# Mooloolah Valley, Queensland

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Mooloolah Valley is a rural locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Mooloolah Valley had a population of 3,629 people.
Mooloolah is a town (26°45′55″S 152°57′41″E﻿ / ﻿26.7652°S 152.9613°E﻿ / -26.7652; 152.9613﻿ (Mooloolah)) within the locality.

## Geography

Mooloolah Valley is in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, north of Landsborough on the main railway line from Brisbane with regular services southbound to Brisbane and northbound to Nambour and Gympie from Mooloolah railway station (26°45′58″S 152°57′48″E﻿ / ﻿26.7661°S 152.9633°E﻿ / -26.7661; 152.9633﻿ (Mooloolah railway station)).
The Mooloolah River forms part of the eastern boundary.

## History

The name Mooloolah comes from the Kabi language meaning either place of black snakes or place of snapper.
In early 1861 the tender of Edmund Lander was accepted, by the Commissioner for Crown Lands, for the pastoral run of Mooloolah Plains in the Wide Bay and Burnett District. A year later the lease was transferred to John Westaway.
Lander went on to select 80 acres (32 hectares) in 1869 on the main coach road between Brisbane and Gympie at the Mooloolah Bridge. On this property the Mooloolah Post Office was established in 1872.
The town of Mooloolah was surveyed in 1884 by J.E. Palisser. The locality was originally called Mooloolah but this was changed to Mooloolah Valley on 2 June 1995.
Mooloolah Provisional School opened on 6 February 1894 with an initial enrolment of 28 students under head teacher Agnes May Black. On 1 January 1909, it became Mooloolah State School.
St Thomas' Anglican Church was dedicated on 22 April 1927 by Archdeacon Glover.
Glasshouse Country Uniting Church opened its church at Beerwah on 16 December 2000. It was a result of the merger of the Glasshouse Uniting Church, Beerwah Uniting Church, Landsborough Uniting Church and Mooloolah Uniting Church.

## Demographics

In the 2016 census, Mooloolah Valley had a population of 3,321 people.
In the 2021 census, Mooloolah Valley had a population of 3,629 people.

## Heritage listings

Mooloolah has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) south of Mooloolah township: Dularcha Railway Tunnel
* Maddock Park, Mooloolah Connection Road: Ewen Maddock House Site

## Education

Mooloolah State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at King Road (26°46′08″S 152°57′30″E﻿ / ﻿26.7690°S 152.9582°E﻿ / -26.7690; 152.9582﻿ (Mooloolah State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 191 students with 16 teachers (14 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).
There are no secondary schools in Mooloolah Valley. The nearest government secondary schools are Maleny State High School in Maleny to the west, Beerwah State High School in Beerwah to the south, Chancellor State College in Sippy Downs to the north-east, and Nambour State College in Nambour to the north. Palmview State Secondary College in Palmview to the north-east is another option, but, having opened in 2023, will not offer all years of secondary schooling until 2027.

## Amenities

Mooloolah Valley Community Association is a not-for-profit organisation based at Mooloolah Community Centre, raising money, providing services and events to the local community including:
* Op Shop
* 4 Seasons Markets
* Community Assistance Program – providing practical help for residents who find themselves in difficult circumstances
* a program of community events (e.g. Emergency Services Day, Community BBQ, Christmas celebrations).
* a Men's Shed is in the development stage.
Mooloolah Public Hall was officially opened in 1905 and provides a space for community events (e.g. concerts, markets, exercise classes, clubs).
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates a mobile library service which visits Bray Road.
St Thomas' Anglican Church is at 31 Bray Road (26°45′56″S 152°57′35″E﻿ / ﻿26.7655°S 152.9596°E﻿ / -26.7655; 152.9596﻿ (St Thomas' Anglican Church)). Weekly services are held on Wednesday.