Woombye, Queensland

Woombye is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. [2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Woombye had a population of 3,944 people.[4]

Woombye
Queensland
Eastern end of the main street
Woombye is located in Queensland
Woombye
Woombye
Coordinates26.6602°S 152.9658°E / -26.6602; 152.9658 (Woombye (town centre))
Population3,944 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)4559
Area13.8 km2 (5.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)Nicklin
Federal division(s)Fairfax
Localities around Woombye:
Burnside
Coes Creek		 Nambour
Rosemount		 Diddillibah
West Woombye Woombye Kiels Mountain
Palmwoods Chevallum Forest Glen

Geography

Woombye is located on the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of the Brisbane CBD. The name is derived from words from the local Aboriginal language - a place (wumbai) of black snake, or (wambai) black myrtle or axe handle made from black myrtle.[5]

The Bruce Highway forms the eastern boundary of the locality. The North Coast railway line runs from north to south through the western part of the locality; the town is centred around the Woombye railway station (26.6605°S 152.9628°E / -26.6605; 152.9628 (Woombye railway station)) in the west of the locality.[6][7][8]

Woombye is accessible by Translink trains and buses. There are numerous rail services departing for Brisbane daily.

The town of Woombye is surrounded by former pineapple farms, which today are acreage properties and gated communities. The first pineapple farm was owned and operated by Hugh and Alice Moorhouse, located on Moorhouse Road, which overlooks the township. The Woombye Light Horse Memorial is also named after MAJ Hugh Vardy Moorhouse (2 Feb 1903 – 11 Oct 1993).

Woombye–Montville Road exits to the south.[9]

History

The town has its roots in a settlement first known as Middle Camp, and later Cobb's Camp. It was established in 1868 as a staging depot and hotel for Cobb & Co stagecoaches at the halfway point on the road between Brisbane and Gympie, after the discovery of gold at Gympie.[10]

The town was renamed as Woombye in the 1880s.[11] The name Woombye comes from the Kabi word wambai meaning black myrtle tree, which was used for handles for axes.[2]

Cobbs Camp Provisional School opened on 17 August 1885.[12] The school was renamed Woombye State School in 1892.[12] In 1977, a preschool was added to Woombye State School.[12]

In 1891, the North Coast railway from Landsborough to Yandina was opened, and it became a rail centre until 1914.[13]

On Wednesday 19 May 1897, a stump-capping ceremony was held for an Anglican church in Woombye.[14] The church was built by volunteer labour led by Mr Kitson.[15] St Margaret's Anglican Church was dedicated on Monday 28 Mary 1898 by Bishop William Webber. The timber church could seat 100 people.[16][17][18]

Woombye Pub was opened in 1900 as The Criterion Hotel, a hotel which stands on the site as a pub.[19]

Woombye War Memorial and Memorial Park, 2010

The Woombye War Memorial was unveiled on 18 June 1925 by the Queensland Governor, Matthew Nathan.[20][21]

The Woombye branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association had formed before 1930.[22]

The Big Pineapple opened on 15 August 1971.[23]

Thrill Hill Waterslides opened in 1979.[24]

On 5 February 1979, the Christian Outreach College (Sunshine Coast) was established by the Nambour Christian Outreach Centre on a 26-acre (11 ha) pineapple farm. The church and school were later renamed Suncoast Church and Suncoast Christian College respectively. In 2004, an adjoining 16-acre (6.5 ha) pineapple farm was purchased to expand the school.[12][25]

On 29 January 1980, Nambour Christian College was established with 36 students by the families of the New Life Assembly of God Nambour church.[12] The name was changed to Nambour Christian College in 1992.[26]

Demographics

In the 2006 census, Woombye had a population of 2,094.[27]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Woombye had a population of 3,246 people.[28]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Woombye had a population of 3,944 people.[4]

Education
Woombye State School, 2023
Library, Woombye State School, 2011

Woombye State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 95 Pine Grove Road (26.6677°S 152.9738°E / -26.6677; 152.9738 (Woombye State School)).[29][30] The school has a special education program.[29] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 506 students with 41 teachers (32 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (14 full-time equivalent).[31] In 2022, the school had an enrolment of 458 students.[32]

Suncoast Christian College is a private primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at the corner of Schubert & Kiel Mountain Roads (26.6658°S 152.9777°E / -26.6658; 152.9777 (Suncoast Christian College)).[29][33] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 803 students with 67 teachers (57 full-time equivalent) and 70 non-teaching staff (42 full-time equivalent).[31] At 6 August 2021, the school had 878 students.[34]

