{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = suburb | name = Forrest Beach | city = | state = qld | image = | caption = | coordinates = {{coord|-18.7177|146.2852|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Forrest Beach (centre of locality)}} | local_map = yes | zoom = 10 | pop = 1364 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name=Census2021/> | est = 1925 | established = | postcode = 4850 | area = 67.3 | dist1 = 16 | dir1 = SE | location1 = [[Ingham, Queensland|Ingham]] | dist2 = 85 | dir2 = NW | location2 = [[Townsville]] | dist3 = 1195 | dir3 = NW | location3 = [[Brisbane]] | lga = [[Shire of Hinchinbrook]] | stategov = [[Electoral district of Hinchinbrook|Hinchinbrook]] | fedgov = [[Division of Kennedy|Kennedy]] | near-n = [[Braemeadows, Queensland|Braemeadows]] | near-ne = [[Taylors Beach, Queensland|Taylors Beach]] | near-e = ''[[Coral Sea]]'' | near-se = ''[[Coral Sea]]'' | near-s = [[Orient, Queensland|Orient]] | near-sw = [[Orient, Queensland|Orient]] | near-w = [[Blackrock, Queensland|Blackrock]] | near-nw = [[Braemeadows, Queensland|Braemeadows]] }} '''Forrest Beach''' is a coastal [[suburbs and localities (Australia)|locality]] in the [[Shire of Hinchinbrook]], [[Queensland]], Australia.<ref name="qpnfb">{{cite QPN|48287|Forrest Beach|locality in Shire of Hinchinbrook|accessdate=28 September 2017}}</ref> In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Forrest Beach had a population of 1,364 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
'''Allingham''' is the coastal town within the locality.<ref name="qpna">{{cite QPN|405|Allingham|town in the Shire of Hinchinbrook|accessdate=28 September 2017}}</ref>
'''Lady Elliot Reef''' lies close to the coast, about {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} north of Forrest Beach.<ref>{{cite web | title=Lady Elliot Reef | website=Google Maps | url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir//Lady+Elliot+Reef,+Queensland/@-18.6852951,146.2601135,12.75z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x697e4ee46af700b7:0x4924e01765a81d8a!2m2!1d146.3318232!2d-18.6812287 | access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref>
== Geography == Forrest Beach is bounded by the [[Coral Sea]] to the east with long sandy beaches; it is sheltered water due to the [[Orpheus Island|Orpheus]] and [[Great Palm Island|Palm]] island group. It is bounded along the south-west by Palm Creek and contains the [[Palm Creek Conservation Park]]. There is farming in the western part of the locality. The residential development is mostly beside the northern beaches. There is a small residential area beside the southern beaches known as Cassady Beach ({{coord|18|43|48|S|146|17|37|E|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Cassady Beach}}) which is named after Francis Andrew O'Connor Cassady who was chairman of the [[Shire of Hinchinbrook]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Queensland Globe|url=http://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0020/100568/qldglobe.kml|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|accessdate=27 May 2014}}</ref>
=== Lady Elliot Reef === Lady Elliot Reef is a [[coral reef]], part of the [[Great Barrier Reef]],<ref>{{cite book | last=Heenan | first=David | title=The Great Barrier Reef: A Guide to the Reef, Its Islands, and Resorts | publisher=Glenmede | year=1990 | isbn=978-0-7316-5785-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KK4QAQAAMAAJ | access-date=6 December 2020 | page=170}}</ref> named after the ''[[Lady Elliot]]'', said to be wrecked at this spot in 1816.<ref>{{cite book | last1=James | first1=N.P. | last2=Jones | first2=B. | title=Origin of Carbonate Sedimentary Rocks | publisher=Wiley | series=Wiley Works | year=2015 | isbn=978-1-118-65269-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O8fvCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA186 | access-date=6 December 2020 | page=186}}</ref>
== History == The name ''Forrest Beach'' derives from George Brownrigg Forrest, who was the manager of the Victoria Mill (a sugar mill) near [[Ingham, Queensland|Ingham]], while Christopher Allingham was one of the first European pastoral settlers in the district, taking up the pastoral run ''Muralambeen''.<ref name=qp>{{cite web|title=Allingham\Forrest Beach|url=http://www.queenslandplaces.com.au/allingham%5cforrest-beach|work=Queensland Places|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland|accessdate=15 March 2014}}</ref>
Allingham was surveyed as a town in 1925.<ref name=qpna/>
The Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club was established in 1927 but closed in 1956. The [[Hinchinbrook Shire Council]] initiated a meeting which caused the club to reopen in 1958-9.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club|url=http://www.forrestbeach-slsc.com.au/|publisher=Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club|accessdate=27 May 2014}}</ref>
Allingham Post Office opened on 1 March 1967.<ref name = "Post Office">{{Cite web | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Premier Postal Auctions | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&country= | accessdate = 10 May 2014}}</ref>
Forrest Beach State School opened on 29 January 1980.<ref name=qs>{{Cite QldSchool|accessdate=18 April 2019}}</ref>
