Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:GeoGroup Template:Infobox Australian place Nambour is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnt>Template:Cite QPN</ref><ref name=qpnl>Template:Cite QPN</ref> In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Nambour had a population of 12,145 people.<ref name=Census2021/>

GeographyEdit

Nambour is Template:Convert north of the state capital, Brisbane. The town lies in the sub-tropical hinterland of the Sunshine Coast at the foot of the Blackall Range It was the administrative centre and capital of the Maroochy Shire and is now the administrative centre of the Sunshine Coast Region. The greater Nambour region includes surrounding suburbs such as Burnside, Coes Creek, and Perwillowen.Template:Citation needed

Nambour–Mapleton Road exits to the west and Nambour–Bli Bli Road to the east.<ref>Template:Google maps</ref>

EtymologyEdit

File:C viminalis3.jpg
Red flowering bottle brush Callistemon viminalis after which Nambour is named

The name is derived from the Aboriginal word "naamba", referring to the red-flowering bottle brush Callistemon viminalis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

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In 1862, Tom Petrie with 25 Turrbal and Kabi Kabi men including Ker-Walli, Wanangga and Billy Dinghy entered Petrie's Creek with the view to exploit the large cedar growing in the vicinity. They encountered some resident Aboriginal people with whom they had a traditional ceremony together. Petrie's group afterwards made a permanent logging camp further up the creek in the area now known as Nambour. At this camp, the Aboriginal workers requested that Petrie brand them with his logging symbol. With a piece of prepared glass, he cut his logging symbol of a P inside a circle into each of the men's arms. These Aboriginal workers, as well as local Maroochy men such as Puram, worked hard, returning frequently with Petrie to build the roadway, fell the timber and transport the logs downriver.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Nambour area had its first permanent European settlement in 1870. The town was then still just called Petrie's Creek.<ref name="heritage">Template:Cite book</ref>

Maroochy Provisional School opened on 13 October 1879. It was renamed Nambour Provisional School in 1891. It became Nambour State School in 1897. It had a secondary school department from circa 1940 until 2 February 1953, when Nambour State High School opened on 2 February 1953.<ref name=qfhs>Template:Citation</ref>

Petrie's Creek Post Office opened on 1 June 1888 (a receiving office had been open from 1885, originally known as Carrollo) and was renamed Nambour by 1890.<ref name="Post Office">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1890 the Maroochy Divisional Board was established.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1891, the North Coast railway to Brisbane was completed, and at its opening Petrie's Creek was renamed "Nambour", after the Nambour cattle station.<ref name="heritage" /> However, it was not until 16 December 1963 when the new Nambour railway station was opened by the Government for Transport Gordon Chalk.Template:Cn

On Monday 2 January 1893, St Joseph's Catholic Church was officially opened by Archbishop Robert Dunne. It was at 177 Currie Street (Template:Coord) on a Template:Convert site donated by Daniel Currie (after whom Currie Street was named).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was Template:Convert.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Circa 1950, it was demolished to make way for a new church. The timber from the demolished church was used to construct Our Lady Star of the Sea (Stella Maris) in Maroochydore as a cost-saving measure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On Sunday 16 April 1950, Archbishop James Duhig laid the foundation stone for the new St Joseph's.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0" /> On Sunday 1 July 1951, Duhig returned to bless and dedicate the new St Joseph's Church.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Moreton Central Sugar Mill Cane Tramway was constructed from 1897. It was used to transport passengers and sugar cane. The tramway closed at the end of 2001. Much of the track and signal lighting still remains. A section of the track can still be seen in central Nambour along the roadway of Mill, Currie and Howard Streets.<ref>Cane Tramways of Moreton Central Mill Co. Ltd Singleton, C.C. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October 1957 pp153-157</ref><ref>"Nambour Cane Rail System Closure Plans" Railway Digest February 2001 page 13</ref><ref name="qhr" />

