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This page is about the urban area. For its central suburb, see Caloundra (suburb). For other uses, see Caloundra (disambiguation).
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Caloundra
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Kings Beach, Caloundra (1) (cropped).jpg
King's Beach
Caloundra is located in Queensland
Caloundra
Caloundra
Location in Queensland
Population 96,305 (2021 census)
 • Density 851.5/km2 (2,205/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4551
Area 113.1 km2 (43.7 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s) Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)
  • Caloundra
  • Kawana
Federal Division(s) Fisher

Caloundra (pronounced kə-LOWN-druh) is a lively coastal town in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a popular spot for holidays and a great place to live.

In 2021, the town of Caloundra had a population of 96,305 people. It's known for its beautiful beaches and relaxed atmosphere.

Where is Caloundra Located?

Caloundra is about 90 kilometres (56 miles) north of Brisbane, Queensland's capital city. You can get there by bus, and it's not too far from the Landsborough railway station.

  • Bribie Island is a large island located just across the Pumicestone Passage to the south. This passage is a calm waterway perfect for boating.
  • Caloundra is also the northern edge of the amazing Moreton Bay Marine Park. This park protects a huge area of ocean and marine life.

A Look Back: Caloundra's History

Caloundra is on the traditional lands of the Aboriginal Gubbi Gubbi people. The name Caloundra comes from their language, Cullowundoor. It means 'place of the beech tree'.

Early European Settlement

In 1846, a man named John Clements Wickham explored the area. He named a point of land "Point Wickham". Later, this became known as Caloundra Head.

In 1875, Robert Bulcock, who was a politician, bought a large piece of land here. A town was planned in the 1870s, and land started to be sold in 1883. People soon discovered the beautiful beaches. Hotels and guest houses were built for visitors.

Real estate map of Bulcock Estate, Caloundra, 1917 (25793073054)
Real estate map of Bulcock Beach from 1917

In 1917, Robert Bulcock's son divided some of the land into smaller blocks. This area became known as Bulcock Beach, a popular spot today.

Community and Growth

The first church in Caloundra, the Methodist Church, opened in 1934. The Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) started a local group in 1937. St Andrew's Anglican Church was built in 1939.

Miriam Westaway was the first woman to be a councillor in the area. She worked hard for the community from 1961 to 1973. She was also one of the first teachers at Caloundra State School.

During World War II, Caloundra became important for Australia's defence. Radar stations and machine gun posts were set up along the beaches. Australian and US soldiers were stationed here.

After the 1950s, Caloundra grew very quickly. More people moved here, and new buildings appeared. The local council even moved its offices to Caloundra in 1968. The Caloundra Library opened in 1986.

Caloundra in the 1930s and 1950s

Caloundra's Population

Caloundra has grown a lot over the years.

  • In 1933, only 271 people lived in Caloundra.
  • By 2016, the suburb of Caloundra had 3,917 people.
  • In 2021, the larger town area of Caloundra had a population of 96,305 people.

Places of Historical Importance

Caloundra has several places that are listed for their historical importance:

What Suburbs Make Up Caloundra?

Caloundra is a large urban area made up of many different suburbs. The main centre of Caloundra is on Bulcock Street.

Caloundra Queensland 2
Panoramic view of Caloundra

The Caloundra urban area includes these suburbs:

Caloundra's Weather

Climate data for Caloundra, Queensland
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.6
(99.7)		 35.2
(95.4)		 33.8
(92.8)		 32.5
(90.5)		 29.6
(85.3)		 26.5
(79.7)		 27.0
(80.6)		 28.4
(83.1)		 33.3
(91.9)		 32.2
(90.0)		 34.6
(94.3)		 35.5
(95.9)		 37.6
(99.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27.6
(81.7)		 27.2
(81.0)		 26.4
(79.5)		 24.6
(76.3)		 22.2
(72.0)		 19.8
(67.6)		 19.3
(66.7)		 20.3
(68.5)		 22.3
(72.1)		 24.1
(75.4)		 25.4
(77.7)		 27.0
(80.6)		 23.8
(74.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21.4
(70.5)		 21.2
(70.2)		 19.9
(67.8)		 17.4
(63.3)		 14.9
(58.8)		 11.7
(53.1)		 10.8
(51.4)		 11.6
(52.9)		 13.9
(57.0)		 16.5
(61.7)		 18.5
(65.3)		 20.3
(68.5)		 16.5
(61.7)
Record low °C (°F) 15.0
(59.0)		 15.3
(59.5)		 13.4
(56.1)		 9.3
(48.7)		 6.4
(43.5)		 4.3
(39.7)		 3.3
(37.9)		 5.0
(41.0)		 6.8
(44.2)		 9.2
(48.6)		 11.7
(53.1)		 12.7
(54.9)		 3.3
(37.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 174.0
(6.85)		 202.4
(7.97)		 208.0
(8.19)		 172.9
(6.81)		 170.3
(6.70)		 102.4
(4.03)		 89.2
(3.51)		 60.8
(2.39)		 54.3
(2.14)		 81.1
(3.19)		 113.3
(4.46)		 147.4
(5.80)		 1,578.3
(62.14)
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Getting Around Caloundra

Caloundra is part of the Sunshine Coast region. The main airport for the area is Sunshine Coast Airport in Marcoola. There is also a smaller regional airport in Caloundra itself.

Buses run by Kinetic Group serve Caloundra's suburbs. You can catch buses from the Caloundra bus station to places like Kawana Waters, Maroochydore, and Landsborough.

You can also take a train from Landsborough railway station to Brisbane. Many bus companies offer services from Caloundra to Brisbane Airport.

Fun Things to Do in Caloundra

Caloundra is famous for its many beautiful beaches. They offer lots of fun activities for both locals and visitors.

Exploring Caloundra's Beaches

  • Golden Beach is a calm beach, protected by Bribie Island. It's great for swimming, windsurfing, boating, and fishing.
  • Bulcock Beach has calm water, boardwalks, and restaurants. It's right across from the top of Bribie Island. The Des Dywer walking track starts here and goes along the coast to Moffat Beach.
  • Kings Beach is the main beach in Caloundra. It has a picnic area and a playground. Lifesavers patrol Kings Beach all year round. There's also a swimming pool filled with ocean water.
  • Shelly Beach is not usually for swimming because of rough waves and rocks. But at low tide, you can find shells and cool rock pools.
  • Moffat Beach is not patrolled by lifesavers. However, Dicky Beach, just one kilometre north, has a surf lifesaving club and is patrolled all year.

Other Attractions

  • On the edge of Caloundra, you'll find Aussie World. It's a fun theme park located near the Bruce Highway.
  • Corbould Park Racetrack is home to the Sunshine Coast Turf Club. They hold important horse races, including the Sunshine Coast Guineas and the Caloundra Cup.

Community Services

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council runs a public library at 8 Omrah Avenue.

The Caloundra branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 17 Kalinga Street.

St Andrew's Anglican Church is located at 46 Upper Gay Terrace, Kings Beach.

Awards and Recognition

Caloundra has won some special awards:

  • In 2012, Caloundra won the Australian Tidy Town Award. This award recognises towns that are clean and well-kept.
  • In 2023, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council named Caloundra the Queensland Top Tourism Town. This means it's a fantastic place for tourists to visit!

Notable People from Caloundra

  • Robert Bulcock: A pastoralist (someone who owns and manages land for grazing animals) and a politician in Queensland.
  • James C. Moffat: A chemist and pastoralist.
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