Cooloola, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CooloolaQueensland |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cooloola
Location in Queensland
|
|||||||||||||||
| Population | 0 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0/km2 (0/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4580 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 474.5 km2 (183.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
|
||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Gympie Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gympie | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Wide Bay | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Cooloola is a special coastal area in Queensland, Australia. It's mostly a protected national park, meaning it's kept wild and natural. Not many people live here, making it a great place for nature and wildlife. It's part of the Gympie Region. In 2021, very few or no people lived in Cooloola.
Contents
What is Cooloola's Geography?
Cooloola is right on the coast, touching the Coral Sea. It includes a big piece of land called Double Island Point. From Double Island Point, you can find Rainbow Beach to the west and north. To the south, there's a very long beach called Teewah Beach. The north-west part of Cooloola is next to Tin Can Bay.
Amazing Ocean Life at Wolf Rock
Off the coast near Double Island Point is Wolf Rock. This underwater spot is super important for grey nurse sharks. These sharks are endangered, and Wolf Rock is a key place where they meet and have their babies. Many female and pregnant sharks have been seen there.
Protected Natural Areas
Almost all of Cooloola is a protected area. Most of it is part of the Great Sandy National Park. A smaller part on Double Island Point is called the Double Island Point Conservation Park. Because it's protected, there are not many buildings or roads. You'll mostly find places for bushwalking and camping.
How Cooloola's History Began
In 1865, a man named William Pettigrew found lots of timber (wood) in the Cooloola area. He set up a sawmill and a special railway to cut and move the timber.
Protecting the Environment
Timber cutting continued until the 1960s. Then, people wanted to start mining sand and building more things in the area. This caused a lot of protests because people worried about the damage it would do to nature. In 1975, the area was officially made a national park. It was first called Cooloola National Park, but later its name changed to the Great Sandy National Park.
Who Lives in Cooloola?
Cooloola has a very small population. In the 2011 census, it had "no people or a very low population." In 2016, there were only 3 people living there. By 2021, it was back to "no people or a very low population." This shows it's mostly a wild, natural place.
Important Heritage Sites
Cooloola has some places that are listed as heritage sites. This means they are important historical locations.
- Cooloola Tramway: This is the old railway line used for timber.
- Double Island Point Light: This is a historic lighthouse on Double Island Point.
Fun Things to Do in Cooloola
One of the best ways to explore Cooloola is by doing the Cooloola Great Walk. This is a 5-day walking track. It goes through Cooloola all the way to Rainbow Beach in the north and Noosa North Shore to the south. It's a great way to see the beautiful nature up close.
