Population 5,179 (2011 census) LGA(s) Sunshine Coast Region State electorate(s) Caloundra Postal code 4551 Federal division Division of Fisher | Postcode(s) 4551 County Canning Area 4.3 km² Parish Bribie Island | |
 | ||
Location 3 km (2 mi) SSW of Caloundra Similar Sunshine Coast - Queensland, Kings Beach - Queensland, Dicky Beach - Queensland, Pumicestone Passage, Mudjimba | ||
Golden Beach is a suburb of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, located within the Caloundra urban centre directly southwest of the Caloundra CBD. At the 2011 Australian Census the suburb recorded a population of 5,179.
Contents
Map of Golden Beach QLD 4551, Australia
History
Settlement of Golden Beach dates from the late 19th century, with land used mainly for farming and grazing. Development of the suburb started from the 1950s, with rapid growth from the 1960s into the 1980s.
Geography
Golden Beach is a coastal suburb with the Pumicestone Passage forming its eastern boundary. It is mostly fully developed with low density residential housing. A canal from the passage passes through the suburb from east to west leading into the canal developments of the neighbouring suburb of Pelican Waters. The long sandspit at the northern tip of Bribie Island protects Golden Beach from the Coral Sea. However, this section of the Pumicestone Passage is very narrow and very shallow (less than 2 metres (6 ft 7 in)) with shifting sand and mud banks, which makes the northern sandspit highly dynamic in shape through natural processes of sand/mud buildup and erosion. During storms, waves may cross over the sandspit from the Coral Sea into the Pumicestone Passage, with the potential to break though the sandspit to create new entrances to Pumicestone Passage. The creation of new entrances would impact on Golden Beach and Pelican Waters, which would then be exposed more directly to the stronger wave action of the Coral Sea as opposed to the calmer waters of the Pumicestone Passage.