Moffat Beach is a coastal

suburb A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...

in the

Sunshine Coast Region The Sunshine Coast Region is a local government area located in the Sunshine Coast district of South East Queensland, Australia. It was created by the amalgamation in 2008 of the City of Caloundra and the Shires of Maroochy and Noosa. It cont ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. In the , Moffat Beach had a population of 2,691 people.

Geography

Moffat Beach is within the

Caloundra Caloundra ( ) is a coastal town and the southernmost town in the Sunshine Coast Region in South East Queensland, Australia. Geography Caloundra is north of the Brisbane central business district. Caloundra is accessible from Landsborough ra ...

urban centre, located directly north-east of Caloundra CBD.

History

The suburb and beach were named after James Campbell Moffat, a chemist from

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

, who acquired of coastal land at Caloundra on 18 August 1882. A year later, he built a holiday house c. 500 metres south-east of Moffat Beach on the headland which now also bears his name. The ''Queen of the Colonies''

pandanus ''Pandanus'' is a genus of monocots with some 750 accepted species. They are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. The greatest number of species are found in Madagascar and Malaysia. Common names ...

tree stood on the headland above the site where 13 passengers from the ''Queen of the Colonies'' shipwreck were cast ashore in a small boat during stormy weather in April 1863 while returning from

Moreton Island Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) is an island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay on the coast of South East Queensland, Australia. The Coral Sea lies on the east coast of the island. Moreton Island lies northeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane. ...

. In 1963, a concrete memorial was erected on the site. In 1888, Caloundra's first guesthouse "Sea Glint" opened on a ridge overlooking present-day Moffat Beach. During this time Sir Thomas McIllwraith,

Premier of Queensland The premier of Queensland is the head of government in the Australian state of Queensland. By convention the premier is the leader of the party with a parliamentary majority in the unicameral Legislative Assembly of Queensland. The premier is ap ...

, was a regular visitor to Sea Glint on the shore of Tooway Lake or Wilson's Lake as it was then known In the , Moffat Beach had a population of 2,691 people made up of 1,306 (48.5%) males and 1,385 (51.5%) females. In the , the population was 2,553 people. The median age of the Moffat Beach population is 47 years, above both the Queensland and Australian median of 38 years. 75.1% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England (5.5%) and New Zealand (3.4%). 88% of people only spoke English at home. Religious affiliations in Moffat Beach were predominantly No Religion (44.7%), Catholic (18.2%) and Anglican (12.4%).

Education

There are no schools in Moffat Beach. The nearest primary school is Caloundra State School in neighbouring

. The nearest secondary school is Caloundra State High School also in

Shopping and eating

A bakery, convenience store, doctors' surgery and post office are located at Buccleugh Street. Cafes, restaurants and takeaways as well as gift shops, an art gallery and craft brewery are located in Seaview Terrace and around the corner into Roderick Street.

Parks and recreation

Eleanor Shipley Park stretches from Tooway Lake through to the cafes of Seaview Terrace. Barbecue facilities and picnic shelters are provided, as well as a children's play area and easy access to Moffat beach. Roslin Park in Roslin Street provides a children's play area and is dog-friendly. On Moffat Beach, dogs are allowed off-leash before 8am and after 4pm. The beach itself is unpatrolled. The Des Dywer walking track is an

oceanway A greenway is usually a shared-use path along a strip of undeveloped land, in an urban or rural area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection. Greenways are frequently created out of disused railways, canal towpaths, utility ...

that runs from Moffat Beach to Bulcock beach, following the coastline on cliffs and boardwalks.

Surfing

Moffat Beach is protected from southerly winds by Moffat Headland which provides a sought-after surf break. One of Australia's longest-running surf competitions, the Pa and Ma Bendall Surfing ClassicPa and Ma Bendall
''Sunshine Coast Council.'' Accessed 14 April 2022. is held every Easter in honour of local surfing legends Charles "Pa" and Marjorie "Ma" Bendall.

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Suburbs of the Sunshine Coast Region Caloundra Beaches of Queensland