Nambour Baptist Church opened in July 1914 on the corner of Currie Street and Mill Street (approx Template:Coord).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 25 August 1921 a new church was opened.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another new church opened on Sunday 2 November 1952 on the south-west corner of Currie and Bury Streets (Template:Coord).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Circa 1970s the site was used to construct a new library.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A fire in 1924 destroyed many of the timber buildings along the main street.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Nambour branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association was founded on 1 November 1928. In 1931 they established their QCWA Rest Rooms in the Shire Hall. In September 1958 they officially opened their own building at 10 Short Street (still in use today).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Nambour Hospital opened as Maroochy District Hospital in 1930, renamed Nambour General Hospital in 1958.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Historical milestones for Nambour Hospital were as follows: Block 1 completed (1975), Block 2 completed (1986), dialysis unit opens (1989), Block 6 opened (1993–95), Block 7 built (1998), and Block 1 demolished (2023) for redevelopment. Much of Nambour Hospital's acute services relocated to Sunshine Coast University Hospital upon its opening in 2017.

St Joseph's Primary School was opened on 2 February 1925 by the Good Samaritan Sisters. From 1940 to 1977 it also provided secondary schooling, an arrangement that ended when St Joseph's High School was established in 1977.<ref name="qfhs" />

Nambour State High School opened on 2 February 1953.<ref name="qfhs" />

Nambour Infants State School opened on 23 January 1961 and closed on 12 December 1980.<ref name="qfhs" />

In 1977 the Catholic Education Office established St Joseph's High School. In 1979 it moved to a new location in Burnside and in 1985 was renamed St John's College.<ref name="qfhs" />

The Nambour Public Library opened in 1982 and had a major refurbishment in 1998 with a minor refurbishment in 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Nambour Centre for Continuing Secondary Education opened on 4 February 1991.<ref name="qfhs" /> It was subsequently amalgamated into the Nambour State College.

The Nambour & District Historical Museum, more widely known as the Nambour Museum began with an opening ceremony held on 20 April 1996.<ref>Nambour Museum Template:Webarchive Retrieved 27 March 2011</ref>

DemographicsEdit

File:File-StateLibQld Panorama of Nambour c1932.jpg
Currie Street 1932, incl. The Royal George Hotel

Template:Multiple image In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Nambour had a population of 10,221 people.<ref name=Census2011>Template:Census 2011 AUS</ref>

In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Nambour had a population of 11,187 people. 52.9% of the population were female and 47.1% were male. The median age was 40 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 4.4% of the population. 77.1% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 4.0% and New Zealand 3.6%. 87.7% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 33.5%, Catholic 16.0% and Anglican 13.5%.<ref name="Census2016">Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>

In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Nambour had a population of 12,145 people.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>

Heritage listingsEdit

Nambour has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Another heritage listing associated with the Moreton Central Sugar Mill is the

PoliticsEdit

Nambour is represented by the following politicians:

Government Division Member Party Term
Federal Fairfax Ted O'Brien Liberal National Party of Queensland 2016–present
State Nicklin Marty Hunt Liberal National Party of Queensland 2024–present
Local Division 10 – Sunshine Coast Cr David Law citation CitationClass=web

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EconomyEdit

Nambour's primary industry has been sugar, with extensive cane fields surrounding the town, and the Moreton Central Sugar Mill in the town centre. The mill itself began operating in 1897 until it was closed in 2003.<ref name="qhr">Template:Cite QHR</ref>

The future of the sugar industry in the area is in doubt, with a number of former cane farms being converted to grazing cattle, turf farms or sold to property developers. Other industries in the area include tourism, and the growing of tropical fruits.Template:Citation needed

Situated near Nambour is the Queensland Government's Maroochy Research Station which is a major subtropical fruit and nut research and extension centre. The 61 ha research facility was established in 1945, and has an office and laboratory complex, glasshouses, netted orchards, postharvest coolrooms and a biotechnology facility. With access to national and international funding sources, specialist staff often work in conjunction with investigators from other research agencies.<ref>Maroochy Research Station Template:Webarchive Retrieved 16 March 2011</ref>

EducationEdit

Nambour State College is a government primary and secondary (Prep–12) school for boys and girls at 1 Carroll Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1,538 students with 147 teachers (134 full-time equivalent) and 83 non-teaching staff (60 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its primary (Prep–6) campus is at Coronation Avenue (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The school has a primary and secondary special education program. It also has a primary and secondary Intensive English program.<ref name="SchoolList2018" />

