Arcadian SLSC
From humble beginnings at Alma Bay on Magnetic Island in 1928, Arcadian Surf Life Saving Club is now one of the biggest clubs outside the south-east corner of the state.
When Hume Willmett and Ken Gray and their mates got together to form the then Arcadian Lifesaving Club they would not have dreamed that the club would not only nowadays still patrol Alma Bay on Magnetic Island but also on the Strand on mainland Townsville.
The club was formed by necessity by a hand full of mates after a fatal shark attack in Alma Bay, to today where the club has over 400 members both active and associate.
Alma Bay
Alma Bay is a small, picturesque bay of just 150m in length, on Magnetic Island.
The bay faces due east and has two prominent granite headlands running out for 300m on either end of the beach. Large granite boulders and rocks fringe the beach. The main island road runs past the back of the beach, with a foreshore reserve between the road and the beach.
The beach is often calm and only receives waves when the south-easterlies are blowing. It is a relatively safe beach, so long as you stay in the bay and close inshore. Be careful if swimming or snorkelling around the rocks as waves can surge and break over them. The waves have built a gently sloping beach, that is 50m wide at high tide and more than doubles in size at low tide.
Location
The Strand Precinct,
The Strand, Townsville, QLD, 4810