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Coolum Beach, Queensland
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Coolum Beach is a beachside town and coastal suburb in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.[3][4] In the 2021 census, the suburb of Coolum Beach had a population of 9,152 people.[2]
Key Information
Geography
[edit]Coolum Beach has the following mountains (from north to south):


- Mount Peregian (Mount Emu) (26°30′24″S 153°05′12″E / 26.5068°S 153.0866°E) 71 metres (233 ft)[5][6]
- Toboggan Hill (26°32′09″S 153°05′26″E / 26.5359°S 153.0905°E) 80 metres (260 ft)[5][7]
- Eurungunder Hill (26°32′32″S 153°05′30″E / 26.5423°S 153.0918°E) 100 metres (330 ft)[5][8]
Coolum Beach has the following coastal features (from north to south):
- Peregian Beach (26°30′19″S 153°05′42″E / 26.5053°S 153.0950°E), extending south from Peregian Beach to the north-east[9]
- Coolum Beach (26°31′18″S 153°05′36″E / 26.5218°S 153.0932°E), along the mid-coastline of the suburb[9]
- Point Perry (26°32′10″S 153°05′45″E / 26.5360°S 153.0958°E)[5][10]
However, Mount Coolum (to the south of the suburb) dominates the landscape.[11]
The Yandina-Coolum Road enters from the west.[12]
History
[edit]The town's name originated from the indigenous term "gulum" or "kulum," meaning "blunt" or "headless," in reference to Mount Coolum's shape.[13]
The Coolum district encompasses the traditional land of the 'Inabara' or 'Yinneburra' clan from the Undanbi tribe, which was a subset of the larger group known as Kabi Kabi (or Gubbi Gubbi).[13]
Coolum Provisional School opened on 2 April 1917. In 1930, it became Coolum State School.[14]
In December 1923, land in the Mt Coolum Beach Estate second section went to auction, following the successful sale of portions in the first section, and one month after the official opening of the Moreton Central Sugar Mill Cane Tramway extension to Coolum. All lots were described as having an uninterrupted view of the Pacific Ocean.[15][16]
In 1931, the Coolum Beach branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association were donated a block of land and purchased the adjacent block at 7–9 Coolum Terrace (26°31′57″S 153°05′30″E / 26.5326°S 153.0917°E). In 1965, a former school building was moved onto the block which was replaced with a new building in 1990. In 2013, the CWA decided that the hall was under-utilised and that its increasing property value should be realised to support other projects.[17][18] The property was sold into private ownership on 21 September 2013 for $660,000.[19][20]
Holy Spirit Anglican Church was dedicated on 14 November 1970. It was consecrated by Archbishop Felix Arnott on 5 November 1977.[21]
Coolum State High School opened on 29 January 1985.[14]
The Coolum Library opened in 1989 with a major refurbishment in 1997.[22]
In 2002, Coolum hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, replacing the 2001 meeting that was postponed and moved from Brisbane in the wake of the September 11 attacks.[23][24]
Along with a number of other regional Australian newspapers owned by NewsCorp, the Coolum News newspaper ceased publication in June 2020.[25]
Demographics
[edit]In the 2016 census, the suburb of Coolum Beach had a population of 8,497 people.[26]
In the 2021 census, the suburb of Coolum Beach had a population of 9,152 people.[2]
Education
[edit]
Coolum State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at School Road (26°32′06″S 153°04′42″E / 26.5350°S 153.0783°E).[27][28] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 1,025 students with 69 teachers (63 full-time equivalent) and 45 non-teaching staff (28 full-time equivalent).[29] It includes a special education program.[27]
Coolum State High School is a government secondary school for boys and girls at Havana Road East (26°30′07″S 153°05′10″E / 26.5019°S 153.0862°E); the school services grades 7 through 12.[27][30] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 1,092 students with 88 teachers (84 full-time equivalent) and 34 non-teaching staff (26 full-time equivalent).[29] It includes a special education program.[27]
Despite the name, Coolum Beach Christian College is in neighbouring Yandina Creek.[31]
Amenities
[edit]The Sunshine Coast Council operates a public library at 6 Park Street.[32]
Coolum Beach Uniting Church is at 22–26 Elizabeth Street (corner of Heathfield Road, 26°31′43″S 153°05′18″E / 26.5286°S 153.0883°E).[33][34][35]
Holy Spirit Anglican Church is 25 Beach Road (corner of Perry Street, 26°31′57″S 153°05′25″E / 26.5326°S 153.0902°E).[36]
Attractions
[edit]Coolum Beach is a popular day trip and holiday destination. The town is focused around the beach, which is patrolled by life savers and offers swimming and surfing; in its day, the beach is known as one of the best breaks in Queensland. Parks, a boardwalk, esplanade shops, and the surf lifesaver club surround the beach. Over the last five years Coolum Beach has seen heavy development, with new buildings for retail business and holiday apartments.[citation needed]
