Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park is located adjacent to the Townsville suburb of Pallarenda.

Attractions

There are several walking tracks on Cape Pallarenda. One of them passes two Second World War searchlight emplacements, and leads to the isolated and scenic Shelley Beach. Another path leads to a moving graveyard and memorial for 13 Vietnamese immigrants

Vietnamese Australian

A Vietnamese Australian is an Australian either born in Vietnam or is an Australian descendant of the former. Communities of Overseas Vietnamese are referred to as Việt Kiều or người Việt hải ngoại.-History in Australia:...

 who died in August 1920 during a meningitis

Meningitis

Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...

 outbreak while interned at the (now defunct) Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station.

Pallarenda Park also has a boat ramp that provides direct access to the beach, and a permanent stinger enclosure for swimming.

History

Cape Pallarenda was named in 1864 by Lieutenant G. P. Heath during his survey of Cleveland Bay. It is believed that the name is of Aboriginal origin, although the exact meaning is not known.

Pallarenda Park was transformed during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 into a military hospital. The 500 bed, 2/24 Army General Hospital scattered along the sandy foreshore at Pallarenda, Townsville received many casualties, most from New Guinea

New Guinea

New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...

..

Controversy

Consideration is being given to a housing development within the park boundaries, which has been met by opposition by local residents.