Tourism Bowen Visitor Information Centre
IT Services in Whitsunday

Officially declared a town in 1861, the region’s history predates that by many years. Much of Bowen’s pioneer history has been preserved, and is on display at our museum in Gordon Street. It has been described as one of the superior regional museums in the state. There are hundreds of items cataloged and displayed, along with accurate records of the town and the district. Adjacent to the museum is a slab cottage that was originally built in 1872, and was bought to the town slab by slab, reelected and restored. Period furniture, and implements of the settlers’ daily lives were collected to furnish the building. Bowen was a base for the flying boats during the struggle of the Coral Sea. The Catalina Memorial is located on the Foreshore and is an interpretative center commemorating the Catalina and honoring those Bowen residents who served Australia during historical conflicts. The idea behind the murals belonged to a past Bowen resident. She came up with the idea on her visit to Chemainus in Canada, where the town’s historical preceding was shown in wall murals. Bowen’s diverse history from the hasty settlement, through the various industries of the region, to the present time, comes to life through paintings by many healthy known artists. Maximum of the murals are located within the town center and reach highly recommended as a must see. Historically, mangoes unfold from southeast Asia, in particular India and in the slow 1800’s a thriving horse trading business operated between Bowen and India. Amongst the items that Indian crews bought with them were mangoes. From these seeds the delicious, string less Kensington Pride Mango was developed. To date, the name Kensington Pride is still correct, but the variety is now more widely known as the Bowen Mango or Bowen Particular and it is still considered the king of all mangoes. Located at the northern end of Queens Beach, basso Point is at the mouth of the Don River. Here you will find panels detailing the history of the South Sea Islander families that were brought to Bowen to work the cane fields. There are also benches that bear a accurate resting point.