| Noosa Heads Noosa, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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 Noosa main beach | |||||||||||||||
  Noosa Heads | |||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 26°23′13″S153°05′29″E / 26.3870°S 153.0913°E /-26.3870; 153.0913 (Noosa Heads (town centre)) | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 5,120 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 393.8/km2 (1,020/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4567 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 21 m (69 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 13.0 km2 (5.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Noosa | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Noosa | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Wide Bay | ||||||||||||||
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Noosa Heads is a coastal town andsuburb in theShire of Noosa,Queensland,Australia.[2][3] It is a popular holiday destination.[4] In the2021 census, the suburb of Noosa Heads had a population of 5,120 people.[1]
The suburb is bounded to the west by Weyba Creek and theNoosa River and to the north and east by the Coral Sea. The northeast of the locality is within theNoosa National Park. Noosa Heads,Noosaville andTewantin form a continuous urban area at the northern end of theSunshine Coast.[5]
Noosa Hill in the national park is the highest point of the suburb (26°23′02″S153°06′19″E / 26.3840°S 153.1053°E /-26.3840; 153.1053 (Noosa Hill)) at 146 metres (479 ft) above sea level.[6][7] There is also Laguna Lookout (26°23′28″S153°05′45″E / 26.3910°S 153.0957°E /-26.3910; 153.0957 (Laguna Lookout)) on a low hill near the town.[8]
There are a number of headlands, lookouts, bays, and other coastal features along the Noosa Heads coastline, many of them on the coastal walking track through the national park, including (from north to south):
Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) is anAustralian Aboriginal language spoken on Gubbi Gubbi country. The Gubbi Gubbi language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of theSunshine Coast Region andGympie Region, particularly the towns ofCaloundra, Noosa Heads,Gympie and extending north towardsMaryborough and south toCaboolture.[16]
It is widely stated that name Noosa is a corruption of theKabi wordnuthuru, meaning aghost or ashadow.[2] However, that is unlikely because a 1870 map of Noosa shows the Noosa River written as Nusa River,[17] and a notice to mariners published in 3 September 1873 refers to Nusa Head and the Nusa River in Laguna Bay.[18] Nusa is the Indonesian word for island, and the Noosa River contains Makepeace Island, Sheep Island and Goat Island. "Nusa Bay, or as it is better known, Lagoona Bay" is mentioned in a 1866 newspaper article[19] and the locality of Nusa is also mentioned in a 1869 article.[20]
The beach at Noosa Heads has remained a popular tourist attraction since the 1890s. The Shire's tourism exponentially grew shortly after theSecond World War.[21]
In the 19th century, Noosa's early wealth came from the timber and milling industries, with tourism developing in the late 1920s. In that decade, cafes and tourist accommodation was built along the beachfront.[21] The town has been the site of many tussles between developers and those seeking to preserve its atmosphere.[citation needed]
Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club was founded in 1927.
A fatal shark attack of a 22-year-old surfer was recorded at Noosa in 1961.[22]
BCC Cinemas Noosa was opened in December 1985 with two projection screens. Since 1996, it has appended a total of five screens.
In 1988, Noosa was renamed Noosa Heads.[21]
In 2009 as part of theQ150 celebrations, Noosa was announced as one of theQ150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "location".[23]
Between 2008 and 2013, Noosa Heads (and the rest of the Shire of Noosa) was withinSunshine Coast Region.[24][25]
The local print newspaper was theNoosa News. Along with many other regional Australian newspapers owned byNewsCorp, the newspaper ceased print editions in June 2020 and became an online-only publication from 26 June 2020.[26]
In May 2021, Noosa was named as the top tourism town in Queensland.[4]
In the2016 census, the suburb of Noosa Heads had a population of 4,484 people.[27]
In the2021 census, the suburb of Noosa Heads had a population of 5,120 people.[1]
Noosa Heads has a number ofheritage-listed sites, including:
There are no schools in Noosa Heads. The nearest government primary and secondary schools areSunshine Beach State School andSunshine Beach State High School, both in neighbouringSunshine Beach to the east.[5]
TheNoosa Shire Council operates amobile library service which visits Lanyana Way at Noosa Junction.[29]
There are two jetties, managed by theNoosa Shire Council:
Noosa Heads hosts a population ofkoalas, which are often seen in and around Noosa National Park. The koala population in Noosa is in decline.[31] 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.[citation needed]
Noosa Lions Park is an open, grassed area which used as a staging area for several large community events including theNoosa Triathlon, Noosa Food and Wine Festival, Noosa Winter Festival and Noosa Classic Car Show.[32]
To overcome severebeach 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.[33]
Noosa Heads' main attraction is its beaches. Its main beach and its small bays around the headland are commonsurfing locations which are known on world surfing circuits. One of its major surfing contests involves theNoosa Festival of Surfing. This festival attracts large numbers oflongboarders.[citation needed]
The local newspaper is theNoosa News, an online-only publication of NewsCorp.[26]
Noosa Heads is the tourist heart of Noosa district, with many restaurants and hotels. The main street isHastings Street, which lies directly behind the seashore. Buses to elsewhere in the Sunshine Coast depart fromNoosa Heads bus station.[citation needed]. Free Tourist shuttle buses operate during the Easter & Christmas peak periods, between the towns in Noosa Shire.[34]
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.[citation needed]
Motor scooter is another option. There are scooter parking bays on Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, and on many shopping strips.[citation needed]
There is a taxi rank in Hastings Street and at Noosa Fair shopping centre.[citation needed]
This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Gubbi Gubbi".Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved23 January 2020.
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