Bucasia, Queensland

Bucasia is a coastal town and one of the largest suburbs of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3]

Bucasia
Mackay, Queensland
Bucasia
Coordinates21°01′52″S 149°09′35″E
Population4,771 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)4750
Location
LGA(s)Mackay Region
State electorate(s)Whitsunday
Federal Division(s)Dawson
Suburbs around Bucasia:
Habana Shoal Point Coral Sea
Habana Bucasia Coral Sea
Nindaroo Rural View Eimeo

Geography

Bucasia is a northern coastal suburb of Mackay. The coastline forms its eastern boundary. Eimeo Creek forms the south-east boundary. The largest residential area is along the sandy beachfront with a second residential area along the road to Mackay. The bulk of the locality is used for growing sugarcane and tropical fruit, while some of the locality (particularly surrounding the creeks) is left as swampy wetlands.[4][5]

History
Father Pierre-Marie (Paul) Bucas
Holiday-makers on the beach in Bucasia, 1931

In 1874, Bucasia was originally called Marara but was later named Seaview. In 1938, it was decided that there were too many places called Seaview and so it was renamed Bucasia after Father Pierre-Marie (Paul) Bucas (born in 1840 in Saint-Jean-la-Poterie;Morbihan in France),[6] the first Roman Catholic priest in Mackay.[5][7]

Starting in 1874, Father Bucas acquired 1680 acres of land through a series of purchases in present-day Bucasia, which he used to establish a community for displaced Aborigines. He also established the St Joseph's orphanage, operated by the Sisters of St Joseph until 1880, after which it was run by the Sisters of Mercy. In 1884, concerns about malaria resulted in the orphans being relocated in 1885 to the Meteor Park orphanage near Rockhampton (later known as Neerkol).[5][7][8][9] The swamp in the west of the Bucasia locality is still known as Orphanage Swamp.[10]

Over time, Bucasia developed as a holiday area but has now become a permanent residential area.[11]

Bucasia State School opened on 29 January 1985.[12]

In 1988, a memorial to Father Bucas was unveiled on Bucasia Esplanade.[7]

In 2008, the Mackay Regional Council constructed a waste water treatment plant in Bucasia, serving the northern suburbs. The two basin sequencing batch reactor can process up to 4 megalitres per day.[13]

In the 2011 census, Bucasia had a population of 4,257 people.[14]

In 2015, illegal tree clearing occurred on Bucasia foreshore, a problem in many coastal communities where foreshore trees block residential views. The trees were planted to stabilise the dunes, protect the beach, and provide habitat for wildlife.[15]

Amenities

The beach has a northerly aspect with views to the Cumberland Islands. It is protected from strong winds and is one of Mackay's most popular beaches.[11] The beach is a nesting site for the flatback turtle with an average of 16 nests each year.[16]

Bucasia State School at 76 Kemp Street is a government co-educational primary school (Prep to Year 6).[17][18] In 2014, the school had 329 students with 20 teachers (19 equivalent full-time).[19]

The Mackay Regional Council operates a mobile library service on a fortnightly schedule on the Esplanade near Steen Avenue.[20][21]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bucasia (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  2. "Bucasia – town in Mackay Region (entry 4859)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  3. "Bucasia – suburb in Mackay Region (entry 49835)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  5. "Bucasia". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  6. "Bucas Pierre Marie, prêtre en Australie". bastas.pagespro-orange.fr. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  7. "St Joseph's Orphanage Cemetery (Bucasia)". Mackay Historical Society and Museum. 27 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  8. "OBITUARY". Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld. : 1906 - 1954). Mackay, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 24 October 1930. p. 6. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  9. "St Joseph's Orphanage, Bucasia (1874 - 1885)". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. "Orphanage Swamp (entry 25585)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. "Bucasia". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  13. Smyth, Matt (June 2015). "Process issues encountered when using sugar syrup at Bucasia WWTP" (PDF). 39th Annual WIOA Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibition. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bucasia". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  15. "Illegal tree clearing at Bucasia Beach". Mackay Regional Council. 22 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. "Morning of fun for young coast carers". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. "Our school". Bucasia State School. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. "Enrolling at our school". Bucasia State School. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. "2014 School Annual Report" (PDF). Bucasia State School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "Libraries: Contact/Opening Hours". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  21. "Mobile Library Timetable 2017" (PDF). Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.

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