Marcoola, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MarcoolaQueensland |
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Marcoola Beach
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 Marcoola
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 3,355 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 244.9/km2 (634/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4564 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 13.7 km2 (5.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Sunshine Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) |
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| Federal Division(s) | Fairfax | ||||||||||||||
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Marcoola is a cool coastal town in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a mix of town life and natural areas. The Sunshine Coast Airport is also located here. In 2021, about 3,355 people lived in Marcoola.
Contents
Exploring Marcoola's Location
Marcoola is bordered by the Coral Sea to the east. This means it has a long, sandy beach called Marcoola Beach. To the west, you'll find the Maroochy River. This river is an important part of the local environment.
The Sunshine Coast Airport is in the southern part of Marcoola. It's a busy place for travel!
Natural Parks and Green Spaces
You can find parts of Mount Coolum National Park within Marcoola. There's one section in the north and another in the south. The Maroochy Wetlands Conservation Park is also here. It's a special area next to the river.
Getting Around Marcoola
The Sunshine Motorway passes through Marcoola. It helps people travel north and south, but it doesn't have exits directly into the town. The David Low Way is the main road for getting into Marcoola. It runs along the coast.
What the Land is Used For
Marcoola has different types of land use. Near the beach, you'll see homes and holiday resorts. The western part of Marcoola is mostly farmland. Farmers grow crops like sugarcane there. There are also areas for businesses and factories near the airport. Plus, there are important national parks and conservation areas.
Marcoola's Past: A Brief History
The name Marcoola was created by combining parts of two nearby towns: Maroochydore and Coolum.
The Airport's Story
The airport in Marcoola first opened on August 12, 1961. Back then, it was called Maroochy Airport. Later, in 1997, its name was officially changed to the Sunshine Coast Airport.
The Surf Life Saving Club
The Marcoola Beach Surf Lifesaving Club started in 1969. It began with a group of young boys called "nippers." The first clubhouse was built in 1970. In 1979, a group for young girls, called "nipperettes," was introduced. At first, women weren't allowed in surf life saving clubs. But by 1980, women could join at all levels! The club's current two-story building opened in 1984.
A Coastal Event
In March 2009, a ship spilled oil off the coast of Brisbane. This oil reached the Marcoola coastline and other areas. It caused a lot of environmental damage.
Who Lives in Marcoola?
In 2021, Marcoola had a population of 3,355 people. About 50.6% were male and 49.4% were female. The average age of people living there was 45 years old. Also, 2.9% of the population identified as Indigenous.
Learning in Marcoola
There aren't any schools directly in Marcoola. Kids usually go to primary schools in nearby Pacific Paradise or Coolum Beach. For high school, students attend Maroochydore State High School in Maroochydore or Coolum State High School in Coolum Beach.
Community Life and Fun
The Marcoola Surf Life Saving Club is a very important part of the community. Volunteers from the club patrol the local beaches. They make sure everyone can swim safely. The club also has dining areas. The money from these helps support their life saving services.
Marcoola's Amazing Environment
Marcoola is home to many different plants and animals.
Plants of Marcoola
You can find different types of trees here, like paperbark forests. There are also special Banksia aemula (Wallum Banksia) woodlands. A very rare plant called the Mount Emu she-oak also grows in this area.
Animals of Marcoola
Marcoola is a key habitat for ground parrots. These birds are seen regularly here. It's believed that a group of 15 to 19 ground parrots live in Marcoola. This makes it the largest group on the Sunshine Coast, which is very important for the species! Many other types of birds also live in the area.
The region is also home to special frogs. These include acid frogs, the 'vulnerable' wallum froglet, wallum sedge frog, and wallum rocketfrog. These frogs rely on the area for breeding and feeding.
Protecting the Environment
The natural areas in Marcoola help keep the Maroochy River clean. They filter out pollution and help control floods. These areas are also super important for wildlife. They provide safe homes for many different species.
The Marcoola coastal area is part of Australia's Temperate East Marine Region. It includes several 'nationally important wetlands' and 'protected area' locations. This means these places are officially recognized as vital for nature.
