Hervey Bay, Queensland: Gruesome discovery by council worker in busy beachside park stuns locals

By ZAK WHEELER, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 04:22, 9 May 2026 | Updated: 04:28, 9 May 2026 A woman found dead at a popular beachside park has been identified as a 75-year-old retiree who regularly walked her dog in the area. Rita Acres was discovered by a council worker at The Pines beachfront park in Hervey Bay, Queensland, on Friday morning. A crime scene was declared and the area remained taped off for more than 24 hours as forensic officers and SES volunteers scoured the area for clues.  Officers were seen examining a dented Mercedes understood to have belonged to Ms Acres as well as the nearby toilet block.  The park remained closed on Saturday morning as investigators work to determine whether the death was suspicious.  Members of the public have also been interviewed.  'A crime scene has been declared while investigations are conducted at the scene,' Queensland Police said in a statement.  Ms Acres had moved to Hervey Bay about 18 months before her death and lived at Fraser Shores, the Fraser Coast Chronicle reports.  Rita Acres' body was discovered by a council worker on Friday (the 75-year-old is pictured) The park (pictured) remained taped off for more than 24 hours as forensic officers and SES volunteers scoured the area for clues Investigators are still working to determine how the 75-year-old died The pensioner was known to walk her dog Scruffy at The Pines. The dog was not at the beach when her body was found.  It's understood Scruffy is being cared for by neighbours.  The discovery came just days after a suspected human bone was found at the nearby Pialba Caravan Park on Tuesday. The bone is understood to have been there for some time and is not linked to the investigation into Ms Acres' death. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.