Agnes Water

History

Prior to European settlement Agnes Water was home to the Meerooni tribe who form the southern part of the Gurang nation. The town of Agnes Water takes its name from a pastoral holding first leased by Daniel Clowes in 1883, which he named after the coastal schooner Agnes, which was lost at sea in the area. The schooner left Bustard Head on 15 June 1873, en route from Mackay to Brisbane. There was saw milling in the locality in the 1890s and the wide beach was a popular venue, particularly as buggies could be driven onto the beach. It became a holiday destination, and weekend residences were built, notably on Round Hill where the Town of 1770 was officially named in 1936. The population grew slowly initially but gained momentum in the 1980s and 1990s driven by the "sea change" phenomenon. Agnes Water State School was opened on 29 January 1990. Agnes Tavern opened in 1993. In 2018, Agnes Water became the first cryptocurrency town. Shops, hotels accept cryptocurrency - Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and NEM. A review in 2023 showed that tourists did make use of cryptocurrency payments in the first six months, thought to be linked to the novelty of doing so due to the publicity. However, use of cryptocurrency payments fell after that.

Geography

Agnes Water is in Central Queensland approximately south-east of the Bruce Highway, Queensland's major coastal route. It is accessed via the main road called Round Hill Road. It is 90 minutes south of Gladstone, and 90 minutes north of Bundaberg on the Discovery Coast. Agnes Water is the closest access point to the Great Barrier Reef. It is a neighbouring town of the Town of 1770. Much of the area's natural beauty has been preserved through the establishment of Eurimbula National Park, covering more than 23,000 hectares and the nearby Joseph Banks Environmental Park, located on the headland originally known as Round Head.

Most-observed species

• Brown Honeyeater

  Lichmera indistincta (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) · Aves
  469
• Noisy Friarbird

  Philemon corniculatus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  449
• Lewin's Honeyeater

  Meliphaga lewinii (Swainson, 1837) · Aves
  430
• Rainbow Bee-eater

  Merops ornatus Latham, 1801 · Aves
  417
• Laughing Kookaburra

  Dacelo novaeguineae (Hermann, 1783) · Aves
  390
• Australasian Figbird

  Sphecotheres vieilloti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 · Aves
  356
• Welcome Swallow

  Hirundo neoxena Gould, 1842 · Aves
  337
• Peaceful Dove

  Geopelia placida Gould, 1844 · Aves
  335