Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Bowen

Bowen

Bowen, located along the Bruce Highway almost half way between Townsville and Mackay, lies on the North Queensland coastline and marks the northern end of the Whitsunday region. As a result of the exploration of Port Denison, being the first port north of Rockhampton, the township of Bowen was established in 1861. The surrounding area was subsequently settled and opened up for farming, with the town being the service centre for industries consisting initially of fishing and agriculture. In more recent times, the expansion of the Bowen Basin coal mines facilitated the construction of the nearby Abbot Point coal terminal. This along with tourism generated from the town's proximity to the popular Whitsunday Islands & The Great Barrier Reef has also played an important role in the local economy. The town is an attractive coastal location with the CBD surrounded by a series of safe swimming beaches and has also had recent fame with the well known film "Australia" directed by Baz Luhrmann being set in the region. Of interest in the area includes Mt Nutt & Flagstaff Hill Lookouts (both in town), Queens Beach (3km north-east), the Big Mango (5km south-west), Mullers Lagoon & Botanic Gardens (2km north), Gloucester Islands National Park (prominent landmark 20km east) and the Abbot Point Coal Terminal (25km north-west).

Population: 7,500
State: Queensland
Name Origin: Named after Queensland's first governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen.
Pronunciation: Bo-en
Postcode: 4805
Local Government: Whitsunday Regional Council
Location: 1152km north west of Brisbane, 202km south-east of Townsville
Main Watercourses: Don River, Coral Sea (Port Denison)
Main Roads: Bruce Highway , Bowen Developmental Road
Radio Stations (Music): Hot FM (107.9), 4TO-FM (98.3), Sea FM (92.3), Triple J (105.5), 4TO (AM 774)

Photos from Bowen (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Southern approach on the Bruce Hwy to Bowen with the town visible in the distance(2007).

The Big Mango, just south of Bowen along the Bruce Hwy (2007).

Don Street, heading east from the Bruce Hwy as it enters Bowen (2007).

Herbert St, looking south-east from Lascelles Street, Bowen (2007).

Herbert St, looking south-east from Gordon St, Bowen (2007).

And again, this time looking along the north-bound carriageway, Bowen (2007).

Herbert St, looking north-east from Williams St, Bowen (2007).

Herbert St, looking south-east from Williams St, Bowen (2007).

Looking south along the Port Denison jetty, Bowen (2007).

View south-west across Port Denison with Mt Dryander in the distance, Bowen (2007).

Santa Barbara Park, looking south-east towards the Bowen marina (2007).

Leichhardt St, looking south-east from Gordon St with Port Denison in the distance, Bowen (2007).

Gordon St, looking north-east between Gregory and Herbert Streets, Bowen (2007).

Livingstone St, looking north-east from Mitchell St, Bowen (2007).

Mullers Lagoon, looking south-east, Bowen (2007).

George Davidson Park, Bowen (2007).

View south over Bowen town centre from Mt Nutt lookout (2007).

View south-east over Queens Bay, Cape Edgecumbe with Gloucester Island in the far distance, taken from Mt Nutt lookout Bowen (2007).

View north over Queens Beach from Mt Nutt lookout, Bowen (2007).

Queens Bay, looking east, Bowen (2007).

Queens Beach, looking east from The Soldiers Rd, Bowen (2007)

	Southern approach on the Bruce Hwy to Bowen with the town visible in the distance(2007).
	The Big Mango, just south of Bowen along the Bruce Hwy (2007).
	Don Street, heading east from the Bruce Hwy as it enters Bowen (2007).
	Herbert St, looking south-east from Lascelles Street, Bowen (2007).
	Herbert St, looking south-east from Gordon St, Bowen (2007).
	And again, this time looking along the north-bound carriageway, Bowen (2007).
	Herbert St, looking north-east from Williams St, Bowen (2007).
	Herbert St, looking south-east from Williams St, Bowen (2007).
	Looking south along the Port Denison jetty, Bowen (2007).
	View south-west across Port Denison with Mt Dryander in the distance, Bowen (2007).
	Santa Barbara Park, looking south-east towards the Bowen marina (2007).
	Leichhardt St, looking south-east from Gordon St with Port Denison in the distance, Bowen (2007).
	Gordon St, looking north-east between Gregory and Herbert Streets, Bowen (2007).
	Livingstone St, looking north-east from Mitchell St, Bowen (2007).
	Mullers Lagoon, looking south-east, Bowen (2007).
	George Davidson Park, Bowen (2007).
	View south over Bowen town centre from Mt Nutt lookout (2007).
	View south-east over Queens Bay, Cape Edgecumbe with Gloucester Island in the far distance, taken from Mt Nutt lookout Bowen (2007).
	View north over Queens Beach from Mt Nutt lookout, Bowen (2007).
	Queens Bay, looking east, Bowen (2007).
	Queens Beach, looking east from The Soldiers Rd, Bowen (2007)