Meridan Plains is a

locality Locality may refer to: * Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England * Locality (linguistics) * Locality (settlement) * Suburbs and localities (Australia), in which a locality is a geographic subdivis ...

on the north-western edge of 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 ...

urban area in the Sunshine Coast Region,

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 , establishe ...

, Australia. Traditionally a rural area, the locality is attracting residential development from the expansion of Caloundra. In the , Meridan Plains had a population of 3,675 people.

Geography

Meridan Plains is west-northwest of

. A large portion of the western boundary follows the

Mooloolah River The Mooloolah River is a river in South East Queensland, Australia. The river rises from the eastern slopes of the Blackall Range and flows east-northeast, similar to the Maroochy River to the north. The mouth of the river is at southern Moolool ...

, while a small section aligns with the

Bruce Highway The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast on its way to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is part of the Australian Nat ...

. Caloundra Road passes through from west to south-east.

History

Queensland State Archives 1869 Westaways cattle property Meridan Plains Caloundra January 1956

Meridan Plains is named after an early pastoral property established by William and Richard Westaway circa 1870, which in turn was named using a corruption of a

Kabi language Kabi Kabi, also spelt Gabi-Gabi/Gubbi Gubbi, is a language of Queensland in Australia, formerly spoken by the Kabi Kabi people of South-east Queensland. The main dialect, Kabi Kabi, is extinct, but there are still 24 people with knowledge of t ...

word meaning ''place of kangaroos or dingoes''. Pacific Lutheran College opened on 26 September 2001. The primary campus of Meridan State College opened on 1 January 2006, junior secondary in 2008 and the senior secondary campus in 2010. On 14 June 2019 the boundaries of the localities of Bells Creek and Meridan Plains were reduce to create the new localities of

Banya Banya may refer to: Places Australia * Banya, Queensland, a locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia Bulgaria * Banya, Blagoevgrad Province, a thermal spa and mountain resort in southwest Bulgaria * Banya, Burgas P ...

, Corbould Park, Gagalba and Nirimba to accommodate future suburban growth in the Caloundra South Priority Development Area.

Education

Meridan State College is a government primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at 214 Parklands Boulevard (). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 2,711 students with 194 teachers (182 full-time equivalent) and 94 non-teaching staff (64 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program. Pacific Lutheran College is a private primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at Woodlands Boulevard (). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 948 students with 75 teachers (69 full-time equivalent) and 60 non-teaching staff (45 full-time equivalent).

References

External links

* {{Sunshine Coast Region Suburbs of the Sunshine Coast Region Caloundra Localities in Queensland