White Patch | |||||||||||||
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 View from the beach at White Patch | |||||||||||||
  White Patch | |||||||||||||
 Interactive map of White Patch | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:27°01′48″S153°07′25″E / 27.0300°S 153.1236°E /-27.0300; 153.1236 (White Patch (town centre)) | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Queensland | ||||||||||||
| City | Bribie Island | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location |
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| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 150 (2021 census)[2] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 57.7/km2 (149/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (AEST) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 4507 | ||||||||||||
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White Patch is a coastal town andlocality ofBribie Island in theCity of Moreton Bay,Queensland, Australia.[3][4] In the2021 census, the locality of White Patch had a population of 150 people.[2]
White Patch is on the western side ofBribie Island, adjacent to thePumicestone Channel which forms its western boundary. Wright Creek passes through the southern part of the locality into Pumicestone Channel. The land along the western coast has residential development. The remaining land is undeveloped land, with two areas (26°54′34″N153°06′24″E / 26.9095°N 153.1066°E /26.9095; 153.1066 (Part of Bribie Island National Park) and27°01′27″S153°07′15″E / 27.0243°S 153.1209°E /-27.0243; 153.1209 (Part of Bribie Island National Park)) being within theBribie Island National Park.[5]
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The town was originally called Bribie,[6] but was renamed White Patch on 1 September 1980. The name White Patch refers a sand patch formerly visible from Pumicestone Channel.[3]
In 1799Matthew Flinders beached his sloopNorfolk for repairs at White Patch.[7]
TheQueensland Government sold 140 town lots in the Town of Bribie at the "White Patch" in 1887.[8][9][10]
A Department of Public Lands cadastral map drawn up in June 1925 shows properties facing Pumicestone Channel, bordered by Maud street on the north west, Charles Street to the north and Bunbuba Street on the south east.[11]
In November 1948, fishermen at White Patch claimed to have seen a sea serpent. It was described as being brown or yellow"like a banana", 18 to 24 feet (5.5 to 7.3 m) long with large eyes and was accompanied by smaller serpents (possibly its young). It was said to hiss and squeak.[12] In December 1948,Eric Decker, the Member of theQueensland Legislative Assembly forSandgate, caught such a "serpent" while on holidays at Bribie Island. Mr Mack, curator at theQueensland Museum, said the description was consistent with a commonsea snake inMoreton Bay.[13]
In the2011 census, the locality of White Patch had a population of 112 people, 50% female and 50% male. The median age of the White Patch population was 53 years, 16 years above the national median of 37. 68.4% of people living in White Patch were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 14%, New Zealand 4.4%, Germany 3.5%, Netherlands 3.5%, Sweden 2.6%. 92.2% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 2.6% French, 2.6% Swedish.[14]
In the2016 census, the locality of White Patch had a population of 142 people.[15]
In the2021 census, the locality of White Patch had a population of 150 people.[2]
There are no schools in White Patch. The nearest government primary school isBanksia Beach State School in neighbouringBanksia Beach to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school isBribie Island State High School inBongaree to the south-east.[5]
A talking monument, located in nearby Banksia Beach, tells the story of the landing ofMatthew Flinders onBribie Island in July 1799.[16]
