Woombye is located on the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of the Brisbane CBD. The name is derived from words from the local Aboriginal language - a place (wumbai) of black snake, or (wambai) black myrtle or axe handle made from black myrtle.
The town of Woombye is surrounded by former pineapple farms, which today are acreage properties and gated communities. The first pineapple farm was owned and operated by Hugh and Alice Moorhouse, located on Moorhouse Road, which overlooks the township. The Woombye Light Horse Memorial is also named after MAJ Hugh Vardy Moorhouse (2 Feb 1903 – 11 Oct 1993).
The town has its roots in a settlement first known as Middle Camp, and later Cobb's Camp. It was established in 1868 as a staging depot and hotel for Cobb & Costagecoaches at the halfway point on the road between Brisbane and Gympie, after the discovery of gold at Gympie.
The town was renamed as Woombye in the 1880s. The name Woombye comes from the Kabi wordwambai meaning black myrtle tree, which was used for handles for axes.
Cobbs Camp Provisional School opened on 17 August 1885. The school was renamed Woombye State School in 1892. In 1977, a preschool was added to Woombye State School.
In 1895, Thomas Davey grew the first pineapple crop in Woombye. Pineapple production increased in the 1950s, making Woombye the third largest producing area of pineapples in Queensland.
On Wednesday 19 May 1897, a stump-capping ceremony was held for an Anglican church in Woombye. The church was built by volunteer labour led by Mr Kitson. St Margaret's Anglican Church was dedicated on Monday 28 Mary 1898 by BishopWilliam Webber. The timber church could seat 100 people.
Woombye Pub was opened in 1900 as The Criterion Hotel, a hotel which stands on the site as a pub.
On 5 February 1979, the Christian Outreach College (Sunshine Coast) was established by the Nambour Christian Outreach Centre on a 26-acre (11 ha) pineapple farm. The church and school were later renamed Suncoast Church and Suncoast Christian College respectively. In 2004, an adjoining 16-acre (6.5 ha) pineapple farm was purchased to expand the school.
On 29 January 1980, Nambour Christian College was established with 36 students by the families of the New Life Assembly of God Nambour church. The name was changed to Nambour Christian College in 1992.
Demographics
In the 2006 census, the locality of Woombye had a population of 2,094 people.
In the 2016 census, the locality of Woombye had a population of 3,246 people.
In the 2021 census, the locality of Woombye had a population of 3,944 people.
Education
Woombye State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 95 Pine Grove Road (26°40′04″S152°58′26″E / 26.6677°S 152.9738°E / -26.6677; 152.9738 (Woombye State School)). The school has a special education program. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 506 students with 41 teachers (32 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (14 full-time equivalent). In 2022, the school had an enrolment of 458 students.
Suncoast Christian College is a private primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at the corner of Schubert & Kiel Mountain Roads (26°39′57″S152°58′40″E / 26.6658°S 152.9777°E / -26.6658; 152.9777 (Suncoast Christian College)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 803 students with 67 teachers (57 full-time equivalent) and 70 non-teaching staff (42 full-time equivalent). At 6 August 2021, the school had 878 students.
Nambour Christian College is a private primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at McKenzie Road (26°38′38″S152°57′42″E / 26.6439°S 152.9616°E / -26.6439; 152.9616 (Nambour Christian College)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1,131 students with 87 teachers (80 full-time equivalent) and 95 non-teaching staff (59 full-time equivalent). In December 2022, the school had 1,214 students.
There are no government secondary schools in Woombye. The nearest government secondary schools are Nambour State College in neighbouring Nambour to the north and Burnside State High School in neighbouring Burnside to the north-west.
Amenities
Woombye is home to one of the longest established soccer clubs on the Sunshine Coast, the Woombye Snakes.
Woombye is a convenient town for its relaxed atmosphere and picture-perfect town centre with quaint old shops and historic pub. The town is set within fringes of hilly forest and encompasses mountainous views of the Blackall Ranges.
^"Woombye". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
^"Official Items". The Telegraph. No. 4, 800. Queensland, Australia. 29 February 1888. p. 4. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"New Church at Woombye". The Telegraph. No. 7, 665. Queensland, Australia. 21 May 1897. p. 4. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"College History". Suncoast Christian College. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"History". Nambour Christian College. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.