About Maroochydore

The Sunshine Coast’s Glass House Mountains were first sighted by Captain James Cook in 1770, with the Maroochy River sighted by Andrew Petrie in 1862. The town of Maroochydore, founded in 1900, originally served as a port for the region’s large inland timber industry. Along with the Sunshine Coast’s other coastal towns, Maroochydore remained a quiet holiday location until the development boom of the 1960s and 1970s.

Aboriginal for place of the black swan, “Maroochydore” is still an area of natural beauty and wildlife even though it is facing the infrastructure and growth challenges currently experienced by the whole south-east corner. Located about one hour’s drive north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast, it is a popular tourist destination with some of Australia’s best beaches and a vibrant hospitality sector.

The local industries are dominated by the tourism service sector as well as building, fishing and other agricultural industries. There is a strong push to widen the economic base with a focus on innovative industry and education and training.

Electorate Profile

The new State seat of Maroochydore was created from the seats of Nicklin and Cooroora in 1992, with the main population centre based on the town of Maroochydore. However the Maroochydore electorate covers much more than this town – including Coolum Beach, Port Arkwright, Yaroomba, Mt Coolum, Marcoola, Mudjimba, Pacific Paradise, Twin Waters, Alexandra Headlands and Mooloolaba.

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