Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the Sunshine Coast Council area were the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from the 1850s, with land used mainly for grazing and timber-getting. Population was minimal until the 1860s, when several townships were established and agriculture, including sugar-cane growing, became more popular. Growth took place from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, spurred by the opening of the railway line between Brisbane and Gympie in 1891. Land was then used for fruit growing and dairy farming. Expansion continued during the 1920s and 1930s, aided by tourism and improved access. Significant development occurred during the post-war years, particularly from the late 1960s, with the population of the Council area increasing from about 21,000 in 1947 to about 36,000 in 1971. Rapid growth took place during the 1970s and 1980s, with the population rising to about 98,000 in 1986. The population continued to increase rapidly from the 1990s.

Land use

The Sunshine Coast Council area is a rapidly growing residential and tourist area, with substantial rural, rural-residential and parkland areas. The Council area encompasses a total land area of about 2,290 square kilometres, including significant beaches, coastline, waterways, national parks, state forests and bushland. The Council area includes coastal urban centres and inland towns. Tourism is a major industry with many resorts and holiday accommodation places. Much of the rural area is used for dairy farming, cattle grazing and crop growing.

Transport

The Sunshine Coast Council area is served by the Bruce Highway, the Sunshine Motorway, Sunshine Coast Airport and the Sunshine Coast railway line.

Major features

• Major features of the Sunshine Coast Council area include numerous National Parks (Bribie Island,
• Conondale,
• Dularcha,
• Eudlo Creek,
• Ferntree Creek,
• Glass House Mountains,
• Kondalilla,
• Mapleton,
• Mapleton Falls,
• Mooloolah River,
• Mount Coolum,
• Noosa and Triunia),
• Pumicestone Passage Marine Park,
• Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE (Maroochydore,
• Mooloolaba and Nambour Campuses),
• University of the Sunshine Coast (Sippy Downs Campus),
• Sunshine Coast Health Institute,
• Sunshine Coast University Hospital,
• Aussie World,
• Australia Zoo,
• Sunshine Castle,
• The Ginger Factory,
• Nutworks,
• SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast,
• Mooloolaba Wharf & Marina,
• Sunshine Coast Stadium,
• Lake Baroon,
• Cooloolabin Dam,
• Ewen Maddock Dam,
• The Maroochy River,
• The Mooloolah River,
• Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden,
• Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary,
• Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve,
• and numerous golf courses,
• shopping centres,
• wineries and beaches.

Included areas