Lows Lookout is a tourist attraction at the top of Grandview Drive on Toboggan Hill (26°32′07″S 153°05′27″E / 26.5352°S 153.0907°E).[37][38]
Public transport
[edit]Kinetic Sunshine Coast is contracted to Translink, which operates local buses.[citation needed]
The nearest railway station is Yandina Railway Station. From the Yanida Railway Station, there are Queensland Rail trains to Roma Street railway station in Brisbane, as well as a line to Ipswich and North Gympie.[citation needed]
Notable people
[edit]Notable people who are from or have lived in Coolum include:
- Essena O'Neill, internet celebrity who left social media[39]
- Julian Wilson, professional surfer competing in the World Surf League Men's Tour[40]
References
[edit]- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Coolum Beach (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Coolum Beach (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Coolum Beach – town in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 8151)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Coolum Beach – suburb in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 48580)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Mount Peregian – mountain in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 26448)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Toboggan Hill – mountain in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 34712)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Eurungunder Hill – mountain in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 12000)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Mountain ranges beaches and sea passages - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Point Perry – mountain in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 26481)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Noosa Walks and Trails". rwnoosaholidays.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Coolum Beach, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Coolum Town History". heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ a b Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ Mt. Coolum Beach [Estate] 2nd section, 1923, hdl:10462/deriv/253868 – via State Library of Queensland
- ^ "Advertising". Nambour Chronicle And North Coast Advertiser. Vol. XXIII, no. 1128. Queensland, Australia. 24 December 1925. p. 2. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Mackander, M. (20 April 2013). "CWA branch looking for new members to keep club alive". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ Erle, L. (16 September 2013). "Coolum hall a big hit on the international sales market". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ Garry, Mike (4 October 2013). "Former CWA hall goes for a scone". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 19 March 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "7 Coolum Terrace (former CWA Hall) - Street View" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "About Us". Coolum Anglican Church. 1 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)". Museum of Australian Democracy. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Coolum Declaration on the Commonwealth in the 21st Century: Continuity and Renewal, 2002". The Commonwealth. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Future is digital: News announces major changes". Gatton Star. 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Coolum Beach (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Coolum State School". Coolum State School. 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "Coolum State High School". Coolum State High School. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Coolum Library". Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Find a Church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "COOLUM BEACH". Mary Burnett Presbytery. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Coolum Beach Uniting Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Coolum Anglican Church". Coolum Anglican Church. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Tourist points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Lows Lookout" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Scott, Kellie (3 November 2015). "'Instafamous' teen reveals social media's ugly truth". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "About Julian Wilson". JulianWilson.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
Further reading
[edit]- Windolf, Frances; Windolf, John (2004). An island surrounded by land : the history of an earlier Coolum. Zusammen Books. ISBN 978-0-9589110-1-6.
