Portsmith

Not to be confused with Portsmouth.

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Portsmith
Cairns, Queensland
View from the Bulk Sugar Terminal across Trinity Inlet, 1964
Portsmith is located in Queensland
Portsmith
Portsmith
Map
Coordinates16°56′42″S 145°46′00″E / 16.945°S 145.7666°E / -16.945; 145.7666 (Portsmith (centre of suburb))
Population314 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density20.13/km2 (52.13/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4870
Area15.6 km2 (6.0 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Cairns Region
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
Suburbs around Portsmith:
Bungalow Parramatta Park Cairns City
Woree Portsmith East Trinity
White Rock Edmonton Wrights Creek

Portsmith is a suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Portsmith had a population of 314 people.[1]

Geography

The Big Boat Shed, 2018

The suburb consists of two distinct areas: the north-western part which is the mainland (adjacent with suburbs Woree, Bungalow, Parramatta Park and Cairns City) and the south-eastern part which is a pair of islands (Admiralty Island and a smaller unnamed island)[3] bounded to the west by Smiths Creek and to the east by Trinity Inlet. The mainland part is developed land while the islands are undeveloped. The entire suburb is flat low-lying land, less than 10 metres above sea level.[4]

Portsmith railway yards, 2018

The mainland part is principally used for industrial purposes with those nearest Smiths Creek being used for maritime purposes such as boat building, shipping services, trawlers and fish markets.[4][5]

Ray Jones Drive/Bruce Highway is an arterial road that runs from the south-west to the north-east through the mainland area (being known at the north-east end as Comport Street). The North Coast railway line runs south and roughly parallel with the arterial road with the Portsmith railway station (16°56′46″S 145°45′51″E / 16.9461°S 145.7641°E / -16.9461; 145.7641 (Portsmith railway station)) and Portsmith railway yards serving the suburb.[4][6]

History

Portsmith is situated in the Yidinji traditional Aboriginal country. [7] The origin of the suburb name is from an early pioneer named William Smith.[8]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Portsmith had a population of 260 people.[9]

In the 2021 census, Portsmith had a population of 314 people.[1]

Education

There are no schools in Portsmith. The nearest government primary schools are Parramatta State School in neighbouring Parramatta Park to the north and Balaclava State School in Mooroobool to the north-west. The nearest government secondary school is Trinity Bay State High School in Manunda to the north.[4]

Great Barrier Reef International Marine College is a technical college specialising in maritime training. It is at 55-61 Tingira Street (16°56′57″S 145°46′12″E / 16.9491°S 145.7699°E / -16.9491; 145.7699 (technical college)).[10][11] It has a training ship in addition to a number of simulators, engineering workshops, and an immersion pool.[12]

Amenities

There is a boat ramp, floating walkway and pontoon at Tingira Street into Smiths Creek (16°57′09″S 145°46′22″E / 16.9526°S 145.7729°E / -16.9526; 145.7729 (Tingira Street boat ramp)). It is managed by the Cairns Regional Council.[13]

There is a boat ramp and floating walkway at Fearnley Street into Trinity Inlet (16°56′29″S 145°46′31″E / 16.9413°S 145.7754°E / -16.9413; 145.7754 (Fearnley Street boat ramp)). It is managed by the Cairns Regional Council.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Portsmith (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Portsmith – suburb in Cairns Region (entry 48848)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Admiralty Island – island in Cairns Region (entry 130)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Portsmith – Woree Industrial District" (PDF). CairnsPlan. Cairns Regional Council. March 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  7. ^ "First people cultural history". Cairns Regional Council. Archived from the original on 9 April 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  8. ^ "P Suburbs" (PDF). Cairns Regional Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  9. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Portsmith (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  10. ^ "Great Barrier Reef International Marine College - Cairns Maritime Training". www.gbrimc.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  12. ^ "World Class Facilities - Great Barrier Reef International Marine College - Cairns North Queensland". www.gbrimc.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
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