Nambour Christian College is a private primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at McKenzie Road (26.6439°S 152.9616°E / -26.6439; 152.9616 (Nambour Christian College)).[29][35] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1,131 students with 87 teachers (80 full-time equivalent) and 95 non-teaching staff (59 full-time equivalent).[31] In December 2022, the school had 1,214 students.[36]

There are no government secondary schools in Woombye. The nearest government secondary schools are Nambour State College in neighbouring Nambour to the north and Burnside State High School in neighbouring Burnside to the north-west.[6]

Amenities

Woombye is home to one of the longest established soccer clubs on the Sunshine Coast, the Woombye Snakes.[37]

St Margaret's Anglican Church is at 16 Blackall Street (26.660617°S 152.9652°E / -26.660617; 152.9652 (St Margaret's Anglican Church)).[38][39]

Visitor attractions
Big Pineapple, 1972
Big Pineapple Music Festival, 2019

Woombye is home to The Big Pineapple, a tourist attraction which is one of Australia's big things.[40] One of its attractions is Wildlife HQ, a zoo with hundreds of animal species including a large collection of primates.[41] It hosts a number of music festivals including Big Pineapple Music Festival. The complex is at 76 Nambour Connection Road (26.6722°S 152.9911°E / -26.6722; 152.9911 (BIG PINEAPPLE THEME PARK)).[42][43]

Thrill Hill Waterslide Park is 74 Schubert Road (26.6647°S 152.9715°E / -26.6647; 152.9715 (tourist attraction)).[24][44]

Heritage listings

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

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Woombye (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. "Woombye – population centre in the Sunshine Coast Region (entry 38087)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  3. "Woombye – locality (entry 48940)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Woombye (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  5. "Place Name Origins - Maroochy Shire Council". Maroochy Shire. 2006. Archived from the original on 10 December 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2006.
  6. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  7. Woombye on the North Coast Line. Milne, Rod. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin. December 1997. pp435-441.
  8. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  9. Google (3 December 2022). "Woombye" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  10. "Woombye". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  11. "Official Items". The Telegraph. No. 4, 800. Queensland, Australia. 29 February 1888. p. 4. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  13. "Sunshine Coast Libraries - Woombye". Sunshine Coast Regional Council. 2007. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008.
  14. "New Church at Woombye". The Telegraph. No. 7, 665. Queensland, Australia. 21 May 1897. p. 4. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "Nambour". Gympie Times And Mary River Mining Gazette. Vol. XXIX, no. 3641. Queensland, Australia. 2 September 1897. p. 3. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. Blake, Thom. "St Margaret's Anglican Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  17. "History". Anglican Parish of Nambour. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  18. "OPENING OF A CHURCH AT WOOMBYE". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LIV, no. 12, 550. Queensland, Australia. 2 April 1898. p. 6. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. "Town's pub rich in history". Sunshine Coast Daily. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  20. "Woombye War Memorial". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  21. "Dedication Service". Nambour Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser (Qld. : 1922 - 1954). Qld.: National Library of Australia. 10 July 1925. p. 8. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  22. "Backward Glance – QCWA, much more than tea and scones". Sunshine Coast Council. 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  23. Bridie Jabour (17 October 2011). "Smoothing rough ends of Big Pineapple". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  24. "Thrill Hill | Waterslide | Woombye". Thrill Hill Waterslides. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  25. "College History". Suncoast Christian College. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. "History". Nambour Christian College. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  27. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Woombye (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 March 2008.
  28. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Woombye (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  29. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  30. "Woombye State School". Woombye State School. 29 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  31. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  32. "School annual report 2022" (PDF). Woombye State School. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  33. "Suncoast Christian College". Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  34. "2021 Annual Report" (PDF). Suncoast Christian College. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  35. "Nambour Christian College". Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  36. "Annual Report 2022" (PDF). Nambour Christian College. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  37. "About". Woombye Snakes. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  38. Blake, Thom. "St Margaret's Anglican Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  39. "Home". Anglican Parish of Nambour. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  40. "Big Things in Queensland Bucket List". Queensland Uncovered. Tourism and Events Queensland. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  41. "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  42. "Big Pineapple | Sunshine Coast | Queensland". Big Pineapple. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  43. "Building areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  44. "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  45. "North Coast Roadside Rest Areas (entry 602698)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  46. "The Big Pineapple (former Sunshine Plantation) (entry 602694)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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