External links
[edit]- "Coolum Beach". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
- Historical Aerial Images of Coolum Beach sourced at AeroStock
Coolum Beach, Queensland
View on GrokipediaGeography and Environment
Location and Physical Features
Coolum Beach lies in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia, approximately 120 km north of central Brisbane along the Pacific Ocean coastline.[5] Its central coordinates are roughly 26°32′S 153°04′E, positioning it within a subtropical coastal zone characterized by low-lying terrain transitioning inland to subtle elevations.[7] The locality is bordered eastward by the Coral Sea, with direct exposure to ocean swells and tides shaping its eastern boundary, while westward limits abut hinterland rises including the dominant Mount Coolum formation.[3] Mount Coolum, a key physical landmark, elevates abruptly to 208 meters above sea level as a volcanic dome remnant, primarily composed of rhyolite from approximately 26 million years ago, contrasting the flat coastal plain below.[8] This peak anchors Mount Coolum National Park, located about 6 km south of the main Coolum Beach township, encompassing the dome and surrounding slopes with steep gradients exceeding 200 meters over short horizontal distances.[9] The park's boundaries protect this monadnock-like feature, which influences local microtopography through shadow effects and runoff patterns.[10] Coastal topography includes sandy beaches backed by foredunes, with headlands such as Point Arkwright providing rocky promontories that interrupt the shoreline and foster pocket bays.[11] These dunes, formed from aeolian sands, exhibit elevations up to 10-20 meters in places, stabilizing the barrier system against erosion while hosting specialized vegetation. Predominant soils along the littoral comprise marine alluvial sands and podzolic profiles derived from weathered coastal sediments, as identified in regional surveys, supporting a narrow strip of hind dune complexes. The overall relief features minimal inland gradients beyond the mountain, with the coastal plain averaging under 5 meters elevation, punctuated by erosion-resistant outcrops and seasonal stream incisions that define the area's geomorphic framework.[8]Climate and Weather Patterns
Coolum Beach features a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with warm to hot summers, mild winters, and significant rainfall concentrated in the warmer months. Annual mean maximum temperatures average 25.5°C, with minimums at 16.0°C, based on records from the nearby Sunshine Coast Airport station (approximately 10 km south).[12] Year-round highs typically range from 25°C to 29°C, supporting consistent outdoor activities, though humidity often exceeds 70% during peak warmth.[12] Summer (December to February) sees mean maximums of 28.4–29.1°C and minimums of 20.0–21.4°C, with occasional peaks exceeding 35°C during heatwaves. Winters (June to August) are milder, with mean maximums of 21.1–22.3°C and minimums of 9.7–11.3°C, rarely dropping below 5°C. Rainfall totals approximately 1,502 mm annually, predominantly in the wet season from December to March, where monthly averages range from 155 mm in January to 218 mm in February; drier conditions prevail in winter, with July and August averaging 70–71 mm.[12] This pattern results from the region's exposure to easterly trade winds and occasional tropical moisture incursions. Weather variability includes periodic cyclones and storms during the wet season, with influences from El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles: La Niña phases typically enhance rainfall, while El Niño periods bring drier conditions. Bureau of Meteorology data indicate a warming trend in the southeast Queensland region, with average temperatures rising by about 1°C since the early 20th century, including increased frequency of days above 35°C since the 1970s, though long-term rainfall totals have shown stability amid interannual fluctuations.[13][13]Environmental Challenges and Conservation
![Mount Coolum, a focal point for conservation efforts in the region]float-right Coastal erosion at Coolum Beach arises primarily from wave action during storms and alterations to natural sediment dynamics due to urban development, such as infrastructure that interrupts longshore transport.[14] Queensland government assessments identify parts of the Sunshine Coast, including Coolum, as erosion-prone, with extreme wave heights reaching 5.31 meters during 1% annual exceedance probability events.[15] However, net longshore sediment transport rates of approximately 17,900 cubic meters per year indicate potential for localized accretion rather than overall loss in recent decades, supported by monitoring data and interventions like sand nourishment trialed nearby.