Mooloolaba

Located south of Maroochydore, Mooloolaba is bounded by the ocean to the north-east and the Mooloolah River and canals to the south-east. Buderim Avenue forms its northern border with Alexandra Headland, while Nicklin Way runs down the spine of the suburb.

People

According the 2016 Bureau of Statistics, 7,730 people call Mooloolaba home.  Here is a quick overview of population demographics for this suburb:

8.1%       Independent Youth

8.9%      Established Couples & Families

8.3%      Elderly Couples

1.1%        Young Families

History

According to the Sunshine Coast Council, Mooloolaba relates to the indigenous word for ‘snapper fish’ or ‘red-bellied black snake’. When European settlers started arriving in the 1860s, they called the area Mooloolah Heads. The area was used for timber-getting and farming. As river transport declined in the 1890s growth stopped. But by the 1920s residential housing was springing up. Land was regularly subdivided for housing, and when tourism started taking off in the 1960s, more significant development occurred. In the 1980s rapid growth occurred and the population rose through the 1990s and 2000s.

Median property price trends

Year                   Unit                    House

2007              $384,000             $510,000

2008             $340,000             $567,000

2009             $365,000             $551,000

2010              $410,000             $580,000

2011               $350,000             $524,275

2012              $360,000             $558,200

2013              $340,000             $548,750

2014             $390,000              $640,000

2015             $365,000              $675,000

2016             $390,000             $625,000

2017             $420,000             $710,000

Real Estate

Mooloolaba is bounded by the ocean to the north-east and Buderim Avenue to the north-west, Nicklin Way to the west and then the Mooloolah River to the south-east. It has a diverse range of properties. With the river on one side and the ocean on the other, Parkyn Parade is a busy tourist destination with holiday and owner-occupied units. In the backstreets are lots of family homes ranging from original brick and tile houses and small unit blocks to  large renovated or new homes. Around the canals you can find affordable units next to multimillion-dollar properties and by the beach and new developments and high-rises with stunning views.

Attractions

Mooloolaba is certainly the Sunshine Coast’s main beachside tourist destination with its shop and restaurant-filled esplanade, attractions such as Sealife Underwater World, the marina and wharf, and its many parks and barbecue areas. The fish market and surf club are also big drawcards for locals and toursits. Mooloolaba is home to one primary school – Mooloolaba State School and also has many offices and commercial premises.

While development in the suburb slowed after the global financial crisis, there are now cranes on the skyline again, as developers such as Walter Iezzi and Aria get building. Expect to see more development around the surf club and wharf in years to come.