40-614: Maroochydore Road (State Route 8) is a major arterial road on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland that connects the major town/urban centre of Maroochydore with the Bruce Highway . Maroochydore Road is a 9.8 km, 4 lane state controlled road on the Sunshine Coast that connects Maroochydore with the Bruce Highway , the region's main connection to Brisbane , Queensland's state capital. Maroochydore Road begins at
80-678: A gold rush and the development of the Mary River valley for closer agricultural pursuits. The Widgee Divisional Board was incorporated on 11 November 1879 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 . On 3 July 1886, its western part separately incorporated as the Division of Kilkivan . With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902 , both Widgee and Kilkivan became shires on 31 March 1903. On 21 November 1940,
120-736: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) typical of South Queensland. Summers are generally hot, but moderated compared to areas on similar latitudes elsewhere. Winters retain warm days, but have cooler nights rendering it falling into the subtropical fold. There is no dry season and precipitation is generally quite high. The average temperature of the sea ranges from 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) in August to 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in February at Mooloolaba , and from 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) in August to 27.3 °C (81.1 °F) in February at Noosa Heads . The Sunshine Coast economy has outpaced most of
160-421: A diverse agricultural sector. The most important commodities in the region based on the gross value of agricultural production were poultry ($ 66 million), followed by strawberries ($ 35 million) and milk ($ 29 million). These commodities together contributed 60 per cent of the total value of agricultural production in the region. At the 2016 census , the population of the Sunshine Coast was 346,522. The median age
200-471: A religious affiliation, the most frequent were: Catholic (18.2%), Anglican (16.8%), and Uniting Church (5.2%). Gympie Region The Gympie Region is a local government area in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland , Australia, about 170 kilometres (110 mi) north of Brisbane , the state capital. It is between the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay and centred on the town of Gympie . It
240-504: A second referendum resulted in 81% of residents voted to leave the amalgamated Sunshine Coast Region. On 9 November 2013 an election resulted in Noel Playford being elected to take office as mayor on 1 January 2014 with the new council. The Shire of Noosa was re-established on 1 January 2014. This resulted in two geopolitical areas occupying the area generally recognised as 'The Sunshine Coast'. The Sunshine Coast Region, governed by
280-733: Is a centre for tourism, attracting more than 3.2 million visitors a year. There are significant attractions, such as Steve Irwin 's Australia Zoo , UnderWater World marine park, Aussie World with the Ettamogah Pub , the Buderim Ginger Factory , the Big Pineapple , the Eumundi Markets and the Majestic Theatre, Pomona . Sports tourism is supported by several annual sporting events such as
320-523: Is home to many tour operators which are supported by welcomed 3.6 million domestic overnight visitors in the year ending September 2021. These visitors spent an estimated $ 2.7 billion in the region and help sustain local businesses. In 2017–18, the gross value of agricultural production in the Sunshine Coast region was $ 217 million, which was 2 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Queensland ($ 13 billion). Agricultural land in
360-603: Is home to more individual national parks than any other region in Queensland. The natural biodiversity of the area has been protected by five separate parks in both coastal and inland regions, including Mapleton Falls National Park , Kondalilla National Park , The Glass House Mountains National Park , Noosa National Park , and the Great Sandy National Park , which includes sections on Fraser Island and in Cooloola near Rainbow Beach. Sunshine Coast has
400-645: The Burrum River . The country of the Wakka Wakka people was about 13,000 km (5,000 sq mi) that was roughly triangular to the west of the Kabi, including a small part of the Dawson, and meeting the northern Kabi boundary at Walla. The two tribes were friendly and intermarried and had the same class restrictions. The groups were nomadic , gathering food en-route as they moved from one campsite to
440-741: The Gold Coast triggered interest in renaming the Near North Coast to increase the tourist appeal. Names considered included the Silver Coast, the Diamond Coast, and Suncoast. Suncoast was rejected as it was copyrighted by a proprietary company. In 1967, it was officially renamed the Sunshine Coast. Around the same time, various tourist attractions and theme parks were created, such as the Big Pineapple in Woombye . After
SECTION 10
#1732798755864480-619: The Mooloolaba Triathlon , Noosa Triathlon and Sunshine Coast Marathon . The Sunshine Coast is served by the Sunshine Coast Airport 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of Maroochydore, though many tourists also arrive from Brisbane Airport which is 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the south. As of November 2020 the Sunshine Coast is home of NightQuarter, an Eat Street-style precinct with live music and other immersive experiences. The Sunshine Coast region
520-624: The Moreton Bay (Brisbane) penal colony slightly to the south. In 1842, Governor George Gipps had the entire Sunshine Coast and hinterland from Mt Beerwah north to roughly Eumundi declared a "Bunya Bunya Reserve" for the protection of the bunya tree after Andrew Petrie advised him of the importance of bunya groves in Aboriginal culture. However, during the 1840s and 1850s, the Bunya Bunya Reserve and its vicinity became
