Tannum Sands is a coastal town and locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. Geography The locality is bounded to north-east by the Coral Sea, to the north-west and west by the Boyne River, and to the south-west by Station Creek. The town of Tannum Sands is located in the northern part of the locality. Canoe Point is at the northern tip of the locality (). The locality includes Wild Cattle Island () which is separated from the mainland east coast by a narrow channel known as Wild Cattle Creek. The island's east coast facing the Coral Sea is a long sandy strip called Wild Cattle Beach (). Most of the island is within the Wild Cattle Island National Park with the small town of Bangalee at its southern tip (). Tannum Sands has a neighbouring twin town called Boyne Island. The two localities are separated only by the Boyne River and joined by a bridge. Tannum Sands is primarily a tourist and residential town. It is a major residential area for the nearby Boyne Island Aluminium Smelter and Gladstone-based industries. History The area south of the Boyne River was originally known as Redcliff (being the colour of the stoney cliffs) and then renamed Wild Cattle Creek (being the name of the creek that flows through the area) and had been a popular fishing and picnic location for the people of Boyne Island, but remained unsettled due to its inaccessibility. Closer settlement began in the late 1930s when 12 beach front lots were auctioned. The town received its original name Tannum when a group of children returned from a Sunday School picnic to the beach quite sunburnt. The comment was made "we can really tan 'um over there." One of the people present worked for the Queensland Land Department thought it would be a good name for the area and registered the name. The Tannum Progress Association held sports days. Over 1000 people attended on New Year's Day in 1949. On 12 April 1951, the town was renamed Tannum Sands. A bridge connecting Tannum Sands to Boyne Island was constructed as a result of the construction of the Boyne Island Aluminium Smelter. It was opened on 11 October 1980 by E.A.D. Cameron, Chairman of the Calliope Shire Council. Tannum Sands Uniting Church was built in 1980. Tannum Sands State School was opened on 24 January 1983. The Boyne Tannum Hookup