# Florence Bay, Queensland

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Florence Bay is a suburb of Magnetic Island in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Florence Bay had "no people or a very low population".

## Geography

Florence Bay is on the north-east of Magnetic Island. Its rugged coastline creates a number of bays and headlands; the named features are:
* Horseshoe Bay (19°06′41″S 146°51′11″E﻿ / ﻿19.1114°S 146.8531°E﻿ / -19.1114; 146.8531﻿ (Horseshoe Bay))
* White Lady Rock (19°06′30″S 146°51′45″E﻿ / ﻿19.1083°S 146.8625°E﻿ / -19.1083; 146.8625﻿ (White Lady Rock))
* White Lady Bay (19°06′21″S 146°51′46″E﻿ / ﻿19.1058°S 146.8627°E﻿ / -19.1058; 146.8627﻿ (White Lady Bay))
* The Point, the northernmost point of Magnetic Island (19°06′12″S 146°51′45″E﻿ / ﻿19.1034°S 146.8626°E﻿ / -19.1034; 146.8626﻿ (The Point))
* Balding Bay (19°06′35″S 146°52′12″E﻿ / ﻿19.1098°S 146.8701°E﻿ / -19.1098; 146.8701﻿ (Balding Bay))
* Radical Bay (19°06′42″S 146°52′29″E﻿ / ﻿19.1117°S 146.8747°E﻿ / -19.1117; 146.8747﻿ (Radical Bay))
* Gowrie Bay (19°06′57″S 146°52′53″E﻿ / ﻿19.1159°S 146.8815°E﻿ / -19.1159; 146.8815﻿ (Gowrie Bay))
* Florence Bay (19°07′22″S 146°52′51″E﻿ / ﻿19.1228°S 146.8809°E﻿ / -19.1228; 146.8809﻿ (Florence Bay))
* Arthur Bay (19°07′44″S 146°52′37″E﻿ / ﻿19.1289°S 146.8770°E﻿ / -19.1289; 146.8770﻿ (Arthur Bay))
The Forts is a mountain (19°07′23″S 146°52′14″E﻿ / ﻿19.1230°S 146.8705°E﻿ / -19.1230; 146.8705﻿ (The Forts (mountain & command post))) which rises to 182 metres (597 ft) above sea level.
Almost all of the locality, apart from a small area near the beach at Radical Bay, is within the Magnetic Island National Park.

## History

Florence Bay was once the site of a private guesthouse reachable only by boat. One of these vessels, The 'Magnet' was carrying a picnic party from Florence Bay when it struck a reef on 25 March 1917 and was subsequently sunk.
After the demise of the guesthouse (reputably due to cyclone damage - unable to verify this), the property passed into the care of the Scout Association and became the main youth training facility in North Queensland.
A group within the Scout Association was recognised for their work to develop the facilities - including a storehouse, pump and well, parade ground, camping area and secluded chapel - by being awarded the title "Florence Bay Rover Crew". It is notable that much of their work was done by hand, including carrying bricks, cement, timber and equipment on their backs from either the main road or Radical Bay moorings.
The chapel, set high on the hillside, is consecrated and contains the cremated remains of one of North Queensland's most notable early Scouting leaders, "Beaver" Masters.
On the headland at the south end of Florence Bay there remains the base of a World War II searchlight tower, along with a command and anti-aircraft installation at The Forts above the bay.

## Demographics

In the 2016 census, Florence Bay had "no people or a very low population".
In the 2021 census, Florence Bay had "no people or a very low population".

## Attractions

The Forts Walk is a walking track in the Magnetic Island National Park with a number of points of interests:
* The Forts Observation Post (19°07′25″S 146°52′17″E﻿ / ﻿19.1237°S 146.8714°E﻿ / -19.1237; 146.8714﻿ (The Forts observation post))
* Searchlight Tower (19°07′36″S 146°52′56″E﻿ / ﻿19.1266°S 146.8823°E﻿ / -19.1266; 146.8823﻿ (Searchlight Tower))
* Arthur Bay Lookout (19°07′39″S 146°52′36″E﻿ / ﻿19.1276°S 146.8768°E﻿ / -19.1276; 146.8768﻿ (Arthur Bay Lookout))

## Education

There are no schools in Florence Bay. The nearest primary school is in Nelly Bay on the island. The nearest secondary school is Townsville State High School in Railway Estate in the Townsville mainland.