# Pallarenda, Queensland

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Pallarenda is a northern coastal suburb of Townsville in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Pallarenda had a population of 778 people.

## Geography

The locality is bounded to the east by Cleveland Bay, a side bay of the Coral Sea, with Cape Pallarenda at the northern end of its coastline (19°11′20″S 146°46′26″E﻿ / ﻿19.1888°S 146.7738°E﻿ / -19.1888; 146.7738﻿ (Cape Pallarenda)).
The residential development in the suburb is only three streets deep from the beach and is surrounded by undeveloped land. It is accessed by the Cape Pallarenda Road which runs north along the coast from Rowes Bay. In the north of Pallarenda is the Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park.

## History

The former Quarantine Station at Cape Pallarenda was established between 1915 and 1916, using building materials previously used in the construction of an earlier quarantine station constructed in 1884–1885 at West Point, Magnetic Island.
During World War II, Townsville was a major military staging point for fighting in the war in the South West Pacific against the Japanese. There were two coastal artillery batteries in Pallarenda:
* Cape Pallarenda Coastal Battery (19°11′22″S 146°46′25″E﻿ / ﻿19.18944°S 146.77374°E﻿ / -19.18944; 146.77374﻿ (Cape Pallarenda Coastal Battery))
* Three Mile Creek Anti Aircraft Battery (19°13′11″S 146°46′34″E﻿ / ﻿19.21978°S 146.77602°E﻿ / -19.21978; 146.77602﻿ (Three Mile Creek Anti Aircraft Battery))
The area was attacked early in the morning of 27 July 1942 during a Japanese air raid on Townsville.
The suburb was officially named and bounded on 12 June 1992. It is believed the name Pallarenda was given by naval officer George Poynter Heath in 1864, possibly from castaway James Morrill who lived with local Aboriginal people.

## Demographics

In the 2016 census, Pallarenda had a population of 791 people.
In the 2021 census, Pallarenda had a population of 778 people.

## Heritage listings

Pallarenda has a number of sites on the Queensland Heritage Register, including:
* Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station in the Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park (19°11′30″S 146°46′13″E﻿ / ﻿19.1917°S 146.7703°E﻿ / -19.1917; 146.7703﻿ (Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station))

## Education

There are no schools in Pallarenda. The nearest government primary school is Belgian Gardens State School in Belgian Gardens to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Townsville State High School in Railway Estate to the south-east.

## Amenities

There is a boat ramp on Marlow Street at the northern end of Cape Pallarenda Road (19°11′50″S 146°46′27″E﻿ / ﻿19.1973°S 146.7741°E﻿ / -19.1973; 146.7741﻿ (Marlow Street boat ramp)). It is managed by the Townsville City Council.
Pallarenda has a permanent marine stinger enclosure, both in Pallarenda Park. To the south of Pallarenda there is a horse exercise beach and a dog off-leash area. There are a number of picnic and barbecue areas throughout the suburb.
Some of the features include:
* rolling green parklands
* off-leash dog walking area (Beach Access 11)
* play gyms
* walking tracks
* kitesurfing lessons (Beach Access 15)
* kiteboarding from beach access 14-18
* swimming
* stand-up paddle surfing
* kayaking
* Waterfront accommodation & caravan park (Rowes Bay)
* boat ramp up to 3 tonne
* free electric BBQs
* only classic wood BBQs left in Townsville
* estuary fishing- 3 Mile Creek
* miles of pristine beaches
* views to Magnetic Island
* Townsville Town Common Nature Reserve
* old Fort "Pill Box" gun placement
* pots for family BBQs or picnics with shaded kiosks and raised areas under huge paperbarks
* basketball half court
* toilets and showers at beach access points that are maintained daily by council staff.
* beach volleyball