Wongaling Beach, Queensland

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}} {{GeoGroup}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Wongaling Beach | city = | state = qld | image = Cassowary_Statue.jpg | caption = The Big Cassowary | coordinates = {{coord|-17.9145|146.0972|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Wongaling Beach (town centre)}} |local_map=yes|zoom=11| pop = 1323 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name=Census2021/> | established =1973 | postcode = 4852 | area = 14.6 | timezone = AEST | utc = +10:00 | dist1 = 23.8  | dir1 = ENE | location1 = Tully | dist2 = 52.9 | dir2 = S | location2 = Innisfail | dist3 = 140 | dir3 = S | location3 = Cairns | dist4 = 230 | dir4 = NW | location4 = Townsville | dist5 = 1561 | dir5 = NNW | location5 = Brisbane | lga = Cassowary Coast Region | stategov = Hill | fedgov = Kennedy | maxtemp =28.1 | mintemp =19.2 | rainfall =3283.8 | elevation =10.3 | near-n = Mission Beach | near-ne = ''Coral Sea'' | near-e = ''Coral Sea'' | near-se = ''Dunk'' | near-s = South Mission Beach | near-sw = South Mission Beach | near-w = Tam O'Shanter | near-nw = Djiru }} '''Wongaling Beach''' is a tropical beachside coastal town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnt>{{cite QPN|37927|Wongaling Beach|town in Cassowary Coast Region|access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=qpnl>{{cite QPN|45770|Wongaling Beach|locality in Cassowary Coast Region|access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Wongaling Beach had a population of 1,323 people.<ref name=Census2021/>

== Geography == alt=Wongaling Beach with Dunk Island in view.|left|thumb|Wongaling Beach with Dunk Island in the distance, 2007 The locality takes its name from the beach Wongaling Beach ({{coord|-17.9039|146.0974|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Wongaling Beach}}) which extends the length of the locality's coastline,<ref name="qpn37926">{{cite QPN|37926|Wongaling Beach|beach in Cassowary Coast Regional|access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="MountainRangesBeachesPassages">{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Mountain ranges beaches and sea passages - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/1db1dfe1-ab2a-4405-9164-0a54c3b31dda |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125060730/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/1db1dfe1-ab2a-4405-9164-0a54c3b31dda |archive-date=25 November 2020 |access-date=25 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}</ref> and is part of a continuous {{Convert|11|km|adj=on}} sandy coastline which links the three adjacent coastal localities (from north to south): Mission Beach (sometimes called North Mission Beach), Wongaling Beach, and South Mission Beach.<ref name="globe">{{Queensland Globe|access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref>

Most of the residential development is along the eastern coastal strip of the locality with the town centre on the coast in the south-east of the locality. The western part of the locality is undeveloped tropical forests.<ref name="globe" />

Dunk Island lies off the southern coast of Wongaling Beach.<ref name="globe" />

== History == The suburb takes its name from its beach where the town allotments were surveyed in 1973. ''Wongaling'' is an Aboriginal word meaning ''pigeon''.<ref name=qpnt/>

Mission Beach State School opened on 27 January 1953 in the "tropical jungle" of Mission Beach to the north. On 1 February 1993, the school re-opened at a new site in Wongaling Beach.<ref name="qfhs">{{Citation |author1=Queensland Family History Society |title=Queensland schools past and present |publication-date=2010 |edition=Version 1.01 |publisher=Queensland Family History Society |isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-10 |title=Our school |url=https://missionbeachss.eq.edu.au/our-school |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Mission Beach State School |language=en |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302170859/https://missionbeachss.eq.edu.au/our-school |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-10 |title=Facilities |url=https://missionbeachss.eq.edu.au/facilities |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Mission Beach State School |language=en |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302171738/https://missionbeachss.eq.edu.au/facilities |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wongaling Beach Library facility was given a major refurbishment in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|title=Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17|date=November 2017|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=State Library of Queensland|page=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live|access-date=31 January 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Demographics == In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Wongaling Beach had a population of 1,245 people.<ref name=Census2016>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC33154|name=Wongaling Beach (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Wongaling Beach had a population of 1,323 people.<ref name=Census2021>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL33124|name=Wongaling Beach (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref>