560-544: The Shire of Tiaro . The first two councils opposed amalgamation, but in the event of amalgamation, thought the commission's proposal the best option. Tiaro wished to amalgamate with the Shire of Woocoo and opposed the plan. On 15 March 2008, the three shires ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect eight councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council. Ron Dyne, the former mayor of Kilkivan,
600-648: The Shire of Widgee and the City of Gympie merged under the terms of the Local Government (Shire of Cooloola) Regulation 1993 to form the Shire of Cooloola . The first elections were held on 27 November 1993 and Adrian McClintock, the former Widgee chairman, was elected for a four-year term. In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that Cooloola and Kilkivan amalgamate with part of
640-519: The 1980s, the Sunshine Coast experienced rapid population growth. As of 2016 it had become one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia. As the region becomes increasingly residential, most of the district's distinctive small farms – especially tropical-fruit and sugar-cane farms have disappeared, as have most of its theme parks. The Moreton sugar mills closure in 2003 removed a market for the district's 120 cane growers who had been harvesting cane in
680-760: The Sunshine Coast Council and the Shire of Noosa, governed by Noosa Shire Council. Jessica Lane, Miss Earth 2024 and the only Australian to win Miss Earth beauty pageant, came from Sunshine Coast. Major rivers of the Sunshine Coast include Noosa River , Maroochy River , Mooloolah River and the Stanley River . The region includes several lakes such as Lake Cootharaba and Lake Weyba . Ewen Maddock Dam , Wappa Dam and Baroon Pocket Dam have been built for water storage. Several stretches of
720-715: The Sunshine Coast are lined with unbroken beaches – from Sunshine Beach near Noosa to Coolum Beach (17 km (11 mi)); the coast from Point Arkwright to Mudjimba (11 km (6.8 mi)); the Maroochydore – Mooloolaba stretch (5.6 km (3.5 mi)); and from Buddina past the Caloundra CBD to Pelican Waters (22 km (14 mi)). Noosa Main Beach , Alexandra Headland , Mooloolaba (the spit) and Coolum Beach are nationally recognised surfing beaches. Notable beaches include: The Sunshine Coast
760-440: The Sunshine Coast region occupies 1,100 square kilometres, or 36 per cent of the region. Areas classified as conservation and natural environments (nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 880 square kilometres, or 29 per cent of the region. The most common land use by area is grazing native vegetation, which occupies 530 square kilometres or 17 per cent of the Sunshine Coast region. The Sunshine Coast region has
800-598: The Widgee Shire Council moved into new premises formerly occupied by the Bank of New South Wales at 242 Mary Street, Gympie. The Municipal Borough of Gympie was incorporated on 25 June 1880, holding its first elections on 25 August. A town hall was built in 1890. It became a town under the new Act on 31 March 1903, and on 7 January 1905 was proclaimed a city by the Governor of Queensland . On 2 November 1993,
840-403: The country. The population of the area has grown steadily at an average annual rate of 2.4% year-on-year over the five years to 2018. The earliest residents of the Sunshine Coast were the indigenous Gubbi Gubbi and Wakka Wakka people. The territory of the Kabi includes about 21,000 square kilometres (8,200 sq mi) along the coastline from the 27th parallel northward to the mouth of
SECTION 20
#1732798755864880-580: The deck of HM Bark Endeavour became the first known European to sight the Glass House Mountains , located south-west of Caloundra. In the 1820s, former convicts John Finnegan , Thomas Pamphlett and Richard Parsons landed on Moreton Island after becoming hopelessly lost fetching cedar. They lived with the Kabi Kabi for eight months. Thereafter, during the 1830s to 1840s, the district became home to numerous runaway convicts from
920-566: The following settlements: Gympie area: Widgee area: Kilkivan area: South Tiaro - Division 3 area: - split with Fraser Coast Region The Gympie Regional Council operate public libraries at Goomeri , Gympie , Imbil , Kilkivan , Rainbow Beach , and Tin Can Bay . The Gympie Regional Council established and maintains the Gympie Local Heritage Register . The populations given relate to
960-429: The gold fields of Gympie. After the construction of the railway line to Gympie , the coastal and river towns, being mostly ports for the early river trade, were bypassed. By the 1890s, diverse small farming (fruit and dairy) had replaced the cattle-and-timber economy of earlier decades. Sugar cane and pineapples proved especially important to produce for the district. Many small hamlets and towns now emerged. Produce
1000-540: The hinterland. Since 2014, the Sunshine Coast district has been split into two local government areas , the Sunshine Coast Region and the Shire of Noosa , which administer the southern and northern parts of the Sunshine Coast respectively. As of June 2021, with an estimated urban population of 398,840, the Sunshine Coast is the fifth most populated area in Queensland and the 9th most populous in
1040-472: The holiday seaside shack, including fibro cement , metal containers, and left-over farm sheds; even disused trams were sold off as seaside shacks. Especially after World War II, the Sunshine Coast grew into a holiday and surfing destination. This tendency was further expanded in the development boom of the 1960s and 1970s. Then known as the Near North Coast, the renaming of the South Coast to become
1080-541: The intersection at the eastern end of the road, at a cost of $ 1.861 million, was to be completed by early 2022. A project to improve an intersection at Kunda Park was in the planning stage in November 2021. The entire road is in the Sunshine Coast local government area. Sunshine Coast, Queensland The Sunshine Coast is a peri-urban region in South East Queensland , Australia. In 1967, it
