It is a former deep-water, cargo-handling facility originally built to facilitate the export of sugar, timber and coal.

The pier, served by the extension of the railway line from Pialba,[1] was used for the transfer of cargo between rail and ships.

To reach the deep water channel, it was required to extend 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) (3690 ft) out to sea.

[5] Timber, general cargo and produce was still exported until 1960, when Caltex built an oil terminal adjacent to the Pier.

After the last ship docked at the Urangan pier in January 1985, Caltex Oil reversed the process of storage, replacing the system of fuel service from Shipping to bulk supply by rail from the Pinkenba and Colmslie port terminals in Brisbane.

It was officially re-opened by the then-governor of Queensland and the mayor of Hervey Bay, Peter Arnison and Bill Brennan (respectively) on 27 November 1999.

The 3.4-kilometre (2.1 mi) swim is from Urangan Pier to the jetty opposite the Torquay Hotel, while the 1.6-kilometre (1 mi) short swim, called Splash for Cash, is from the corner of the Esplanade and Alexander Street to the jetty opposite the Torquay Hotel.