Rita Island, Queensland

Rita Island is a coastal and rural locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Rita Island had a population of 172 people.^[1]

Rita Island Queensland
Anabranch Bridge, connecting Rita Island to the mainland across the Burdekin River northern anabranch
Rita Island
Coordinates	19.6320°S 147.5347°E / -19.6320; 147.5347 (Rita Island (centre of locality))
Population	172 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	1.993/km2 (5.162/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4807
Area	86.3 km2 (33.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	13.9 km (9 mi) SE of Ayr 102 km (63 mi) SE of Townsville 1,256 km (780 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Burdekin
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal division(s)	Dawson
Suburbs around Rita Island: Jarvisfield Jarvisfield Coral Sea Carstairs Rita Island Coral Sea Inkerman Groper Creek Groper Creek

Geography

The Burdekin River breaks into two branches as it approaches the Coral Sea and Rita Island is the island that lies between the two branches.^[3][4]

Road and rail access is via the Anabranch Bridge across the northern anabranch (19.6253°S 147.4825°E / -19.6253; 147.4825 (Anabranch Bridge)), which can be inaccessible if the Burdekin River is in flood.^[5]

The land use is predominantly growing sugarcane. There is a cane tramway network to transport the harvested sugarcane to the Kalamia sugar mill in Brandon.^[3]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Rita Island had a population of 152 people.^[6]

In the 2021 census, Rita Island had a population of 172 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Rita Island. The nearest government primary school is Jarvisfield State School in neighbouring Jarvisfield to the north-west. The nearest government secondary school is Ayr State High School in Ayr to the north-west.^[3]

Facilities

Rita Island SES Facility is at 3 Jones Road (19.6297°S 147.5044°E / -19.6297; 147.5044 (Rita Island SES Facility)).^[7]

Hell Hole Landing boat ramp is at Hodder Road (19.6220°S 147.5656°E / -19.6220; 147.5656 (Hell Hole Landing boat ramp)). It is managed by the Burdekin Shire Council.^[8]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Rita Island (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Rita Island – locality in Shire of Burdekin (entry 42301)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
4. "Rita Island – island in the Burdekin Shire (entry 28529)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
5. Charles, Caitlan (7 January 2021). "STOCK UP: Island residents warned to prepare for worst". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
6. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Rita Island (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
7. "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
8. "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.