Nambour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids NambourSunshine Coast, Queensland |
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Nambour's Sunshine Coast Regional Council offices
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 Nambour
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 12,145 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1,065/km2 (2,760/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1870 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4560 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 36 m (118 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 11.4 km2 (4.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Sunshine Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Nicklin | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Fairfax | ||||||||||||||
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Nambour is a town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It's a rural area located in the beautiful hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. In 2021, about 12,145 people lived in Nambour. It's known for its history and its connection to the sugar industry.
Contents
- Nambour's Location
- What Does "Nambour" Mean?
- Nambour's Past
- Who Lives in Nambour?
- Historic Places
- Nambour's Economy
- Schools in Nambour
- Local Services
- Things to Do in Nambour
- Sports in Nambour
- Fun Places to Visit
- Events in Nambour
- Getting Around Nambour
- Nambour's Weather
- Famous People from Nambour
- See also
Nambour's Location
Nambour is about 101 kilometers (63 miles) north of Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland. The town sits at the bottom of the Blackall Range. It used to be the main administrative center for the Maroochy Shire. Now, it's an important center for the wider Sunshine Coast Region. Nearby suburbs include Burnside, Coes Creek, and Perwillowen. Roads like Nambour–Mapleton Road and Nambour–Bli Bli Road connect Nambour to other areas.
What Does "Nambour" Mean?
The name "Nambour" comes from an Aboriginal word, "naamba." This word refers to a type of red-flowering plant called the bottle brush (Callistemon viminalis).
Nambour's Past
Nambour's history began around 1862 when Tom Petrie and local Aboriginal people started a logging camp. They worked together to cut down cedar trees and transport them. The first permanent European settlement in the Nambour area began in 1870. Back then, the town was called Petrie's Creek.
Early Developments
The first school, Maroochy Provisional School, opened in 1879. It was later renamed Nambour Provisional School in 1891 and became Nambour State School in 1897. A post office also opened in 1888.
In 1891, the North Coast railway to Brisbane was finished. When the railway opened, Petrie's Creek was officially renamed "Nambour."
Sugar Mill and Tramway
The Moreton Central Sugar Mill Cane Tramway was built starting in 1897. This tramway was used to carry both passengers and sugar cane. It stopped operating at the end of 2001. You can still see parts of the old track and signal lights in central Nambour today. The sugar mill itself was a very important part of Nambour's economy for many years.
Community Buildings and Services
St Joseph's Catholic Church opened in 1893. The Nambour Baptist Church also opened in 1914. A big fire in 1924 destroyed many of the wooden buildings on the main street.
The Nambour Hospital, originally called Maroochy District Hospital, opened in 1930. It was renamed Nambour General Hospital in 1958. Many of its services moved to the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital in 2017.
The Nambour Public Library opened in 1982. The Nambour & District Historical Museum, also known as the Nambour Museum, opened in 1996.
Who Lives in Nambour?
In 2021, Nambour had a population of 12,145 people. About 4.4% of the people living in Nambour are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Most people (77.1%) were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include England and New Zealand. Most people (87.7%) speak only English at home.
Historic Places
Nambour has several places listed for their historical importance:
- Mill Street, Currie Street, Howard Street: The Moreton Central Sugar Mill Cane Tramway
- 17 & 19 Mill Street, and 14 & 16 Bury Street: Former Moreton Central Sugar Mill Worker's Housing
Another important historical site is the Tramway Lift Bridge over Maroochy River at Store Road, Maroochy River.
Nambour's Economy
For a long time, Nambour's main industry was sugar. There were many sugar cane fields around the town, and the Moreton Central Sugar Mill was right in the town center. The mill operated from 1897 until it closed in 2003.
Now, some former cane farms are used for cattle grazing or turf farms. Other important industries in the area include tourism and growing tropical fruits. The Queensland Government's Maroochy Research Station is also nearby. It's a big center for researching subtropical fruits and nuts.
Schools in Nambour
Nambour has several schools for different age groups:
- Nambour State College is a government school for students from Prep (kindergarten) to Year 12. It also has special education and Intensive English programs.
- St Joseph's Primary School is a Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6.
- The Nambour campus of OneSchool Global is a private school for students from Year 3 to Year 12.
Other schools in the Nambour area include:
- In Burnside: Burnside State School, Burnside State High School, Nambour Special School, and St John's College (Catholic secondary). The Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE also has its largest campus here.
- In Kureelpa: Blackall Range Independent School.
- In Woombye: Woombye State School, Nambour Christian College, and Suncoast Christian College.
Local Services
Utilities
Energex provides electricity to Nambour residents. Water services are provided by Unity Water, which is partly owned by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
Media
The local daily newspaper is the Sunshine Coast Daily. There is also a weekly newspaper called the Nambour Weekly. Nambour can also receive television channels from Brisbane.
Things to Do in Nambour
The Nambour Civic Centre is a place for arts and entertainment, including movies, music, and theatre shows. The Nambour Lind Lane Theatre is another venue for live plays.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council runs a public library in Nambour. The Nambour branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association also has a building where they meet.
For shopping, Nambour has Nambour Plaza, Nambour Mill Village Shopping Centre, and Centenary Square Shopping Centre. Nambour also has many parks, covering about 9% of its total area.
Sports in Nambour
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Nambour has many sports clubs for different activities:
- Football (Soccer): Nambour-Yandina United Football Club and the Nambour Wildcats Soccer Club.
- Tennis: Nambour and District Tennis Association and Nambas Tennis Club.
- Golf: Nambour Golf Club.
- Rugby League: The Nambour Crushers Rugby League Club has teams for all ages.
- Rugby Union: The Nambour Rugby Union Club, known as the "Toads," has senior and junior teams.
