Caloundra (suburb)

Caloundra is a coastal suburb and the central business district of the town of Caloundra in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the, the suburb of Caloundra had a population of 3,932 people.

Geography
Bulcock Street is the central business district of the Caloundra urban centre.

In the south of the suburb is a headland (Deep Water Point at -26.80944°N, 153.13472°W) and a sandy beach (Bulcock Beach at -26.80694°N, 153.13194°W) which face the Coral Sea with the northern tip of Bribie Island about 200 m away. Bulcock Beach is named after Robert Bulcock, who served in both the Queensland Legislative Assembly and the Queensland Legislative Council and was a resident of Caloundra in 1878.

History
The suburb takes its name from the headland Caloundra Head (in the neighbouring suburb of Kings Beach), which in turn comes from the Kabi language words "kal/owen" meaning beech tree (Gmelina leichhardtii) and "dha" meaning place.

In 1883 the first allotments of land in Caloundra were advertised for public auction on 28 August 1883. The map states 'the land is of a sandstone nature, undulating and ridgy, heavily timbered with Gum, Bloodwood, Tea-tree and Oak'. A 1907 map shows several sections from George Street to Ernest St advertised for auction on 7 January 1907 by the Government Land Office.

404 allotments of 'Bulcock Estate' were advertised for auction on 16 August 1917 by Isle, Love and Co, auctioneers, with an edge of the Estate mapped as adjacent to Tripcony's store and the Tramway terminus.

In 1919, 29 subdivided allotments of 'Caloundra Heads Estate' were advertised to be auctioned on 20 December 1919 by Cameron Bros. in Brisbane. A map advertising the auction shows the majority of blocks were on Albert Street between King Street and King's Beach. Another undated map shows more blocks of this estate were advertised for auction on King Street towards Ernest Street.

Caloundra Provisional School opened on 8 March 1899 and became Caloundra State School on 1 June 1912.

Caloundra State High School opened on 23 January 1967.

Our Lady of the Rosary School opened on 29 January 1980 by the Roman Catholic teaching order, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

The Sir Francis Nicklin Memorial Uniting Church was officially opened on Saturday 20 September 1980 by Mike Ahern, the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Landsborough. It commemorates former Queensland Premier, Frank Nicklin, who was previously the Member for Landsborough.

Caloundra Christian College opened on 2 February 1983 by the Caloundra CityLife Baptist Church, which meets for worship at the college.

Demographics
In the, the suburb of Caloundra had a population of 3,917 people.

In the, the suburb of Caloundra had a population of 3,932 people.

Heritage listings
The suburb of Caloundra has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
 * Bowman Road: Tripcony Hibiscus Caravan Park

Education
Caloundra State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 56A Queen Street (-26.7971°N, 153.135°W). It includes a special education program. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 608 students with 45 teachers (36 full-time equivalent) and 25 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent). In 2022, the school had 520 students.

Our Lady of the Rosary School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at Alfred Street (-26.7972°N, 153.1437°W). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 313 students with 22 teachers (19 full-time equivalent) and 14 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent). In 2022, the school had 348 students with 24 teachers (19.1 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (12.8 full-time equivalent).

Caloundra Christian College is a private primary and secondary (Prep–12) school for boys and girls at 7 Gregson Place (-26.7997°N, 153.1184°W). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 330 students with 31 teachers (27 full-time equivalent) and 25 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent). In 2021, the school had 426 students with 25 full-time teachers and 9 part-time teachers and 11 full-time, 32 part-time and 21 casual, non-teaching staff.

Caloundra State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 88 Queen Street (-26.7938°N, 153.1255°W). It includes a special education program. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1,209 students with 95 teachers (84 full-time equivalent) and 47 non-teaching staff (33 full-time equivalent). In 2022, the school had 1,422 students with 109 teachers (98 full-time equivalent) and 55 non-teaching staff (41 full-time equivalent).

Caloundra is also home to a campus of the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE.

Amenities
Caloundra Uniting Church is at 56c Queen Street (-26.7945°N, 153.1312°W). It is also known as the Sir Francis Nicklin Memorial Uniting Church.

Shopping

 * Stockland Caloundra
 * Caloundra Village Shopping Centre

Parks and recreation

 * Ben Bennett Botanical Park
 * Bicentennial Park
 * (patrolled by Ithaca–Caloundra City Life Saving Club) and Clarke Place Park
 * Central Park (includes Caloundra Tennis Centre, which hosts the Caloundra International)
 * Lighthouse Park
 * Roy Henzell Park

Other facilities

 * Caloundra Hospital
 * Caloundra bus station
 * Caloundra Golf Club
 * Council service centre for Sunshine Coast Region
 * A range of accommodation from backpackers to resort hotels