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The original Bullock Point Jetty was constructed by Mackay & Sons (a Gympie Company) in the early 1960’s for the sand mining company Queensland Titanium Mines, operating in that area.

The mining company entered into an agreement with Widgee Shire Council and the Queensland Government to build a 29km sealed road from Tin Can Bay to Rainbow Beach, which officially opened in 1965.

Small scale mining first started on mining leases at Fraser Island in 1949, for minerals, Rutile and Zircon, and this gradually increased through the 1960’s.

In 1971, the jetty and boat ramp at Bullock Point were contained in a lease (No 679) held by Queensland Titanium Mines.  Mineral Deposits Limited employed the engineering firm Cullen & Roe Consulting to redesign the jetty as a barge facility.

Approval was granted on 15th July 1971, and construction of the Fraser Island and Bullock Point Jetties began.  Both were in operation in 1972.  Barges filled with rutile sand carried over from Fraser Island were unloaded at the Bullock Point Jetty and rutile and Zircon were extracted from a large dry mill just north of Rainbow Beach.

The mineral mined from Fraser Island, Rutile, a light weight, high strength, non-corrosive metal, is used in aerospace, motor vehicles, sport and medicine, with its main use being in the manufacture of paint pigment (replacing lead), paper and ink.

In 1976, an environment enquiry took place into the sand mining at Fraser Island. The result of the inquiry was that Fraser Island be listed as an integral component of the National Estate and sand mining on the island cease.

One of the conditions of the mining company’s approval was that, on cessation of the mining, the wharf and ramps be removed.  This was carried out at the Fraser Island end of the mining operation on the 26th February 1990, but not at Bullock Point.  The lease of the Bullock Point area was surrendered to the crown in 20th August 1984.

Over the next 25 years the future of the Bullock Point Jetty was held in limbo. It was used as a ferry terminal by Eurong Beach Resort, and many a fisherman. The local community and various organisations made many attempts to resurrect the jetty by buying, leasing or repairing it, but unfortunately all these attempts failed.

In April 2010, the jetty was earmarked for demolition and later demolished towards the end of the year because it was deemed unsafe.

This sign commemorates the history of the Bullock Point Jetty and all locals and visitors that have enjoyed its existence over the last 40 years.

Expressions of Interest

Gympie Regional Council welcome's expressions of Interest
for the inclusion of your place on the Gympie Region Heritage Trail.