Noosa Heads, Queensland

Noosa Heads is a coastal town and suburb of the Shire of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It is located approximately 136 kilometres (85 mi) north of Brisbane, the state's capital.

Noosa Heads
Noosa, Queensland
Noosa main beach
Population4,484 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density358.7/km2 (929/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4567
Area12.5 km2 (4.8 sq mi)
Location138 km (86 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)Shire of Noosa
State electorate(s)Noosa
Federal Division(s)Wide Bay
Localities around Noosa Heads:
Noosa North Shore Coral Sea Coral Sea
Noosaville Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Lake Weyba Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach

Geography

The Noosa River forms one boundary of the town, the headlands of the Noosa National Park another. Nearby are the suburbs of Tewantin and Noosa Junction, which create a continuous urban area at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast.

History
Beach of Noosa Heads

Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gubbi Gubbi country. The Gubbi Gubbi language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Sunshine Coast Region and Gympie Region, particularly the towns of Caloundra, Noosa Heads, Gympie and extending north towards Maryborough and south to Caboolture.[4]

The beach at Noosa Heads has remained a popular tourist attraction since the 1890s. The Shire's tourism exponentially grew shortly after the Second World War.[5]

In the 1800s, Noosa's early wealth came from the timber and milling industries with tourism developing in the late 1920s. In this decade cafes and tourist accommodation was built along the beachfront.[5] The town has been the site of many tussles between developers and those seeking to preserve the town. Since the seventies, people have continued to migrate from southern states.

In 1988, Noosa was renamed Noosa Heads.[5]

Heritage listings

Noosa Heads has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Transport

Noosa Heads is the tourist heart of Noosa district, with many restaurants and hotels. The main street is Hastings Street, which lies directly behind the seashore. Buses to elsewhere in the Sunshine Coast depart from Noosa Heads bus station.

There are dedicated bike lanes throughout the shire. Push bikes are an easy way to get around. Bike racks are provided in all shopping and beach precincts.

Motor scooter is another easy option. There are scooter parking bays on Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, and on many shopping strips.

There is a taxi rank in Hastings Street and at Noosa Fair shopping centre.

Attractions
Hastings Street (a boutique shopping street), Noosa Heads QLD
A beach on the headlands hike, coastal trail

Noosa Heads hosts a population of koalas, which are often seen in and around Noosa National Park. The koala population in Noosa is in decline.[7] Native black and grey-headed flying foxes (tree pollinators and seed dispersal agents) can be heard in local trees if they are flowering or fruiting. Micro-bat species are also common and aid in insect control.

Noosa Lions Park is an open, grassed area which used as a staging area for several large community events including the Noosa Triathlon, Noosa Food and Wine Festival, Noosa Winter Festival and Noosa Classic Car Show.[8]

To overcome severe beach erosion at Noosa's main beach a sand pumping system has been built. It operates when necessary during off peak hours, supplying sand via a pipeline built underneath the boardwalk.[9]

Local surfing spot in a cove along the Noosa headlands walk

Surfing

Noosa Heads' main attraction is its beaches. Its main beach and its small bays around the headland are common surfing locations which are known on world surfing circuits. One of its major surfing contests involves the Noosa Festival of Surfing. This festival attracts large numbers of longboarders. A fatal shark attack of a 22-year-old surfer was recorded at Noosa in 1961.[10]

Amenities

The Noosa Shire Council operates a mobile library service which visits Lanyana Way at Noosa Junction.[11]

Media

The local newspaper is the Noosa News. Along with many other regional Australian newspapers owned by NewsCorp, the newspaper ceased print editions in June 2020 and became an online-only publication from 26 June 2020.[12]

Awards

In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, Noosa was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "location".[13]

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Noosa Heads (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  2. "Noosa Heads – town (entry 24497)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  3. "Noosa Heads – suburb (entry 48808)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  4. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Gubbi Gubbi". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 141. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X.
  6. "Halse Lodge (entry 601393)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  7. (17 November 2010) Where the bloody hell are Noosa's koalas?. Brian Williams. The Courier Mail. Archived 14 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Lions Park Noosa Parade Noosa Heads". Sunshine Coast Regional Council. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  9. "Noosa Beach Erosion and Sand Recycling". Sunshine Coast Regional Council. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  10. Sydney Morning Herald 20 December 1961
  11. "Mobile Library". Noosa Shire Council. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. "Future is digital: News announces major changes". Gatton Star. 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  13. Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
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