== Education == left|thumb|Aerial view of Mission Beach State School, 2021 Despite its name, Mission Beach State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Webb Road ({{coord|-17.9042|146.0925|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Mission 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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |archive-date=21 November 2018 |access-date=21 November 2018 |publisher=Queensland Government}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-10 |title=Mission Beach State School |url=https://missionbeachss.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Mission Beach State School |language=en |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302165910/https://missionbeachss.eq.edu.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 310 students with 21 teachers (20 full-time equivalent) and 19 non-teaching staff (11 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 |access-date=28 January 2020 |publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority |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=live }}</ref>

There is no secondary school in Wongaling Beach. The nearest government secondary school is Tully State High School in Tully to the south-west.<ref name="globe" />

== Facilities == Mission Beach Police Station is at 2 Webb Street ({{coord|-17.9048|146.0918|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mission Beach Police Station}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission Beach Station |url=https://www.police.qld.gov.au/station/mission-beach-station |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Queensland Police |archive-date=4 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404084448/https://www.police.qld.gov.au/station/mission-beach-station |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="emergencyservices">{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=Emergency services facilities - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/923a4139-4a79-4744-8955-d73230796bd6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124224500/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/923a4139-4a79-4744-8955-d73230796bd6 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |access-date=24 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}</ref> Mission Beach SES Facility is at the rear of the police station ({{coord|-17.9050|146.0920|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mission Beach SES Facility}}).<ref name="emergencyservices" />

Mission Beach Fire Station is at 4 Webb Street ({{coord|-17.9047|146.0922|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mission Beach Fire Station}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission Beach Fire Station |url=https://cassowarycoastinformer.com.au/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Cassowary Coast Informer |language=en |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305110925/https://cassowarycoastinformer.com.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="emergencyservices" />

Mission Beach Ambulance Station is at 6 Webb Street ({{coord|-17.9048|146.0926|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mission Beach Ambulance Station}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission Beach Ambulance Station |url=https://cassowarycoastinformer.com.au/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Cassowary Coast Informer |language=en |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305110925/https://cassowarycoastinformer.com.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="emergencyservices" />

Mission Beach Community Health Centre is at 26 Wongaling Beach Road ({{coord|-17.8959|146.0933|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=health centre}}). It operates three days a week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-22 |title=Mission Beach Community Health Centre |url=https://www.cairns-hinterland.health.qld.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-centres/mission-beach-community-health-centre |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Queensland Health |language=en |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305040308/https://cairns-hinterland.health.qld.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-centres/mission-beach-community-health-centre |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="LandmarkAreas">{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=Landmark Areas - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121195536/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |access-date=21 October 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}</ref> At other times, the nearest health services are in Tully.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katter |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Katter |date=11 December 2019 |title=Mission Beach GP shuts down after 25 years |url=https://www.kap.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191211-Mission-Beach-GP-shuts-down-after-25-years.pdf |access-date=14 March 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724082307/https://www.kap.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191211-Mission-Beach-GP-shuts-down-after-25-years.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Amenities == Cassowary Coast Regional Council operates Wongaling Beach Library at 2018 Tully Mission Beach Drive ({{Coord|-17.8957|146.0913|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Wongaling Beach public library}}).<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2017 |title=Wongaling Beach Library |url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/cassowary_coast/mission_beach_library |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131140858/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/cassowary_coast/mission_beach_library |archive-date=31 January 2018 |access-date=31 January 2018 |website=Public Libraries Connect |publisher=State Library of Queensland |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Holy Spirit Catholic Church is at 12 Webb Road ({{Coord|-17.9050|146.0934|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Holy Spirit Catholic Church}}). It is within the Tully Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tully Parish |url=http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/tully.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118120307/http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/tully.html |archive-date=18 November 2020 |access-date=18 November 2020 |website=Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns}}</ref>

