Bli Bli, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bli BliQueensland |
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Sunshine Castle, 2018
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 Bli Bli
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 10,138 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 337.9/km2 (875/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4560 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 30.0 km2 (11.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Sunshine Coast Region, Division 9 | ||||||||||||||
| County | Canning | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Maroochy | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Ninderry | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Fairfax | ||||||||||||||
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Bli Bli (pronounced blye-blye) is a small town and area in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. It is a rural place, meaning it has a lot of open land and natural areas. In 2021, about 10,138 people lived in Bli Bli.
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Exploring Bli Bli's Location
Bli Bli is located a few kilometres inland from the main urban area of Maroochydore. The town sits above wetlands, which were once used for growing sugarcane. Even though the sugarcane farms are mostly gone, the government has made sure these wetlands will stay as undeveloped "Green Space." This means they will remain natural areas for everyone to enjoy.
The Maroochy River is an important river that flows through Bli Bli. It enters the area from the north-east and flows towards the south-east, passing through places like Marcoola and Pacific Paradise. You can also find the Yandina-Bli Bli Road coming from the north and the Nambour–Bli Bli Road from the west.
A Look Back: Bli Bli's History
The name Bli Bli comes from the Kabi language. The word bilai means sheoak tree, which is a type of tree found in the area.
Bli Bli's first school, Bli Bli Provisional School, opened its doors on 2 April 1901. It later became Bli Bli State School in 1909. The town also had its first post office open in 1903, which closed in 1954. The current Bli Bli post office opened much later, in 1987.
One of Bli Bli's most famous landmarks is the Sunshine Castle. It first opened in March 1972 as Fairytale Castle. It was later known as the Bli Bli Castle before getting its current name, Sunshine Castle, in 2006. This castle looks like a Norman or medieval building and was built as a fun place for tourists to visit. Today, the castle has a medieval museum and is used for special events and concerts.
More recently, Good Samaritan Catholic College opened in Bli Bli in 2017, adding another school to the community.
Who Lives in Bli Bli?
Bli Bli has been growing! In 2011, about 6,283 people lived here. By 2016, the population grew to 7,801 people. The most recent count in 2021 showed that 10,138 people now call Bli Bli home. This shows that more and more families are choosing to live in this friendly town.
Places of Historical Importance
Bli Bli has a few places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites:
- 87 Willis Road: This is where the Bli Bli Public Hall is located.
- 89 Willis Road: This address is home to the former Bli Bli Presbyterian Church.
Learning in Bli Bli
Bli Bli offers several great places for students to learn:
- Bli Bli State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located on School Road (26°36′49″S 153°01′55″E / 26.6137°S 153.0319°E). In 2017, the school had over 600 students.
- Good Samaritan Catholic College is a Catholic school that teaches students from Prep all the way up to Year 12. You can find it at 185 Parklakes Drive (26°35′43″S 153°01′13″E / 26.5952°S 153.0204°E).
- Sunshine Coast Environmental Education Centre is a special centre for outdoor and environmental learning. It is located on Sports Road (26°36′23″S 153°02′58″E / 26.6065°S 153.0495°E).
Things to Do in Bli Bli
Today, Bli Bli is a popular place for families to live. It still feels like a small town, but it's very close to bigger areas. You can reach Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, Mudjimba Beach, and the Bruce Highway in just a few minutes.
If you like golf, the Maroochy River Golf Club is in Bli Bli, on David Low Way. It has 18 championship holes and a driving range where you can practice your swing.
The Sunshine Coast Region council also has a mobile library service that visits David Low Way, so you can borrow books and other materials right in town.
Bli Bli also has the Bli Bli Uniting Church at 10-12 Lefoes Road (26°36′49″S 153°02′16″E / 26.6135°S 153.0378°E). The Bli Bli branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) also meets at the Uniting Church.