1120-687: The intersection of Beach Road and Horton Parade (state route 6) in the Maroochydore CBD and travels west providing an interchange with the Sunshine Motorway (state route 70) and through the town of Kuluin . Maroochydore Road terminates at the intersection with the Bruce Highway in Forest Glen but the road itself continues as Nambour Connection Road , a state controlled road that leads to Nambour . A project to improve
1160-502: The landscape within the local government boundaries of the Sunshine Coast Region and Gympie Region, particularly the towns of Caloundra , Noosa Heads , Gympie and extending north towards Maryborough and south to Caboolture . Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the Gympie Region existed as four distinct local government areas: The Gympie area was originally settled for grazing purposes. The discovery of gold in 1867 led to
1200-442: The next. Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gubbi Gubbi country. The Gubbi Gubbi language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Sunshine Coast Region and Gympie Region , particularly the towns of Caloundra , Noosa Heads , Gympie and extending north towards Maryborough and south to Caboolture . In 1770, James Cook on
1240-583: The region. Instead, businesses concerned with retail, catering and tourism have assumed increasing importance. In 2008, The Shire of Noosa , Shire of Maroochy and City of Caloundra merged to form the Sunshine Coast Region . The 2007 referendum conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission and leading to the merger remained controversial in Noosa Shire, where 95% of voters had rejected amalgamation. In March 2013,
Maroochydore Road - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-508: The regional economies in Australia in terms of growth over the last 15 years. The strength of the regional economy is based in its diversity and strength across a number of key sectors including healthcare, education, finance and professional business services. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the May 2019 Labour Force Survey indicate that around 184,200 people were employed in the Sunshine Coast region. Health care and social assistance
1320-422: The scene of some of the most bitter skirmishes of Australia's " Black War ". The Blackall Range , on account of the tri-annual Bunya Festival, served as both a hideout and rallying point for attacks against white settlements. By the 1850s timber cutters and cattlemen had started exploiting the area; in 1860 the Bunya Bunya Reserve was scrapped. Many of the Sunshine Coast's towns began as simple ports or jetties for
1360-532: The timber industry during the 1860s and 1870s, as the area once had magnificent stands of forest. Likewise, the region's roads often began as snigging tracks for hauling timber. Timber getters used the region's creeks, rivers and lakes as seaways to float out their logs of cedar – the resultant wood being shipped as far afield as Europe. During the Gympie Gold Rush (1867), prospectors scaled the Sunshine Coast mountains to develop easier roadways to and from
1400-580: Was 44 years old, 6 years older than the nationwide median. The male-to-female ratio was 48.3-to-51.7. Most residents were born in Australia (73.7%), with 1.9% being Indigenous Australians. The most common countries of birth of other residents were England (6.2%), New Zealand (4.5%), South Africa (1.0%), Germany (0.7%), and Scotland (0.6%). The most commonly spoken languages other than English were German (0.6%), and Afrikaans , Dutch, French, and Italian (0.3% each). A large proportion of Sunshine Coast residents reported no religious affiliation (34.0%). Of those who had
1440-564: Was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shires of Cooloola and Kilkivan and part of the Shire of Tiaro . The Regional Council, which governs the Region, has an estimated operating budget of A$ 50 million. In the 2021 census , the Gympie Region had a population of 53,242 people. Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gubbi Gubbi country. The Gubbi Gubbi language region includes
1480-615: Was defined as "the area contained in the [former] Shires of Landsborough , Maroochy and Noosa , but excluding Bribie Island ". Located 100 km (62 mi) north of the centre of Brisbane in South East Queensland , on the Coral Sea coastline, its urban area spans approximately 60 km (37 mi) of coastline and hinterland from Pelican Waters to Tewantin . The area has several coastal hubs at Caloundra , Kawana Waters , Maroochydore and Noosa Heads . Nambour and Maleny have developed as primary commercial centres for
1520-652: Was elected as the region's first mayor. The former Cooloola Shire Council Chambers is now used as the Gympie Regional Council Chambers . The council remains undivided and its elected body consists of eight councillors and a mayor, elected for a four-year term. The mayor of the Gympie Regional Council is Glen Charles Hartwig. Mayor Glen Hartwig was elected in the Gympie Regional Council election on Saturday, 28 March 2020. The councillors are:, The Gympie Region includes
1560-559: Was initially taken by horse to Landsborough, then to Eudlo in 1891. The post-World War I era saw the rise of the "seaside shack". The seaside shack provided the opportunity for the coastal "getaway" with modest investment. From 1914 to 1946, they popped up all along the North Coast (because it was north of Brisbane). Seaside shacks were exceedingly cheap and were an early use of the concept of recycling. Many were built of disused or second grade timber, all kinds of materials were used for
1600-439: Was the largest employment sector with 26,800 people, followed by construction with 26,500 people, and education and training with 21,200 people. Other important employment sectors in the region were accommodation and food services; retail trade; and professional, scientific and technical services. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employed 2,600 people, representing 1 per cent of the region's workforce. The Sunshine Coast
#863136