Mooloolaba

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title: "Mooloolaba" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["suburbs-of-the-sunshine-coast-region", "maroochydore", "beaches-of-queensland"] topic_path: "general/suburbs-of-the-sunshine-coast-region" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooloolaba" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox Australian place"]

FieldValue
typesuburb
nameMooloolaba
cityMaroochydore
stateqld
imageMooloolaba, Queensland - 02.jpg
captionApartments, 2008
coordinates
pop8202
pop_year
pop_footnotes
postcode4557
area4.0
timezoneAEST
utc+10:00
lgaSunshine Coast Region
countyCanning
parishMooloolah
stategovMaroochydore
fedgovFisher
local_mapyes
zoom13
dist14.6
dir1SSE
location1Maroochydore
dist297.3
dir2N
location2Brisbane CBD
near-nCoral Sea
near-neCoral Sea
near-eBuddina
near-seMinyama
near-sParrearra
near-swMountain Creek
near-wBuderim
near-nwAlexandra Headland
::

| type = suburb | name = Mooloolaba | city = Maroochydore | state = qld | image = Mooloolaba, Queensland - 02.jpg | caption = Apartments, 2008 | coordinates = | pop = 8202 | pop_year = | pop_footnotes = | established = | postcode = 4557 | area = 4.0 | timezone = AEST | utc = +10:00 | lga = Sunshine Coast Region | county = Canning | parish = Mooloolah | stategov = Maroochydore | fedgov = Fisher | local_map = yes | zoom = 13 | dist1 = 4.6 | dir1 = SSE | location1= Maroochydore | dist2 = 97.3 | dir2 = N | location2= Brisbane CBD | near-n = Coral Sea | near-ne = Coral Sea | near-e = Buddina | near-se = Minyama | near-s = Parrearra | near-sw = Mountain Creek | near-w = Buderim | near-nw = Alexandra Headland Mooloolaba is a coastal suburb of Maroochydore in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Maroochydore urban centre. In the , Mooloolaba had a population of 8,202 people.

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Aerial_perspective_of_Mooloolaba's_network_of_waterways.jpg" caption="Aerial perspective of Mooloolaba's network of waterways"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Aerial_panorama_of_Mooloolaba.jpg" caption="date=June 2025}}"] ::

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 () 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.

History

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.

Mooloolaba Surf Club was established in December 1922 by a group of individuals from the Mooloolah River Sports Club to oversee beach safety.

A Methodist church hall was opened on Saturday 28 January 1933. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Mooloolaba_State_School,_Meta_Street_Mooloolaba,_December_1949.jpg" caption="Original school building, Mooloolaba State School, 1949"] ::

Mooloolaba Provisional School opened on 2 May 1933. On 24 January 1938, it became Mooloolaba State School. 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.

On the weekend of 8-9 December 1934, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester visited Mooloolaba where he enjoyed a private weekend including driving a speed boat, surfing, and horse riding.

In September 1954, Archbishop Reginald Halse performed a stump-capping ceremony for the new Anglican church at Mooloolaba. 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. The congregation had dwindled to 17 people and a property developer offered a sum for the block in First Avenue (approx ) 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.

On 4 December 2007, a memorial statue of the "Crocodile Hunter", Steve Irwin was unveiled to the public in Mooloolaba.

Demographics

In the , Mooloolaba had a population of 7,730 people.

In the , Mooloolaba had a population of 8,202 people.

Education

Mooloolaba State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls on the corner of Meta and Douglas Streets (). 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). 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). It includes a special education program. The school has a maximum student enrolment capacity of 822 students.

There are no secondary schools in Moloolaba. The nearest government secondary school is Mountain Creek State High School in neighbouring Mountain Creek.

Amenities

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Mooloolaba_Esplanade_at_Mooloolaba,_Queensland.jpg" caption="access-date=30 January 2018}}"] ::

The Mooloolaba Uniting Church is at 6 Meta Street ().

The Greek Orthodox Parish of the Sunshine Coast meets at the Uniting Church at 6 Meta Street once a month.

There are two marinas, both on the northern bank of the Mooloolah River accessed from Parklyn Parade:

  • The Wharf Marina, a 2.2 ha marina (.
  • Mooloolaba Marina, a 12.1 ha marina () 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 ()
  • Parkyn Parade Downstream with floating walkway ()
  • Parkyn Parade pontoon (between the two boat ramps) ()

Events

Mooloolaba is also home to the Mooloolaba Triathlon and the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race. It is also home to various on beach events.

Attractions

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/AUS_Maroochydore,_Mooloolaba,_Mooloolaba_Foreshore_Park_004.jpg" caption="Steve Irwin Memorial, 2023"] ::

Sea Life Sunshine Coast is a tourist attraction in Parklyn Parade (). It is an aquarium and zoo focussing on marine creatures, including sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, seals and penguins. It includes an 80 m underwater viewing tunnel.

The Steve Irwin memorial is on the Mooloolaba Esplanade .

In popular culture

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 fifth 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.

Notable people

References

References

  1. {{cite QPN. 48768. Mooloolaba. suburb in Sunshine Coast Region
  2. {{Cite QPN. 22611. Mooloolabah Harbour. harbour in the Sunshine Coast Region
  3. {{Cite QPN. 22610. Mooloolaba Beach. beach in the Sunshine Coast Region
  4. "South East Queensland - Place Names".
  5. "Place Name Origins". [[Maroochy Shire Council]].
  6. "Our History".
  7. (7 April 1923). "NEWS FROM THE COUNTRY.". [[The Daily Mail]].
  8. (2023-06-10). "The Club History".
  9. (3 February 1933). "Place of Worship.". [[Nambour Chronicle And North Coast Advertiser]].
  10. "Queensland schools past and present". [[Queensland Family History Society]].
  11. "Parent Information Handbook".
  12. (8 December 1934). "DUKE'S VISIT TO BUDERIM". [[The Telegraph (Brisbane).
  13. (8 December 1934). "DUKE'S VISIT TO BUDERIM". [[The Telegraph (Brisbane).
  14. (10 December 1934). "REVELLED IN SURF.". [[Queensland Times]].
  15. (3 September 1954). "Church of England Stump Capping". [[Nambour Chronicle And North Coast Advertiser]].
  16. Anglican Church of Southern Queensland. "Closed Churches".
  17. (31 March 2006). "Church to look for new home".
  18. "Steve Irwin".
  19. {{Census 2016 AUS
  20. {{Census 2021 AUS
  21. (9 July 2018). "State and non-state school details". [[Queensland Government]].
  22. (2020-11-29). "Mooloolaba State School".
  23. "ACARA School Profile 2017".
  24. "ACARA School Profile 2018". [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]].
  25. (9 July 2018). "State and non-state school details". [[Queensland Government]].
  26. (2018-04-06). "Mooloolaba State School".
  27. {{Queensland Globe
  28. "Libraries: Mobile timetable".
  29. "Mooloolaba Christian Church".
  30. "Greek Orthodox Parish of the Sunshine Coast".
  31. (18 November 2020). "Marinas - Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
  32. (12 November 2020). "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
  33. "Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race". Sunshine Coast Newspaper Company.
  34. (18 November 2020). "Landmark Areas - Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
  35. "A Unique Underwater World".
  36. Stephens, Kim. (2 September 2015). "Natalie Amyot video: Marketer admits viral hoax". [[Brisbane Times]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

suburbs-of-the-sunshine-coast-regionmaroochydorebeaches-of-queensland