# Slade Point, Queensland

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Slade Point is a coastal town and peninsular suburb in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the suburb of Slade Point had a population of 3,450 people.

## Geography

The waters and inlets of the Coral Sea form the northern boundary and most of the eastern.
Slade Point has the following coastal features:
* Slade Bay (21°04′08″S 149°12′40″E﻿ / ﻿21.0689°S 149.2112°E﻿ / -21.0689; 149.2112﻿ (Slade Bay))
* Slade Point (21°03′50″S 149°13′30″E﻿ / ﻿21.0639°S 149.2250°E﻿ / -21.0639; 149.2250﻿ (Slade Point))
* Lamberts Beach (21°04′31″S 149°13′42″E﻿ / ﻿21.0753°S 149.2282°E﻿ / -21.0753; 149.2282﻿ (Lamberts Beach))

## History

The first British people to visit the area were the crew and passengers aboard the ketch Presto which pulled into the bay at Slade Point in June 1862 after having difficulty entering the Pioneer River. A crew member was killed by Aboriginal people, while Mr Roberts, a passenger, was either killed or taken away by Aboriginal people. Armed crew-members formed a search party but were unable to locate Roberts. Another larger search party, assisted by troopers of the Native Police, was later organised but no trace of Roberts was found.
Originally, the town was called Amhurst but it was renamed on 1 January 1967 to be Slade Point, named after the prominent headland of the same name which was named in June 1770 by Lieutenant James Cook of HMS Endeavour, after Thomas Slade, Surveyor of the Royal Navy and designer of Horatio Nelson's ship HMS Victory.
Amhurst State School opened on 11 April 1939. It was renamed Slade Point State School in 1967.
Around 1975, a Catholic church opened at 8 Finch Street (21°04′43″S 149°12′53″E﻿ / ﻿21.0787°S 149.2148°E﻿ / -21.0787; 149.2148﻿ (Slade Point Catholic Church)). It has subsequently closed and has been converted into a residence, but the cross at the western end of the building remains intact.
It is the birthplace of Cathy Freeman. A recreation area where she raced as a child is now named after her.

## Demographics

In the 2016 census, the suburb of Slade Point had a population of 3,349 people.
In the 2021 census, the suburb of Slade Point had a population of 3,450 people.

## Education

Slade Point State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 362 Slade Point Road (21°04′26″S 149°12′53″E﻿ / ﻿21.0739°S 149.2147°E﻿ / -21.0739; 149.2147﻿ (Slade Point State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 110 students with 13 teacher (11 full-time equivalent) and 11 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 204 students with 13 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 16 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent).
There is no secondary school in Slade Point. The nearest government secondary school is Pioneer State High School in neighbouring Andergrove to the south-west.

## Amenities

Slade Point Central shopping centre (formerly Seagull Shopping Centre) is at 1-7 Finch Street (21°04′45″S 149°12′52″E﻿ / ﻿21.0793°S 149.2145°E﻿ / -21.0793; 149.2145﻿ (Sea Gull shopping centre)). Slade Point Post Office is in this centre (21°04′45″S 149°12′54″E﻿ / ﻿21.0793°S 149.2150°E﻿ / -21.0793; 149.2150﻿ (Slade Point Post Office)).
The Mackay Regional Council operates a mobile library service on a fortnightly schedule at Pheasant Street.
Slade Point Community Hall is at 4 Wren Street (21°04′33″S 149°13′08″E﻿ / ﻿21.0759°S 149.2189°E﻿ / -21.0759; 149.2189﻿ (Slade Point Community Hall)).
Mackay RSL Memorial Bowls Club (also known as Slade Point Bowls Club) is at 30 Wren Street (21°04′23″S 149°13′08″E﻿ / ﻿21.0731°S 149.2190°E﻿ / -21.0731; 149.2190﻿ (Mackay RSL Memorial Bowls Club)).
Life Giving Church (formerly Slade Point Christian Life Centre) is at 34 Robin Street (21°04′35″S 149°13′04″E﻿ / ﻿21.0764°S 149.2177°E﻿ / -21.0764; 149.2177﻿ (Slade Point Christian Life Centre)). It is affiliated with Australian Christian Churches.

## Attractions

Lamberts Beach Lookout is off the Pacific Esplanade (21°04′16″S 149°13′44″E﻿ / ﻿21.0711°S 149.2288°E﻿ / -21.0711; 149.2288﻿ (Lamberts Beach Lookout)). It offers coastal views and view of passing whales (during the migration season).
The Slade Point water tower has been used to create a mural by Scott Nagy and Cara Sanders, which depicts the whale migration and the local red-tailed black cockatoos seen on the esplanade. It is at 1 Albatross Street (21°04′01″S 149°13′32″E﻿ / ﻿21.0669°S 149.2256°E﻿ / -21.0669; 149.2256﻿ (Slade Point Water Tower mural)).