenities

The Gympie Regional Council operate a public library at the park on Tin Can Bay Road ().

The Tin Can Bay branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 18 Whiting Street.

Tin Can Bay Community Baptist Church is at 2 Buchanan Street ().

St John Vianney's Catholic Church is at 24 Bream Street (). It is also used by Anglican Church and Lutheran Church.

Tin Can Bay Country Club is at 222 Tin Can Bay Road.

Cooloola Coast Bowls Club is at 4463 Gympie Road.

There are boat ramps in the locality, located at:

• Norman Point boat ramp (), managed by Transport and Main Roads
• Toolara Road on the north bank of Teewah Creek (), managed by the Gympie Regional Council

Attractions

The seaside town is a popular holiday destination. Recreational facilities include hotels, holiday units and caravan parks, with houseboats and yachts for hire and a marina. Active sports facilities include an 18-hole golf course, two bowls clubs, tennis courts and an outdoor swimming pool.

An important tourist feature is the regular arrival of wild Australian humpback dolphins which usually appear early mornings next to the Norman Point boat ramp. These dolphins can be hand fed under close supervision. Bird watching is another popular activity as Tin Can Bay is home to a wide variety of birds.

Events

Each September the town hosts the Tin Can Bay Seafood Festival, a day of family fun, with entertainment, novelty competitions such as mullet throwing and prawn eating, helicopter joy flights over the bay, seafood and market stalls, Although the last elected council leader had since cancelled the Seafood festival and the town Falk haven't forgiven her since.

Other events throughout the year include the Bay to Bay Yacht Race, Dragonboat Regatta, Cooloola Coast Flower Show and the Foreshore Family Carnival from Boxing Day to New Year's Eve.

References

References

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3. {{cite QPN. 46751. Tin Can Bay. locality in the Fraser Coast Region
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