Wongaling Beach contains a Woolworths supermarket, the largest supermarket within a {{convert|42|km}} radius. The suburb also features a town pool and skate park. A community funded 'Splash Pad' was also opened in August of 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 2018 |title=The Rotary Splash Pad – Now Under Construction |url=https://www.missionnews.com.au/the-rotary-splash-pad-now-under-construction/ |access-date=24 July 2021 |archive-date=13 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313183301/https://www.missionnews.com.au/the-rotary-splash-pad-now-under-construction/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

== Events == Cassowary Coast Multisports Club organise an annual {{convert|5|km}}, {{convert|10|km}} and {{convert|21|km}} run along the beach, beginning and ending in Wongaling Beach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beachruns@Mission |url=http://ccmclub.org.au/events/beach-runs-mission |access-date=7 May 2018 |archive-date=8 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508053700/http://ccmclub.org.au/events/beach-runs-mission/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Attractions == thumb|Big Cassowary, 2011 The Big Cassowary is one of Australia's big things. It is a statue of a cassowary on the south-east corner of Tully Mission Beach Road and Wongaling Beach Road ({{Coord|-17.8975|146.0918|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=The Big Cassowary}}).<ref>{{cite book |last=Clark |first=David |title=Big Things: Australia's Amazing Roadside Attractions |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2004 |isbn=0-14-300200-7 |pages=18-19}}</ref>

== Climate == Wongaling Beach has a tropical climate. The nearest Bureau station with monthly weather statistics is in South Johnstone which is located {{convert|35.4|km}} from Wongaling Beach. Under The Koppen Climate Classification, the climate is considered as ‘Am’ (Tropical Monsoon). {{Weather box | location = South Johnstone, Queensland | single line = yes | metric first = yes | Jan high C = 31.2 | Feb high C = 30.8 | Mar high C = 29.9 | Apr high C = 28.2 | May high C = 26.3 | Jun high C = 24.4 | Jul high C = 23.9 | Aug high C = 25.2 | Sep high C = 27.1 | Oct high C = 29.0 | Nov high C = 30.5 | Dec high C = 31.2 | year high C = 28.1 | Jan low C = 22.6 | Feb low C = 22.8 | Mar low C = 22.1 | Apr low C = 20.5 | May low C = 18.4 | Jun low C = 16.0 | Jul low C = 15.2 | Aug low C = 15.5 | Sep low C = 16.7 | Oct low C = 18.8 | Nov low C = 20.6 | Dec low C = 21.8 | year low C = 19.2 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 525.5 | Feb precipitation mm = 570.5 | Mar precipitation mm = 611.7 | Apr precipitation mm = 387.9 | May precipitation mm = 267.9 | Jun precipitation mm = 156.1 | Jul precipitation mm = 111.7 | Aug precipitation mm = 88.4 | Sep precipitation mm = 83.8 | Oct precipitation mm = 98.3 | Nov precipitation mm = 147.2 | Dec precipitation mm = 260.8 | year precipitation mm = 3283.8 | Jan precipitation days = 14.3 | Feb precipitation days = 15.2 | Mar precipitation days = 16.7 | Apr precipitation days = 15.6 | May precipitation days = 13.8 | Jun precipitation days = 10.2 | Jul precipitation days = 9.1 | Aug precipitation days = 8.1 | Sep precipitation days = 7.2 | Oct precipitation days = 6.8 | Nov precipitation days = 8.3 | Dec precipitation days = 10.3 | year precipitation days = 135.6 | source = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_032037.shtml |title = Climate statistics for Australian locations |date = 3 May 2018 |access-date = 3 May 2018 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170903060310/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_032037.shtml |archive-date = 3 September 2017 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> }}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category|Wongaling Beach, Queensland}} * {{cite web|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/wongaling-beach|title=Wongaling Beach|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland|website=Queensland Places}}

Category:Towns in Queensland Category:Cassowary Coast Region Category:Coastline of Queensland Category:Localities in Queensland Category:Beaches of Queensland