A LOVELY VILLAGE BY THE SEA
Tucked away at the northern end of Moreton Bay, between Deception Bay and Sandstone Point, is a quiet hideaway just right for a bayside nature getaway! The quiet coastal township of Beachmere is also a haven for marine life and is known for its stunning sunsets and relaxed atmosphere. The town is surrounded by lush green hills and offers many activities for visitors, from swimming and fishing to kayaking and bushwalking.
This unique seaside village lies on Moreton Bay’s shores, near the Caboolture River estuary where it enters Deception Bay. It is 38 km north of Brisbane. Positioned on a small peninsula formed by the river and the bay. Back in the day, Beachmere was somewhat inaccessible, and was mainly a fishing community, as the access road could be impassable during flood times. When the Beachmere district was settled by Europeans between 1893 and 1967, much of the land was owned by the Baker family.
The suburb’s name comes from an early residence owned by Thomas Edwin Bonney called “Beachmere” meaning a beach on marshy ground. Bonney is believed to be the first European Australian settler in the area, arriving in 1870. It is thought that the area’s name, given by a European settler, arose from a strip of sandy beach set among the marshy countryside.
Did you know that Beachmere is the birthplace of renowned Australian author, Colleen McCullough, who wrote the novel, The Thorn Birds?
Beachmere is now a picturesque coastal town with a low crime rate, well-developed infrastructure, and historic buildings, parks, and recreational facilities. There is a wonderful selection of places to eat, dine in or takeaway. You are certainly spoilt for choice! Beachmere appeals to residents and tourists alike. The scenery, the bay, the shopping centre, medical facilities, school, kindy, real estate, bus services, and the tavern are all near the main street. Beachmere is the most ideal spot to relax, enjoy all it has to offer and take a step back in time. Customer service is exceptional, with a relaxed atmosphere and quiet hideaway appropriate for families and those looking for beach and water fun or a bayside nature reprieve.
If you’re a keen fisherman or boat enthusiast there is a twolane boat ramp and pontoon with plenty of parking, toilets and water available at the end of Saint Smith Road. The ramp leads directly into the Caboolture River. You then have the choice of heading upriver or out to the bay. This will take you into Pumicestone Passage or Burpengary Creek, or towards Deception Bay, Scarborough and Moreton Island. While exploring the district you can find coral reefs, rocky outcrops, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests and mudflats. It has such an abundance of marine life including thousands of fish species that share the waters with seven species of marine turtles, dolphins, whales on migration and dugongs, you are bound to have a wonderful day on the water.
If boating is not your thing, enjoy a day trip to Beachmere with the family, where you can watch the kids play on the beach – making sandcastles, splashing in the shallow waters and watching tiny soldier crabs zoom along the mud flats at low tide. There is an undercover picnic area in Moreton Terrace Park. If your family includes the furry kind, there are on-leash dog-friendly areas around Beachmere that include the foreshore area between Biggs Street and Louise Drive. You can also walk dogs on a leash on the foreshore parkland adjacent to Timothy Esplanade and Bakers Flat Road.
If you feel like a hike in the Beachmere area located along the Moreton Bay Marine Park waterfront between Sandstone Point and Beachmere, the Godwin Beach Environmental Reserve is a wonderfully quiet place for a leisurely walkthrough various vegetation habits including mangroves, melaleuca, woodlands and open forest. Your most convenient entry point to access the main walking circuit is at the eastern end of the Godwin Beach Esplanade.
Beachmere is a ‘hidden gem’ that started as a small village but is now growing into a thriving community. Do yourself a favour and visit and enjoy a sleepy village township with a positive community environment. This township is welcoming, looks out for its elderly and allows individuals to feel more connected and have a sense of purpose. Beachmere is that thriving community, with a sense of kinship, camaraderie and connectedness.
I would highly recommend spending a day at Beachmere. I bought some delicious meat from the butchers and dined in a couple of eateries which did not disappoint with fresh and tasty produce. I also enjoyed meeting and speaking to many local businesses, all with warm and welcoming smiles and happy dispositions. I will definitely make it a regular event; I fell in love with Beachmere and the people in it.