Currimundi
Caloundra, Queensland
Lake Currimundi and beach, 2016
Currimundi is located in Queensland
Currimundi
Currimundi
Coordinates26°45′57″S 153°07′20″E / 26.7658°S 153.1222°E / -26.7658; 153.1222 (Currimundi (centre of suburb))
Population6,786 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density1,885/km2 (4,880/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4551
Area3.6 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Sunshine Coast Region
CountyCanning
ParishBribie
State electorate(s)Kawana
Federal division(s)Fisher
Suburbs around Currimundi:
Birtinya Wurtulla Coral Sea
Meridan Plains Currimundi Coral Sea
Little Mountain Aroona
Battery Hill		 Dicky Beach

Currimundi is a coastal suburb of Caloundra in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Currimundi had a population of 6,786 people.[1]

The area is noted for its diverse environment and is one of Queensland's top five ecotourism destinations.[3]

Geography

Currimundi is located on the northern boundary of the Caloundra area.[4]

Currimundi Lake is a saltwater lake situated beside Currimundi Beach. North of the lake is the Kathleen McArthur Conservation Park. Nicklin Way, the main road between Caloundra and Maroochydore, crosses Ahern Bridge over Currimundi Lake. The Ahern Bridge was named after John Ahern, a firefighter who saved many lives and won a bravery award. Currimundi attracts many tourists in the holidays and the beach is patrolled by Surf Life Saving Australia on weekends and school holidays.[5]

The shopping centre at Currimundi is called the Currimundi Markets.[6]

History

Prior to the colonisation of Australia, Currimundi was the traditional home of the Kabi Kabi peoples.[7]

It was named by Queensland Governor Sir Leslie Wilson, in which he used the local Aboriginal name for the area, Garamandah or Girramundi, meaning "place of flying foxes".[8]

During World War II, Currimundi Lake and the beach areas to its north were used for defence purposes and artillery practice.[9]

In the 2016 census, Currimundi had a population of 6,786 people.[1]

Education

Currimundi State School (opened 24 January 1977) is a government primary (Prep to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 17 Buderim Street (26°46′39″S 153°08′08″E / 26.7776°S 153.1355°E / -26.7776; 153.1355 (Currimundi State School)).[10][11][12][13] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 579 students with 48 teachers (38 full-time equivalent) and 26 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent).[14] It includes a special education program.[12]

Talara Primary College (opened 22 January 1998) is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Talara Street (26°46′21″S 153°07′04″E / 26.7724°S 153.1179°E / -26.7724; 153.1179 (Talara Primary College)).[10][11][12][15] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 1,132 students with 79 teachers (69 full-time equivalent) and 47 non-teaching staff (31 full-time equivalent).[14] It includes a special education program.[12][16]

The nearest government secondary schools are Caloundra State High School, Kawana Waters State College and Meridan State College.

Environment and Ecotourism

Currimundi is noted for its natural beauty[4] and is home to the Currimundi Lake (Kathleen McArthur) Conservation Park which is a popular location for bushwalks.[17]

The area has a high degree of biodiversity and includes coastal heath, open forest, woodland, low closed forest with rainforest species, sedgeland and casuarina dune plant communities.[17]

Currimundi Lake is recognised by the Sunshine Coast Region Council as an important coastal asset for both the community and the local wildlife, and so regular maintenance is undertaken in order to protect waterways and manage erosion.[18] Furthermore two local community groups, Currimundi Catchment Care Group Inc and Friends of Currimundi Lake work in cooperation and with the Sunshine Coast Council to improve the Currimundi Catchment and care for the environment.[19]

In 2004 Currimundi won the annual "Queensland's Cleanest Beach" award.[4]

In 2023 Currimundi Lake was identified as one of Queensland's top five 'ecotourism' destinations, having experienced a 325% increase in visitors post the COVID-19 Pandemic.[3]

The lake features in a children's book, The Oobleegooblers of Lake Curramundi by Kath Dewhurst, published in 1977, which is based on a local Aboriginal story.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Currimundi (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Currimundi – suburb in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 49519)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Queensland's top five ecotourism destinations". Enlighten. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Currimundi". Queensland. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Currimundi" Archived 5 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Surf Life Saving Australia Beachsafe
  6. ↑ "Currimundi Markets". Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to Country & Traditional Acknowledgement". www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Flying foxes" Archived 13 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine by Kate Winter, Sunshine Coast Council
  9. ↑ "Currimundi | Queensland Places". queenslandplaces.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  10. 1 2 Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  11. 1 2 "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  13. ↑ "Currimundi State School". Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  14. 1 2 "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Talara Primary College". Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  16. ↑ "Talara Primary College – Special Education Program". Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  17. 1 2 "Currimundi Lake (Kathleen McArthur) Conservation Park". Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  18. ↑ "Currimundi lake maintenance". www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Currimundi Catchment – Maintaining healthy waterways". currimundicatchment.org.au. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  20. ↑ Dewhurst, Kath (1977). The Oobleegooblers of Lake Curramundi. illustrated by Edwin Rush. Sydney: Whitcombe & Tombs. ISBN 9780723352952. OCLC 27529019.; "Catalogue record: The Oobleegooblers of Lake Curramundi". State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
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  • "Currimundi". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
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