Keppel Sands, Queensland
Keppel Sands is a coastal rural town and locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Keppel Sands had a population of 360 people.[1]
Keppel Sands Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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![]() Beach at Keppel Sands (low tide), 2016 | |||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() Keppel Sands | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 23.3297°S 150.7933°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 360 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 10.50/km2 (27.2/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4702 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 34.3 km2 (13.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Shire of Livingstone | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Keppel | ||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Capricornia | ||||||||||||||
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Geography
![](../I/PumpkinCreek1.jpg.webp)
Keppel Sands is the southernmost town on the Capricorn Coast. The town is located in the Livingstone Shire Council local government area, 676 kilometres (420 mi) north west of the state capital, Brisbane.
Separated by Coorooman Creek from the larger towns of Emu Park and Yeppoon to the north, Keppel Sands is a charming village-style township centred on fishing and holiday making. Facilities in Keppel Sands include a hotel, caravan park, motel, Australia Post outlet, local store, and two boat ramps. The Coast Guard are located at Pumpkin Creek at the southern edge of the town.
Keppel Sands is home to many retirees and is a popular location for fishing and crabbing.[4]
History
![](../I/Looking_south_on_Schofield_Parade%252C_Keppel_Sands%252C_2016.jpg.webp)
![](../I/KeppelSands-Savoy.jpg.webp)
Originally known as Sandhills,[5] the town takes its current name from Keppel Bay, which in turn was named on 27 May 1770 by Lieutenant James Cook , commander of HMS Endeavour, after Admiral Augustus Keppel, the First Lord of the Admiralty.[2][6]
Keppel Sands has long been a popular beach to visit for people from Rockhampton and the surrounding area. Over the years beach huts and weekenders gradually gave way to the more permanent housing of today. Boarding houses were popular until the road improved and daytripping to the beach became possible. The Savoy Theatre was a place for both movies and dances.
Mount Barlow Provisional School opened in 1903 and became Mount Barlow State School on 1 Jan 1909. It was renamed Sandhills State School about 1930 and then renamed Keppel Sands State School about 1938.[7]
Keppel Sands Post Office opened on 1 September 1927.[8]
Near to Keppel Sands is Joskeleigh which was home to a large South Sea Islander community, imported as indentured labourers from various islands in Melanesia and Polynesia in a process known as blackbirding.[9]
At the 2006 census, Keppel Sands had a population of 332 people.[10]
Between 2008 and 2013, Keppel Sands and the rest of Shire of Livingstone was within the Rockhampton Region.
At the 2011 census, Keppel Sands had a population of 302 people.[11]
In the 2016 census, Keppel Sands had a population of 360 people.[1]
Education
Keppel Sands State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 1325 Keppel Sands Road (23.3276°S 150.7863°E).[12][13] In 2015, it had an enrolment of 19 students with 2 teachers and 3 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).[14] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 27 students with 3 teachers and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[15]
See also
- Capricorn Coast for comprehensive geography and history of Keppel Sands and surrounding districts
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Keppel Sands (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- "Keppel Sands – town in Livingstone Shire (entry 18003)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- "Keppel Sands – locality in Livingstone Shire (entry 48696)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- "Keppel Sands & Joskeleigh". Livingstone Shire Council. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- "Keppel Sands - Destination Information - Queensland". Tourism and Events Queensland. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- "Keppel Bay – bay in the Shire of Livingstone (entry 17997)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- "Joskeleigh Cemetery". Cultural Heritage Register. State of Queensland (Environment Protection Agency). Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Keppel Sands (SSC)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Keppel Sands (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- "Keppel Sands State School". Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- "2015 School Annual Report" (PDF). Keppel Sands State School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.