Mooloolaba
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:GeoGroup Template:Infobox Australian place Mooloolaba is a coastal suburb of Maroochydore in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnl>Template:Cite QPN</ref> It is located Template:Convert north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is part of the Maroochydore urban centre.
In the Template:CensusAU, Mooloolaba had a population of 8,202 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
GeographyEdit
Mooloolaba is bounded on the east by the Coral Sea, on the south by the Mooloolah River, on the north by Alexandra Headland and to the west by Buderim. Mooloolaba Harbour (near the mouth of the Mooloolah River, Template:Coord) is the home of a large fleet of fishing vessels, as well as being the northern base for the pilot vessels that control shipping through Moreton Bay and the Port of Brisbane.<ref>Template:Cite QPN</ref> Due to its sheltered location in the lee of Point Cartwright, it is an all-weather harbour favoured by recreational sailors.
The esplanade facing Mooloolaba beach is a centre for tourist activity, containing the Sea Life marine park, as well as many souvenir and clothing shops, bookshops, galleries and restaurants. Behind the apartments facing the Mooloolaba Beach (Template:Coord)<ref>Template:Cite QPN</ref> are camping grounds, backpacker hostels and canal villas. It is also a tourism destination, with cruise ships regularly anchoring outside the port.
Mooloolaba is serviced by coach from Brisbane, by train and connecting bus via Nambour, Woombye, Landsborough station, and by air from the Sunshine Coast Airport.
HistoryEdit
Mooloolaba derives from the Aboriginal word mulu, meaning snapper fish, or mulla meaning Red-bellied Black Snake. Originally known as Mooloolah Heads, the name was changed to Mooloolaba by Thomas O'Connor in 1919 when he subdivided land for sale there.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=qpnl/>
A Methodist church hall was opened on Saturday 28 January 1933.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Mooloolaba Provisional School opened on 2 May 1933. On 24 January 1938, it became Mooloolaba State School.<ref name="qfhs">Template:Citation</ref> It had less than 50 students in its early years. The original school building remains on the site, but has been extended over the years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In September 1954, Archbishop Reginald Halse performed a stump-capping ceremony for the new Anglican church at Mooloolaba.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> St Elizabeth's Anglican Church was dedicated on 2 November 1954 by Archbishop Halse. Its closure on 2 April 2006 was approved by Venerable R N Gowty, Archdeacon of Wide Bay.<ref name="ClosedAnglicanChurches">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The congregation had dwindled to 17 people and a property developer offered a sum for the block in First Avenue (approx Template:Coord) described as "safely estimated to be in the millions" to combine the church land with other parcels to build a high-rise residential development. The plan was to combine St Elizabeth's with St Peter's Anglican in Maroochydore and have only one Anglican church in the area.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DemographicsEdit
In the Template:CensusAU, Mooloolaba had a population of 7,730 people.<ref name=Census2016>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, Mooloolaba had a population of 8,202 people.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>
EducationEdit
Mooloolaba State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Cnr Meta & Douglas Streets (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList20182">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 677 students with 45 teachers (39 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (15 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 703 students with 45 teachers (40 full-time equivalent) and 24 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It includes a special education program.<ref name="SchoolList2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The school has a maximum student enrolment capacity of 822 students.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
There are no secondary schools in Moloolaba. The nearest secondary school is Mountain Creek State High School in neighbouring Mountain Creek.<ref name="globe">Template:Queensland Globe</ref>
AmenitiesEdit
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates a mobile library service which visits Moondarra Drive.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Mooloolaba Uniting Church is at 6 Meta Street (Template:Coord).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Greek Orthodox Parish of the Sunshine Coast meets at the Uniting Church at 6 Meta Street once a month.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
There are two marinas, both on the northern bank of the Mooloolah River accessed from Parklyn Parade:
- The Wharf Marina, a Template:Convert marina (Template:Coord.<ref name="Marinas">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Mooloolaba Marina, a Template:Convert marina (Template:Coord)<ref name="Marinas" />
There are a number of boating facilities providing access to the Mooloolah State Boat Harbour which are managed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads:
- Parkyn Parade Upstream with floating walkway (Template:Coord)<ref name="BoatingFacilities">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Parkyn Parade Downstream with floating walkway (Template:Coord)<ref name="BoatingFacilities" />
- Parkyn Parade pontoon (between the two boat ramps) (Template:Coord)<ref name="BoatingFacilities" />
SportsEdit
Mooloolaba is also home to the Mooloolaba Triathlon and the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race. It is also home to various on beach events.<ref name="stm">Template:Cite news</ref>
AttractionsEdit
Sea Life Sunshine Coast is a tourist attraction in Parklyn Parade (Template:Coord).<ref name="LandmarkAreas">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is an aquarium and zoo focussing on marine creatures, including sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, seals and penguins. It includes an Template:Convert underwater viewing tunnel.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In popular cultureEdit
Mooloolaba featured in the fourth season of The Amazing Race. Evangelist Peter Foxhall and Pastor Bill Furler pioneered an Assemblies of God church at the Mooloolaba Surf Lifesaving Club in the mid-1980s. The town was also the home of the Christian pop/rock band Newsboys and is mentioned in their song "RSL 1984" from In the Hands of God. It is the fourth town mentioned in the original Australian version of the song "I've Been Everywhere".
In August and September 2015, the town garnered media attention when a French woman recorded a video claiming to have had a one-night stand with a male resident of Mooloolaba, asking him to come forward. It turned out to have been a promotional advert for the town, masterminded by a British social media expert - the woman was a French university student and actress.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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