| Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
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Mooloolaba Beach with Alexandra Headland (at right) |
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| Population: | 7376(2006 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 4557 | ||||||||||||
| Area: | 4.0 km² (1.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Sunshine Coast Region | ||||||||||||
| County: | Canning | ||||||||||||
| Parish: | Mooloolah | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Maroochydore | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Fisher | ||||||||||||
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Mooloolaba is a suburb and tourist resort township on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. It is located 97 kilometres (60 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is part of the Maroochydore urban centre.
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Mooloolaba derives from the Aboriginal word mulu, meaning snapper fish, or mulla meaning Red-bellied Black Snake. Originally known as Mooloolah Heads, the name was changed to Mooloolaba by Thomas O'Connor in 1919 when he subdivided land for sale there.[2][3]
Mooloolaba is bounded on the east by the Coral Sea, on the south by the Mooloolah River, on the north by Alexandra Headland and to the west by Buderim. Mooloolaba Harbour (actually the mouth of the Mooloolah River) is the home of a large fleet of fishing vessels, as well as being the northern base for the pilot vessels that control shipping through Moreton Bay and the Port of Brisbane. Due to its sheltered location in the lee of Point Cartwright, it is an all-weather harbour favoured by recreational sailors.
The esplanade facing Mooloolaba beach is a centre for tourist activity, containing the UnderWater World marine park, as well as many souvenir and clothing shops, bookshops, galleries and restaurants. Behind the apartments facing the beach are camping grounds, backpacker hostels and canal villas.
Mooloolaba is serviced by coach from Brisbane, by train via Landsborough station, and by air from Sunshine Coast Airport.
Mooloolaba featured in the fourth season of the Amazing Race. Evangelist Peter Foxhall and Pastor Bill Furler pioneered an Assemblies of God church at the Mooloolaba Surf Lifesaving Club in the mid-1980s. The town was also the home of the Christian pop/rock band Newsboys, and is the fourth town mentioned in the original Australian version of the song "I've Been Everywhere".