- Netball: The Nambour and Districts Netball Association includes clubs from nearby towns.
- Cricket: Nambour Cricket Club has played at the Nambour showgrounds since the 1890s.
The Nambour Aquatic Centre in Petrie Park has heated pools and offers swimming lessons and other activities.
Fun Places to Visit
The Big Pineapple is a famous tourist attraction on the edge of town. It's a giant pineapple structure that reflects the area's history with fruit growing. Other attractions include Thrill Hill Waterslide Park and the Big Macadamia nut.
Events in Nambour
Nambour hosts several exciting events:
- The Big Pineapple Music Festival: This event brings many visitors to Nambour for live music.
- Nambour Originals: An outdoor community event with live music, held at Quota Park Amphitheatre. It's a picnic-style event with activities for kids.
- The Nambour Festival: This festival showcases local musicians, entertainers, cooking demonstrations, and local produce. It also has many activities for children and market stalls.
- The Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show: This big three-day show features agricultural displays, community events, and entertainment.
- The Queensland Home Garden Expo: A large gardening event held at the Nambour Showgrounds.
Getting Around Nambour
Nambour is part of the TransLink Transit Authority network, which manages public transport in South-East Queensland.
Trains
Nambour is serviced by Queensland Rail passenger trains, including the Tilt Train. You can travel to Brisbane from Nambour railway station on the Sunshine Coast line. The journey to Brisbane takes about an hour and a half.
Roads
The region is connected to Brisbane by the Bruce Highway, which is part of the M1 motorway.
Buses
Greyhound Australia offers daily bus services to Brisbane. Local bus services are run by Kinetic Group, with routes connecting Nambour to places like Noosa and the Sunshine Coast.
Airports
Sunshine Coast Airport is about 25 minutes east of Nambour by car. Brisbane Airport is about an hour and ten minutes south of Nambour by car.
Nambour's Weather
Nambour has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, wet summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for Nambour (26º38'24"S, 152º56'24"E, 33 m AMSL) (1952-2007 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 40.8 (105.4) |
40.5 (104.9) |
37.5 (99.5) |
34.5 (94.1) |
30.6 (87.1) |
28.6 (83.5) |
28.7 (83.7) |
32.0 (89.6) |
35.4 (95.7) |
39.9 (103.8) |
40.5 (104.9) |
40.5 (104.9) |
40.8 (105.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.3 (84.7) |
28.8 (83.8) |
27.9 (82.2) |
26.2 (79.2) |
23.7 (74.7) |
21.6 (70.9) |
21.1 (70.0) |
22.5 (72.5) |
24.8 (76.6) |
26.7 (80.1) |
27.9 (82.2) |
29.1 (84.4) |
25.8 (78.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) |
19.6 (67.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
9.2 (48.6) |
7.6 (45.7) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.2 (61.2) |
18.0 (64.4) |
14.0 (57.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 12.0 (53.6) |
11.9 (53.4) |
10.0 (50.0) |
5.8 (42.4) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
0.3 (32.5) |
2.2 (36.0) |
5.4 (41.7) |
5.9 (42.6) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 229.5 (9.04) |
259.1 (10.20) |
227.9 (8.97) |
143.7 (5.66) |
135.5 (5.33) |
87.9 (3.46) |
82.6 (3.25) |
59.8 (2.35) |
49.2 (1.94) |
104.0 (4.09) |
137.9 (5.43) |
174.4 (6.87) |
1,693.9 (66.69) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.1 | 12.8 | 13.3 | 9.8 | 9.0 | 6.3 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 8.9 | 9.9 | 104.9 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 65 | 67 | 67 | 64 | 61 | 57 | 52 | 50 | 50 | 57 | 59 | 63 | 59 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 20.1 (68.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
19.1 (66.4) |
16.5 (61.7) |
13.8 (56.8) |
10.8 (51.4) |
9.0 (48.2) |
9.2 (48.6) |
11.1 (52.0) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.6 (61.9) |
18.8 (65.8) |
15.0 (59.0) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 204.6 | 158.2 | 198.4 | 219.0 | 204.6 | 201.0 | 223.2 | 241.8 | 246.0 | 232.5 | 237.0 | 226.3 | 2,592.6 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 48 | 43 | 52 | 64 | 61 | 64 | 68 | 70 | 69 | 59 | 59 | 53 | 59 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1953-2007 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
Famous People from Nambour
Many well-known people have connections to Nambour:
Entertainment
- Sam Atwell, actor
- Mike Chapman, record producer and songwriter
- Jon Coghill, drummer for the band Powderfinger
- Judith Durham, lead singer for The Seekers
- Benjamin Law, writer and comedian
- Ivan Sen, filmmaker
Sport
- Scott Anderson, rugby league player
- Ian Baker-Finch, 1991 British Open golf winner
- Lee Carseldine, cricketer
- Larissa Crummer, soccer player for Australia
- Jake Friend, rugby league player
- Angela Kennedy, Olympic swimmer
- Rhys Magin, Australian rules footballer
- Reed Mahoney, rugby league player
- Casey McGuire, rugby league player
- Ashley Noffke, cricketer
- Joel Parkinson, surfer
- Pat Rafter, tennis player (he won a junior championship in Nambour)
- Clint Robinson, canoeist
- Billy Slater, rugby league player
- Tia-Clair Toomey, 6-time CrossFit Games champion
- Sharni Webb, Australian rules footballer
Other Notable People
- Max Gaylard, a high-ranking official at the United Nations
- Daniel Keighran, awarded Australia's highest military honor, the Victoria Cross
- Michael Wesley, a university leader and policy expert
See also
In Spanish: Nambour para niños
