Sunshine Coast , Australian city located in southeastern Queensland , north of Brisbane , the state capital on the Pacific Ocean coast . With a population of 252,000, it is the tenth largest city in Australia and the third largest in the state of Queensland .
History
The Glass House Mountains , located south-west of Caloundra , were first seen by James Cook in 1770. The Sunshine Coast saw its first inhabitants in 1820, they were white: three castaways ( Finnegan , Pamphlet and Parsons ) who shared life of the locals ( Kabi Kabi ) for eight months. Later, during the 1830s to 1840s, the district became home to numerous convicts, just north of Moreton Bay .
In 1841, the Sunshine Coast and its environs were under Governor Gibbsel . From Mt Beerwah to Eumundi it was declared the ( Bunya Bunya reserve ) for the protection of the bunya tree known in Spanish as Araucaria australiana . During the 1840s and 1850s, the Bunya Bunya Reserve and its environs was the scene of some of Australia’s fiercest fighting in the Black War . In the 1850s some people and ranchers were exploiting the area and in 1860, the Bunya Bunya reserve was scrapped.
Sunshine Coast began as a port for the lumber industry during the 1860s and 1870s, as the area featured magnificent forests. In the same way, roads were built to transport wood and rivers and lakes served as sea routes. The wood boosted the area and was sold as far away as Europe .
With the arrival of the gold rush, the region grew, making it connect with better roads and railways. By the 1890s, the cultivation of various fruits and dairy replaced the cattle and timber economy of previous decades. The sugar cane and pineapple had great importance. Many small villages and towns arose at the time.
Especially after WWII , the area became a surf destination. During the 1960s and 1970s the area attracted different styles of economy such as crafts, cooperatives, spiritual centers, especially in the interior.
After the 1980s, the Sunshine Coast experienced accelerated population growth. It is now one of the fastest growing regions in Australia . As the region becomes more and more populated, the district’s small farms – especially the tropical fruit farms – have disappeared, as have most of its theme parks. On the other hand, tourism has become increasingly important.
Territorial expansion
The city occupies an area of 462.4 km2.