St Joseph's Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 177 Currie Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 396 students with 23 teachers (21 full-time equivalent) and 19 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017" />

The Nambour campus of OneSchool Global (formerly known as the Agnew School) is a private primary and secondary school (3–12) for boys and girls at 281 Windsor Road (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is operated by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. As at 26 October 2024, it had an enrolment of 35 students.<ref name=":1" />

In addition, other suburbs of Nambour include the following schools:

FacilitiesEdit

HealthEdit

Nambour General Hospital is located on Hospital Road and provides a range of acute and subacute services within the Sunshine Coast-Wide Bay Health Service District.<ref>Nambour Hospital Template:Webarchive</ref>

The regions first major private hospital, Nambour Selangor Private Hospital, opened in 1960. It is located on Netherton Street.

ElectricityEdit

The distribution network company that provides electricity to Nambour residents is Energex. On 1 July 2010, Sunshine Coast Regional Council's Water Services (along with Moreton Bay Regional Council), moved over to the recently created water body, Unity Water. Unity Water was created by the Queensland Government as part of the State's takeover of South East Queensland's water facilities, dams and water supply networks. Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast Regional Councils own 50% of Unity Water. Template:Citation needed

MediaEdit

The daily local newspaper is the Sunshine Coast Daily which is published by APN News & Media. There is also a weekly news service provided by the Nambour Weekly which is published on Wednesdays.<ref>Nambour Weekly Template:Webarchive Retrieved 27 March 2011</ref> The Nambour Chronicle was published from 1903 until it ceased publication in the 1980s.<ref>Nambour Chronicle Template:Webarchive Retrieved 27 March 2011</ref>

Nambour is also in the television broadcast licence areas of Brisbane (metro), enabling most areas of the Sunshine Coast to receive the commercial Brisbane stations.

Many community access stations, as well as some Brisbane stations can also be received.

AmenitiesEdit

File:Nambour Sculpture.JPG
A sculpture in Nambour

The Nambour Civic Centre is an arts and entertainment venue that includes cinema, music, theatre, dance and other events. The Nambour Lind Lane Theatre is another live theatre venue.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates a public library in Nambour at the corner of Bury and Currie Streets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Nambour branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 10 Short Street.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Nambour Wesleyan Methodist Church is at 165 Perwillowen Road, Perwillowen. It is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The main shopping areas in Nambour are Nambour Plaza which has approximately 40 stores, Nambour Mill Village Shopping Centre and Centenary Square Shopping Centre.

Nambour boasts a high proportion of parkland, covering approximately 9% of its total land size. This makes it one of the areas with the highest percentage of parkland in the Sunshine Coast region.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

SportEdit

Nambour has a number of amateur sporting clubs including:

  • Nambour–Yandina United Football Club
  • Nambour and District Tennis Association
  • Nambas Tennis Club.
  • Nambour Golf Club

The Nambour Wildcats Soccer Club is part of the Sunshine Coast Churches Soccer Association and was established in 1976, it is one of the largest sporting clubs in the region with over 350 players from U6 to senior Mens, Ladies and Over 35's.<ref>Nambour Wildcats Template:Webarchive Retrieved 31 March 2011</ref>

The Nambour Crushers Rugby League Club was established in 1985. The grounds are situated at 22 Crusher Park Drive. The Crushers have teams in all grades from Under 7s to A Grade and number approximately 300 players.<ref>Nambour Crushers Template:Webarchive Retrieved 25 March 2011</ref>

The Nambour Rugby Union Club entered the Sunshine Coast District Rugby Union Competition in 1981. The club is known as the "Toads". The club's ground is situated on Laidlaw Road in nearby Woombye. Nambour fields four "Senior" sides in the Sunshine Coast Competition: A Grade, Reserve Grade and U19's as well as a women's team. A junior club with teams from under 7s through to under 17s also runs. Nambour were local premiers in 1912 and 1913.<ref>Nambour Rugby Union Club Template:Webarchive Retrieved 27 March 2011</ref>

