Pinbarren, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pinbarren Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Jersey Cattle on the banks of Pinbarren Creek, circa 1931
Pinbarren Location in Queensland
Population	447 (2021 census)
• Density	27.76/km2 (71.9/sq mi)
Established	1890
Postcode(s)	4568
Area	16.1 km2 (6.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	14.6 km (9 mi) NNW of Cooroy 25.7 km (16 mi) NW of Tewantin 32.9 km (20 mi) SE of Gympie 152 km (94 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Noosa
State electorate(s)	Noosa
Federal Division(s)	Wide Bay
Localities around Pinbarren: Kin Kin Kin Kin Kin Kin Cooran Pinbarren Cootharaba Cooran Pomona Pomona

Pinbarren is a small town and area in Queensland, Australia. It's located within the Shire of Noosa. In 2021, about 447 people called Pinbarren home.

Exploring Pinbarren's Location

Pinbarren is found on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. It's about 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the centre of Noosa Heads. The town sits right at the base of a mountain called Mount Pinbarren. A creek named Six Mile Creek forms the southern edge of the area.

The main part of the town is in the south-west section of the Pinbarren area.

Mount Pinbarren National Park

Mount Pinbarren is part of the Mount Pinbarren National Park. This special park was created a long time ago, back in 1929.

A Look Back at Pinbarren's History

The new Pinbarren Bridge opened on June 3, 2024.

The name Pinbarren might have come from an Aboriginal name. It's thought to be a changed version of Pimperon, which was the Aboriginal name for the local mountain.

Early Schools and Plantings

A school called Pinbarren Creek Provisional School first opened in 1905. It later became Pinbarren Creek State School in 1909. However, this school closed its doors in 1939.

After the school closed, students from the Pomona School Forestry Club used the site. From 1939 to 1943, they planted many trees there. These included Hoop Pine, Kauri Pine, Flooded Gum, and Silky Oak trees. On October 31, 1944, the site was named the Pomona Memorial Forestry Plot. You can still see a white cross and a special plaque there today, next to the Pomona-Kin Kin Road. In 1995, the site was celebrated again as part of the Pomona High School's 50th birthday.

Another school, Pinbarren Community Christian College, opened on February 10, 2003. It was located at 298 Pomona Kin-Kin Road. This school is now closed as of 2023.

Changes in Local Government

Between 2008 and 2013, Pinbarren and the rest of the Noosa Shire were part of the Sunshine Coast Region.

The New Pinbarren Bridge

In 2022, work started on building a brand new bridge over Six Mile Creek in Pinbarren. This new bridge is made of concrete and has two lanes. It was built 3 metres (about 10 feet) higher than the old one. This helps prevent flooding. The project cost $18 million.

The new bridge replaced an older one that was built in 1934 for £2,800. The new bridge was officially opened on June 3, 2024. Important people like Sandy Bolton, the Member for Noosa, and Bruce Saunders, the Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development and Jobs, were there for the opening.

Pinbarren's Population

The number of people living in Pinbarren has changed over the years.

• In 2016, about 343 people lived in Pinbarren.
• By 2021, the population had grown to 447 people.

Learning Opportunities Near Pinbarren

There are no schools located directly within Pinbarren itself. However, students can attend schools in nearby towns.

Primary Schools

• The closest government primary schools are:
  • Cooran State School in Cooran (to the west).
  • Kin Kin State School in Kin Kin (to the north).
  • Pomona State School in Pomona (to the south).

High Schools

• The nearest government high school is Noosa District State High School.
• Its junior campus (for younger high school students) is in Pomona.
• The senior campus (for older high school students) is in Cooroy.