Forrest Beach War Memorial was dedicated in 2006. It commemorates Australian servicemen and women who served in all wars and conflicts. It is located at the north-east corner of the intersection of Palm Street and Pine Street ({{coord|-18.713140|146.297743|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Forrest Beach War Memorial}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=Forrest Beach War Memorial|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/australian_monument/display/91417|publisher=Monument Australia|accessdate=27 May 2014}}</ref>
== Demographics == In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, Forrest Beach had a population of 1,233 people.<ref name="Census2011">{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC30621|name=Forrest Beach (SSC)|accessdate=25 May 2014|quick=on}}</ref>
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Forrest Beach had a population of 1,254 people.<ref name=Census2016>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC31082|name=Forrest Beach (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref>
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Forrest Beach had a population of 1,364 people.<ref name=Census2021>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL31072|name=Forrest Beach (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
== Heritage listings == Forrest Beach has a number of [[heritage-listed]] sites, including: * [[Muralambeen Homestead]] (the home of the Allingham family), off Bosworth's Road ({{coord|-18.6976|146.238|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|name=Muralambeen Homestead}})<ref>{{cite QHR|19484|Muralambeen Homestead|602362|accessdate=9 July 2013}}</ref>
== Education == Forrest Beach State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 40 Pandanus Street ({{coord|-18.7114|146.2943|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Forrest Beach State School}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018">{{cite web|date=9 July 2018|title=State and non-state school details|url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|url-status=live|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|accessdate=21 November 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|archivedate=21 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Forrest Beach State School|url=https://forrestbeachss.eq.edu.au/|accessdate=9 May 2021}}</ref> In 2012, the school had an enrolment of 51 students.<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 School Annual Report|url=https://forrbeacss.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/annual-report-2012.pdf|publisher=Forrest Beach State School|accessdate=27 May 2014}}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 38 students with 6 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 7 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018">{{cite web|title=ACARA School Profile 2018|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|accessdate=28 January 2020|archive-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
There are no secondary schools in Forrest Beach. The nearest government secondary school is [[Ingham State High School]] in [[Ingham, Queensland|Ingham]].<ref name="globeschools">{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=27 July 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>
Gilroy Santa Maria College is a Catholic school for boys and girls in [[Ingham, Queensland|Ingham]]. [[St Teresa's College, Abergowrie|St Teresa's College]] in [[Abergowrie, Queensland|Abergowrie]] is a secondary Catholic boys school but it is further north.<ref name="globeschools" />
== Amenities == There is a one-lane boat ramp into the Coral Sea at Sheoak Street.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boating facilities in Queensland — north Queensland|url=http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/~/media/msqinternet/msqfiles/home/waterways/boating%20infrastructure/boating%20facilities/pdf_boatramp_north_qld.pdf|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|accessdate=27 May 2014|year=2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515060507/http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/~/media/msqinternet/msqfiles/home/waterways/boating%20infrastructure/boating%20facilities/pdf_boatramp_north_qld.pdf|archivedate=15 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
The Forrest Beach branch of the [[Queensland Country Women's Association]] meets at the Kenmore Library at 6 Palm Street.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|title=Branch Locations|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=[[Queensland Country Women's Association]]|access-date=26 December 2018|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226010724/http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{Citation | author1=Horsley, Barbara | author2=Forrest Beach Progress Association | title=Sea, sand and swamp : a history of the township of Allingham and Forrest Beach | date=2008 | publisher=B. J. Horsley | isbn=978-0-9756758-1-6 }} * {{Citation | title=Forrest Beach Surf Lifesaving Club 70th year reunion 1938-2008 : 3-5 October 2008 | date=2008 | publisher=Forrest Beach Surf Lifesaving Club | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/163420518 | accessdate=27 May 2014 }}
== External links == * {{cite web |title=Allingham/Forrest Beach |url=http://www.queenslandplaces.com.au/allingham%5cforrest-beach |work=Queensland Places |publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland}}
{{Shire of Hinchinbrook}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Shire of Hinchinbrook]] [[Category:Coastline of Queensland]] [[Category:Localities in Queensland]] [[Category:Beaches of Queensland]]