[14] The Sunshine Coast Council's Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (2025-2035) addresses these risks through adaptive strategies, prioritizing soft engineering like dune vegetation over hard structures to maintain beach stability.[16] Residential and tourism development intensified since the 2010s has contributed to habitat fragmentation along Coolum's coastal zones, reducing connectivity for species reliant on heathlands and wetlands amid expanding built environments.[17] This pressure is mitigated by protections in Mount Coolum National Park, covering 363 hectares and managed for conservation of vulnerable taxa such as the eastern ground parrot and wallum sedgefrog through targeted fire regimes and pest control programs.[3] The park's 2019 management plan emphasizes restoration of key habitats, including montane heath and wetlands, as environmental offsets countering regional development impacts like nearby airport expansion.[18] Community-led efforts by groups like Coolum Coast Care, established in 2000, further support flora and fauna preservation via volunteer rehabilitation on private and public lands.[19] Indigenous sacred sites, including caves, stone arrangements, and burial grounds within Mount Coolum National Park, face threats from natural weathering and limited visitor impacts, with the entire area recognized as a Significant Aboriginal Area for the Kabi Kabi people.[18] Nearby rock art, such as hand prints at Peregian Beach overhangs, exemplifies regional cultural heritage vulnerable to environmental degradation.[4] Historical land use conflicts in the 19th century, including documented massacres in Coolum swamp lands and a 1852 incident involving five Indigenous individuals, stemmed from frontier expansion by settlers displacing local clans like the Yinneburra.[20] [21] Contemporary conservation prioritizes empirical outcomes, such as cultural site monitoring and educational signage in the national park, to safeguard these elements without unsubstantiated emphasis on past narratives.[18]History
Indigenous Peoples and Pre-Colonial Period
The Coolum Beach area formed part of the traditional territory of the Inabara (also spelled Yinneburra) clan of the Undanbi tribe, which belonged to the larger Gubbi Gubbi (alternatively Kabi Kabi) nation of southeast Queensland.[22][23] These groups maintained custodianship over coastal and hinterland landscapes, with clan boundaries delineating resource access amid a social structure involving kinship ties and occasional inter-group alliances or rivalries over territory and food surpluses.[24] Archaeological evidence from the Sunshine Coast region, including sites near Mount Coolum—a significant landmark in Kabi Kabi lore—documents prolonged Aboriginal occupation through stone tools, occupation scatters, and cultural associations predating European arrival.[4] Shell middens along nearby coastal and riverine zones, such as the Maroochy River mouth approximately 15 kilometers south, contain layered deposits of shellfish remains (predominantly pipi and rocky platform species), fish bones, and associated artifacts, indicating systematic exploitation of estuarine and marine resources over at least several thousand years.[25][26] These middens reflect adaptive strategies to tidal and seasonal variability, with discard patterns suggesting opportunistic yet repeated foraging rather than overexploitation, as population densities remained low and tied to ecological carrying capacity. The Gubbi Gubbi supplemented coastal foraging with inland excursions for periodic bunya nut (Araucaria bidwillii) harvests, joining multi-tribal gatherings in areas like the Blackall Range and Baroon Pocket, where mast years every few years yielded abundant edible nuts traded and consumed in feasts that reinforced social networks.[24][27] Hunting practices targeted kangaroos, possums, and birds using spears and fire drives, while freshwater creeks supported eel and fish traps; such methods, inferred from ethnographic parallels and site distributions, promoted patch regeneration in sclerophyll forests and heaths through mosaic burning, countering fuel buildup and facilitating access to tubers and small game amid fluctuating rainfall.[4] Inter-clan tensions occasionally arose over prime fishing grounds or feast sites, as recorded in oral traditions, underscoring resource competition in a landscape prone to droughts and cyclones.[24]European Exploration and Settlement