The Nambour and Districts Netball Association is made up of clubs from Yandina, Burnside, Nambour, Woombye, Palmwoods and the school based Saints club.<ref>Nambour and Districts Netball Template:Webarchive Retrieved 27 March 2011</ref>

Nambour Cricket Club is part of the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association and has played on the Nambour showgrounds since the early 1890s when a Nambour team competed against teams from nearby towns.<ref>Nambour Cricket Club Template:Webarchive Retrieved 27 March 2011</ref>

The Nambour Aquatic Centre is located in Petrie Park and has heated pools all year round. The complex offers a variety of activities including a 50m heated pool, a 25m heated enclosed pool, toddler pools and fountains/play area, a learn to swim program, aqua aerobics classes, and a poolside cafe.<ref>Nambour Aquatic Centre Template:Webarchive Retrieved 25 March 2011</ref>

AttractionsEdit

The Big Pineapple tourist attraction on the southern outskirts of the town reflects both of these pursuits.Template:Citation needed

Other tourist attractions include Thrill Hill Waterslide Park,<ref>Thrill Hill Waterslide Park Template:Webarchive Retrieved 25 March 2011</ref> and the Big Macadamia nut.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

EventsEdit

The Big Pineapple Music Festival attracts thousands of visitors to Nambour.

Nambour Originals (sibling of Peregian Originals held at Peregian Beach) is an open air community event that involves live music in a picnic style format. It is held at 1pm every 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at Quota Park Amphitheatre on Matthews Street. The facilities at Quota Park include barbecues, a sheltered area, shady trees, a kids play area, toilets and parking.<ref>Nambour Originals Template:Webarchive Retrieved 24 March 2011</ref>

The Nambour Festival, which began as the Nambour Sugar Festival in the 1980s, has been held at Quota Park since 2008. The festival showcases local musicians, entertainers, cooking demonstrations, local produce, a diverse range of activities for children, and market stalls.<ref>Nambour Festival Template:Webarchive Retrieved 24 March 2011</ref>

The Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show was first held in 1905 in Woombye. The first show in Nambour was held in 1909. Today, the Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show is a modern three-day show full of agricultural, community and entertainment events.<ref>Nambour Show Template:Webarchive Retrieved 24 March 2011</ref>

The Queensland Home Garden Expo is a three-day gardening event held at the Nambour Showgrounds.<ref>Queensland Home Garden Expo Template:Webarchive Retrieved 24 March 2011</ref>

TransportEdit

File:Nambour Rail Lines.JPG
Railway lines run through the centre of Nambour

The Translink Transit Authority (known as Translink) is the authority that coordinates and integrates the public rail and bus services in South East Queensland, of which Nambour is in Zone 6.

Nambour is serviced by several Queensland Rail passenger trains, including the Tilt Train and is approximately one and a half hours north of Brisbane by rail. Regular services depart from Nambour railway station and use the Sunshine Coast line.

The region connected to Brisbane via the Bruce Highway which forms part of the M1 motorway.

Greyhound Australia interstate coach operators also operate daily bus services to Brisbane using the major corridors. The local bus service is operated by Kinetic Group which has various routes between Nambour and Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, including one via Eumundi.

Nambour is also served by Sunshine Coast Airport. The airport is approximately 25 minutes east of Nambour by car. Brisbane Airport is approximately one hour and ten minutes south of Nambour by car.

ClimateEdit

Nambour experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with hot, wet summers and mild winters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Weather box

Notable peopleEdit

EntertainmentEdit

PoliticsEdit

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SportEdit

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OtherEdit

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  • Daniel Keighran, awarded Australia's military highest honour, the Victoria Cross for Australia for bravery during the Battle of Derapet in Afghanistan in 2010.
  • Michael Wesley, deputy vice-chancellor international, Melbourne University and former executive director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy.
  • David Billings, Amelia Earhart Researcher and author of the "Earhart Lockheed Electra Search Project"[1] website.

See alsoEdit

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ReferencesEdit

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Further readingEdit

External linksEdit

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