Gilmour Space Centre, Bowen
Rockets, reef breezes and where to watch a launch
Bowen finally has bragging rights that go beyond mangoes and mind-blowing beaches. Out at Abbot Point sits the Bowen Orbital Spaceport, operated by Gilmour Space. It’s Australia’s first licensed commercial orbital launch site, purpose-built to send small satellites to low Earth orbit. Not a theme park, not a museum. A real launch facility on the edge of the Coral Sea. (Gilmour Space)
What it actually is
The spaceport lives inside the Abbot Point State Development Area, about 20 km northwest of Bowen. The location was chosen for its coastal safety corridors and latitude that suits 20 to 65 degree inclinations. Translation: fewer people to worry about, plenty of sky to aim for, and orbits that make sense for smallsat customers. (State Planning)
Can you visit
There’s no public visitor centre and you can’t wander in for a stickybeak. During launch windows, exclusion zones lock down land, sea and airspace around the site. You watch from town, not the pad. (Courier Mail)
Where locals watch
There’s no official viewing area, but high points and beaches around Bowen can line up a sightline when the weather and trajectory play nice. Flagstaff Hill Lookout is the obvious perch, and foreshore spots looking north can work on the day. Expect crowds, bring patience and follow any traffic control in place. (ABC)
What’s flown so far
After licensing and site opening through 2024, Gilmour’s first Eris test flight lifted off in 2025 from Bowen. It flew for seconds before engine issues ended the attempt. Short flight, big milestone. That’s how test campaigns go, and another attempt is on the cards. (Gilmour Space)
Why this matters for Bowen
A licensed orbital site on Queensland’s coast puts Bowen on the global launch map, with local jobs, supply chains and a steady trickle of space nerds booking accommodation and craning necks at the sky. It’s the first time Australia’s had a privately run orbital pad ready to go, and it’s right here in mango country. (Gilmour Space)
If you’re planning a “maybe we’ll see a rocket” day
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Check official updates, not rumours. Gilmour doesn’t always live-stream and timing shifts for weather, permits and hardware. (ABC)
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Expect road, marine and air exclusion zones. Respect closures. They exist so launches remain a wow, not a headline. (Courier Mail)
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Pick a legal vantage with parking that won’t get you boxed in. Flagstaff Hill and township foreshores are popular. (Tourism Bowen)
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Pack sun protection, water and patience. Windows slip. That’s rockets.
Quick facts
- Operator: Gilmour Space Technologies
- Site: Abbot Point State Development Area, North Queensland
- Licence: First Australian orbital launch facility licence issued March 2024 (Gilmour Space)
- Vehicle: Eris small-sat launcher, hybrid propulsion, iterative test program (Gilmour Space)
Our Bowen take
We’ve said it before. We absolutely love Bowen. It feels like our second home. We paint here, we walk the dogs here, and we get giddy every time a launch window whispers into town. If you spot us on Flagstaff Hill peering at the horizon like seagulls at hot chips, mind your business and pass the binoculars.
Make a night of it
If you’re chasing rocket thrills by day, chase the singalongs by night. Book a Bowen Paint and Sip with us. Beginner friendly, simple shapes, proper laughs and a canvas you’ll actually keep. Space by afternoon, sparkle by evening. That’s a schedule we can get around.