European surveyors under New South Wales jurisdiction first documented the name "Coolum" in 1842, derived from the Kabi Kabi Aboriginal term gulum or kulum, describing the truncated or "headless" profile of Mount Coolum.[22][28] That year, Governor George Gipps issued a proclamation designating the lands between the Mary and Maroochy Rivers—including Coolum—as a reserve to protect Indigenous bunya nut gatherings, explicitly prohibiting European pastoral or other settlement to avert conflicts over these periodic cultural events.[29] Queensland's separation from New South Wales in 1859 rescinded such restrictions, enabling timber felling—primarily red cedar—and the granting of pastoral leases in surrounding districts, though Coolum itself saw limited immediate uptake due to its remoteness and persistent Indigenous resistance.[4] These expansions fueled frontier clashes rooted in incompatible land tenure systems, exemplified by the 1852 Coolum massacre, where settlers killed local Aboriginal people at a swamp site, triggering reprisals against European holdings and dispersals by Native Police forces.[21][20] The first pastoral lease in Coolum was selected in 1871 by Grainger Ward, covering 255 hectares stocked with over 300 cattle and featuring basic huts.[30] By 1881, Mark Blasdall took up a 252-hectare lease, planting the area's initial sugarcane crop alongside timber operations, laying groundwork for small-scale farming amid ongoing sporadic violence from rival claims.[22] These holdings represented the nascent European foothold, with permanent family-based settlement emerging toward the late 19th century through incremental selections and rudimentary infrastructure.[28]20th-Century Development and Urbanization
In the early 20th century, Coolum Beach emerged as a modest seaside resort, attracting visitors through private land subdivisions that promoted basic amenities such as bathing sheds and golf links to appeal to holidaymakers from nearby areas.[5] These developments, driven by individual entrepreneurs rather than government initiatives, established the area as a seasonal destination with rudimentary infrastructure, including early surf bathing facilities supported by the formation of the Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club in 1919.[31] The permanent population remained small, hovering around 200 residents until the 1960s, sustained by agriculture and limited tourism without significant urban expansion.[5] Post-World War II interstate migration to Queensland's coastal regions, fueled by demand for affordable housing and lifestyle appeal, catalyzed rapid urbanization in Coolum Beach from the 1960s onward.[32] Private developers, such as those behind Suncoast Developments acquiring land between Coolum and Mudjimba in the early 1960s, initiated subdivisions that transformed farmland into residential lots, drawing families and retirees.[33] This era saw the proliferation of holiday shacks and basic homes, with real estate sales accelerating under figures like Eric Lloyd in the late 1960s, marking a shift from rural outpost to burgeoning suburb.[34] Infrastructure milestones, including expanded road access and resistance to sand mining on dunes, preserved beachfront appeal while enabling denser settlement.[35] The 1970s and 1980s witnessed a tourism-driven boom, with private investments in hospitality—such as hotels emerging from 1953 and peaking with the $134 million Hyatt Regency resort and golf course in 1988—elevating Coolum's profile among affluent visitors.[36][28] Upgrades to the surf club, including a new brick clubhouse in 1985 on the esplanade, supported growing beach patronage and community events, while esplanade enhancements improved pedestrian access to the shoreline.[37] These changes, propelled by investor activity and minimal regulatory barriers to coastal development, tripled the local population from the 1990s onward through sustained residential subdivisions, laying the foundation for Coolum Beach's transition to a modern urban enclave integrated into the Sunshine Coast's growth corridor.[5][38]Demographics and Society
Population Dynamics and Growth Trends
In the 2021 Australian Census, the suburb of Coolum Beach had a population of 9,152 residents.[2] This figure reflects consistent expansion within the Sunshine Coast region, with the population rising from 8,497 in the 2016 Census—a 7.7% increase over five years, or roughly 1.5% annually.[39] [2] Prior to that, the 2011 Census recorded approximately 7,905 residents, indicating a similar 7.5% growth rate in the preceding quinquennium driven primarily by net interstate migration inflows to Queensland's coastal areas. [40] Population density stood at about 335 persons per square kilometre in 2021, based on the suburb's land area of 27.3 km².[2] The age structure skewed older, with a median age of 45 years—higher than Queensland's statewide median of 38—consistent with patterns of retirees and empty-nesters relocating to coastal locales.[2] Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people represented 2.0% of the population, aligning closely with the Sunshine Coast regional average of 2.4%.[41] [42]| Census Year | Population | 5-Year Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 7,905 | - |
| 2016 | 8,497 | 7.5% |
| 2021 | 9,152 | 7.7% |
