About Us
Welcome to my website, my name is Vicki Parker and I am here to service all of your accommodation and real estate needs for the beautiful Turkey Beach and surrounding areas on the Discovery Coast of central Queensland. The agency is able to also source long term rentals, provide yard maintenance, domestic cleaning and linen services.
Turkey Beach is a small fishing village located approximately 25km from the Bruce Highway, turn off between Bororen and Benaraby. About 2 hours drive from Bundaberg and 60 minutes from Gladstone. There is a finger like projection at the southern end of Rodds Bay, and it is here that Turkey Beach is located. The name came from the native or Scrub Turkey that may still be spotted in the area, a shy shiny black & red creature that sticks mostly to the denser scrubby areas. The are has a wealth of history, initially being part of as a local cattle station – Turkey Station - which still operates today and is owned by the same pioneering Bell family. In the early 1940′s the then station owner gave permission for 2 brothers, both retired stockmen, to build shacks, along the foreshore in ‘Beach Paddock’, others gradually followed over the ensuing 30 years. The Bell family were still using the ‘Beach Paddock’ to spell bulls into the early 1970′s. Another local identity reports that in the early days, professional crabbers would carry their bounty out by pack horse. The original shacks were on the waterfront, and the king tides came up through the floor boards! These folk were responsible for erecting the first swimming enclosure in the early 1970′s to protect their kids from stingers, sharks and errant boat operators. The ‘Beach Paddock’ had been freeholded in the 1950′s, however the first auctions of housing allotments did not take place until April of 1973, when Miriam Vale Shire Council was ’encouraging’ shack owners to move further back from the water – thus becoming the half of town, closest to the boat ramp and waterfront. Later, during the next 10 or so years the another sub division occurred – leading to the first parts of the township you come to.
Turkey boasts an array of services – you just have to know where to look. In town there is a top little convenience shop – ”Turkey Beach General Store” that provides all you will need during your stay, including (but not limited to) hot chooks & hot coffee; icy cold beers, ice, bait and fuel. Jeff & Allison are happy to serve your needs and have a chat too, as you will notice by the welcoming seating. Check out the Turkey Beach clothing lines too – gotta love the catchphrase on those Turkey Beach shirts – but I am sure it isn’t true! If you want to meet a local you will often find one or two down by the waterfront most days, just soaking up the tranquility and enjoying the scenery.
‘The Danube” track branches off a few kilometres out of town and it wends it way through to Agnes Waters via Eurimbula National Park. It is generally a rough track, especially after rain and much favoured by off road motor enthusiasts, both two and four wheeled. Check with National Parks regarding access to this and other surrounding areas, such as the peninsular.
What is with all the tractors in Turkey Beach, they are everywhere? In sheds, on the front lawn, in the boat trailer parking lot - what is going on here? Apparently many of the earlier inhabitants were farmers and as boats were launched from the mud flats and sandy areas, a pre loved small tractor was essential. Well at least that is how the story goes. There is another story that reckons Turkey Beach has the highest per capita tractor ownership ratio in the southern hemisphere. Not sure who did the research but it certainly looks that way – especially when the weather is glorious and the boat trailer park is full – of tractors and trailers.
If you have time to spare, make a point of taking a tour of Bustard head Lighthouse via Seventeen Seventy on the Lark, it is only a leisurely drive – under 2 hours. What an amazing history abounds right across the bay from Turkey Beach. That is the light house you can see at night, still flashing its warning to those on the ocean side of the peninsular, by day it is a white dot above the mangroves and trees – if you know where to look!
Welcome to our piece of paradise and I hope you enjoy not only your stay but the fishing and crabbing the area is famous for. Enjoy.
Please feel free to contact me if you require additional information. A special thank you to Mr John Bell, Mr Ron Hancock and Mr Mick Street for information on the history of Turkey Beach, your assistance is greatly appreciated.