Location
Hervey Bay is just three and half hour’s scenic drive north from Brisbane and about 40km north east of Maryborough. Often called the gateway to the World Heritage listed Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Straits Marine Park, Hervey Bay with its newly upgraded airport is now only a 90 minute flight from Sydney, and 45 minutes from Brisbane.

Population
Hervey Bay’s population in 2006 was around 55,113, a 5.3% increase from 2005 making Hervey Bay one of Australia’s fastest growing cities. Population growth over the last ten years has generally exceeded the State average, with the past three years almost three times the recorded growth rate in Queensland.

Climate
The climate of Hervey Bay is subtropical with mild winters, warm summers and cool sea breezes. Average summer temperatures range between 22 to 30 degrees Celsius, while winter average temperatures range from 10 to 21 degrees Celsius. Total rainfall recorded for 2007 was 1,150mm.

Shopping
Hervey Bay has four key shopping precincts in the city which will grow over the next couple of years with two of the major centres expanding, and an exciting range of large retailers moving to town. Harvey Norman, Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Big W and Target are just a few of the major retails already present and thriving. The shopping precincts are located at Eli Waters, Pialba and Urangan, with further retail growth coming from future development along the Esplanade around Scarness, Torquay and Urangan.

Recreation
Beautiful unspoiled clean beaches line the shores of the bay with water temperatures remaining warm all year round. The city is structured around a network of parks and shared walk/cycle paths connecting a range of recreation facilities. Along the entire city foreshore, (over 14km), runs a walk and cycle path, starting at the Urangan Boat Harbour and finishing at Gategers Bay. Complimenting this is the Links Mobility Corridor, a 6km landscaped environmental corridor running through the centre of the city from Urangan to Pialba.

Recreational spaces include Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, kilometres of foreshore reserves and community parks themed to suit different age groups.

Most club sports are catered for from sailing to indoor cricket, roller-blade hockey, soccer, rugby and the list goes on. As the city continues to grow sporting and recreational facilities are being constantly upgraded and expanded. Including the relaxed lifestyle this city has the lot.

Main Attractions
Hervey Bay's location makes it the gateway to Fraser Island which is one of this region’s greatest attractions but by no means the only one. Another famous attraction is the whale watching which occurs between the months of August and October. A week long whale festival officially opens the whale watch season, highlighted by a evening parade followed by fireworks, (around 30,000 people attend the parade each year).

The water ways around the bay are legendary for their fishing qualities and protected calm waters and abundance of wildlife including scores of Dolphins and Turtles. The Great Sandy Straits Marine Park extends from the north end of Rainbow Beach to Bunderburg and is one of Australia's most protected and scenic waterways. Add to this the magnificent golf courses, top tourist facilities and first rate clubs you have what is called a tropical paradise.

Expanded Local Government Area
In March 2008, as part of the Queensland Government Local Government Reform process, Hervey Bay City Council was amalgamated with Maryborough City, the shire of Woocoo, and Divisions 1 and 2 of Tiro Shire. The newly formed Council is called the Fraser Coast Regional Council

Infrastructure
Hervey Bay Marina
Urangan has a large marina and resort complex that is world class and still expanding with major redevelopment about to commence. The finished development will boost a new marina with a minimum 200 berths, additional tourism, expanded commercial and residential infrastructure including greater public car parking and improved public amenities.

Hospitals
The new 120 bed Hervey Bay Hospital was completed in 1997 and offers all ranges of medical services. In addition to the public hospital system are two private hospitals, St Stephens opposite Hervey Bay Hospital and Hervey Bay Surgical Centre in the central business district of Pialba.

Industry
Apart from the tourism and retail sectors Hervey Bay has three major industrial estate that house a wide variety of industry and are still expanding. The industrial estates are located at Booral, Dundowran and the new Airport Industrial Estate adjacent to the airport. The Fraser Coast Regional Council is actively promoting the regions industrial opportunities through a number of initiatives including the establishment of the Fraser Coast Enterprise Zone.

Education
Hervey Bay education opportunities and choice are as good as any where in Australia with 6 state & 3 private primary schools, 2 state & 3 private high schools, Wide Bay Tafe college and the University of Southern Queensland, which has recently expanded and upgraded its facilities due to its continuing growth and recognition.

The Aquatic Center
The Aquatic Center has an Olympic size pool complete with an attached 1000 square metre children's leisure pool containing water slides and play equipment. The complex also has an indoor 15m x 8m heated learn-to-swim pool and a heated 8-lane 25-metre pool with a disability ramp that is open all year round.

Transport
Local transport consists of 2 bus companies that service the entire Hervey Bay and Maryborough region. The Bay also has its own airport that was recently upgraded with a new terminal and car park facilities.

Hervey Bay History
Hervey Bay was discovered by Captain Cook in 1770 who named the bay after Augustus Hervey, Lord of the Admiralty. The bay was later charted by Matthew Flinders in 1802. White settlers with cattle arrived in the region around 1850. Mid 1860's land around the foreshores of the bay was subdivided for holiday homes for the residents of Maryborough and housing for local fisherman.

The town of Hervey Bay was originally 5 small separate holiday and fishing communities that eventually grew together to become the large township it is today. These villages of Urangan, Torquay, Scarness, Pialba and Point Vernon are now the central suburbs of Hervey Bay with Pialba being the business center. Hervey Bay was proclaimed a city on the 18 February 1984.

The original industries of the area were timber on Fraser Island & parts of the coast, mining of coal, limestone, bismuth & magnite at Howard, sugar cane, sheep & cattle farming and commercial fishing. Although some industries have declined or ceased such as mining at Howard and logging on Fraser Island, others are still going well today with new industries and opportunities emerging with the growth of the city.