BowenA Jewel In The Whitsunday Crown
Captain Henry Sinclair first scouted the region in 1859 aboard the Santa Barbara in search of a good northern port. Two years later in 1861, explorer George Dalrymple established the settlement of Bowen, North Queensland's oldest town and a port of entry, and named it after the State's first governor — Sir George Bowen. Sinclair had found what is now Port Denison and his name has been adopted for one of Bowen's most picturesque spots — Sinclair Bay with sand spits trailing off into blue seas.
Bowen is encircled by hills to the west and islands to the east. The rich fields that surround the town produce a bounty of salad vegetables and of course the famous Bowen mangoes. The town's heritage architecture and boughs of colourful bougainvillea make a welcoming introduction for those exploring the northern corners of the Whitsundays and visitors will find a mix of 'old meets new' with the traditional colonial pubs and the art deco facades of the town's streetscapes providing a taste of the past alongside the styles of today. The town's place in Queensland history is recorded in the Bowen Historical Museum, which boasts an excellent collection of memorabilia. Bowen's history is also represented in a collection of public murals adorning walls throughout the town. Among the themes are depictions of the times when Catalina flying boats would operate to here during WWII, landing and taking off from the calm waters of Port Denison. Bowen was also on the Kangaroo Route for Qantas during the era of the commercial flying boats in the late 1940's, providing the vital water stop between Sydney and Darwin. The azure waters of the Whitsundays lap the shores of Bowen's tropical beaches, recognized as some of Queensland's most pristine. The most popular are Horseshoe Bay, Greys Bay and Rose Bay, but visitors are well provided for at most of the beaches in the Bowen area with facilities including BBQ's, picnic tables, children's playgrounds and neatly maintained parkland areas — the ideal location for a family day out by the beach. With some of the best fringing reefs of the Queensland coast just a few metres offshore, it's not surprising that the area attracts snorkellers and divers keen to explore the coral gardens. Granite outcrops shelter the waters that are the habitat for a myriad of tropical fish that inhabit this corner of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. There are reefs waiting to be explored just off several of the beaches including Grays Bay and Rose Bay. Scuba discovery dives and guided snorkel tours are available for beginners with professional dive companies on the reefs at Horseshoe Bay and Murray Bay. Not all of Bowen's treasures lie on its shores. From the blue water of the coast head 30 minutes drive inland through the rugged countryside and into landscapes of eucalypt forests, dry creek beds and cattle grazing pastures. It's here that you can experience some of the Australian country, waking up to the sound of kookaburras greeting a new day before you take to the saddle for a morning horse ride. Home cooked meals and country hospitality… the Bowen Shire really does offer diversity, from coast to country in this tropical haven on the shores of the Whitsundays. |
Situated in the northern region of the Whitsundays on the shores of Edgecumbe Bay, Bowen is just 40 minutes drive north from 
