Mudjimba is a coastal suburb 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 co ...

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, and forms part of the Maroochydore urban centre. In the , Mudjimba had a population of 2,540 people.

Geography

The suburb is bounded by Mudjimba Beach on the

Coral Sea The Coral Sea () is a marginal sea of the South Pacific off the northeast coast of Australia, and classified as an interim Australian bioregion. The Coral Sea extends down the Australian northeast coast. Most of it is protected by the Fren ...

to the east, the David Low Way to the north and north-west, and Ocean Drive to the south. There are two main residential areas in the suburb, one in the north-east beside the beach and the one along Najoor Road in the west of the suburb. The southern part of the suburb is a protected area within the Maroochy River Conservation Park. There are various small areas of marshland throughout the suburb. Mudjimba Island sits about off the coast. (). The island forms part of the suburb and is protected as part of the Maroochy River Conservation Park. The island is known as Old Woman Island, and is associated with an Aboriginal legend of two women who stranded on the island who gathered the Midyam berries as food.

History

The name ''Mudjimba'' is derived from the Kabi language word ''midyim/mudjim'' for a local plant, the Midyam (''

Austromyrtus tenuifolia ''Austromyrtus tenuifolia'' or the narrow-leaf myrtle is a species of plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family that is native to the Sydney area in eastern Australia. The habitat that it prefers is sheltered, damp situations, often found growing ...

'') bush, which has sweet white berries with green spots. The Kabi legend is that two women were stranded on Mudjimba island and gathered the berries as food. The Mudjimba Residents Association was established on 13 October 1960. The initial development of the area as a beachside suburb was under the name ''Surfrider Estate.'' Mudjimba Rural Fire Brigade was established in February 1985 with Harry Stuart the first fire warden. Mudjimba Surf Life Saving Club was founded in 1996. HMAS Brisbane

In January 2003, the

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the democratic administrative authority of the Australian state of Queensland. The Government of Queensland, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy was formed in 1859 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended f ...

decided to sink the decommissioned ''HMAS Brisbane'' off the Sunshine Coast to become an

artificial reef An artificial reef is a human-created underwater structure, typically built to promote marine life in areas with a generally featureless bottom, to control erosion, block ship passage, block the use of trawling nets, or improve surfing S ...

and dive site. On 31 July 2005 the ship was scuttled in approximately off the coast of Mudjimba in of water. The ship was filled with of concrete, and 38 small charges were detonated to breach the hull. The ship sank in two minutes and ten seconds, coming to rest with the keel embedded a metre into the seabed and facing the ocean currents, and the uppermost part of the ship below sea level. A 2009 study of the value of

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

s estimated that the wreck had contributed A$18 million to the Sunshine Coast economy. In July 2010, the

was forced to step up patrols of the wreck site because people were illegally using the dive exclusion zone as a fishing site. As part of celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the ship's scuttling,

92.7 MIX FM 92.7 Mix FM (call sign: 4SSS) is an Australian commercial radio station located on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, broadcasting as Mix FM. The station can be received in the greater Sunshine Coast area on 92.7 FM. With an adult hits format, the ...

conducted the world's first live underwater radio broadcast from the wreck on 31 July 2015. In the , Mudjimba had a population of 2,540 people.

Education

There are no schools in Mudjimba. The nearest primary school is Pacific Paradise State School in neighbouring Pacific Paradise to the west. The nearest secondary school is Maroochydore State High School in Maroochydore to the south.

Transport

Sunshine Coast Airport is located adjacent to the suburb; the Sunbus depot is near the airport.

Amenities

Mudjimba Community Hall is 41 Cottonwood Street (). The hall is operated by the Mudjimba Residents' Association and is available for hire. Mudjimba Surf Life Saving Club is at 20 Mudjimba Esplanade (). Mudjimba Rural Fire Station is at Cottonwood Street (). The brigade is operated by volunteers. North Shore Multi Sports Complex and North Shore Community Centre at 701 David Low Way (). A range of sporting and recreational activities are available. North Shore Football Club has a soccer field at 53 Nojoor Road (). Mudjimba War Memorial is at Power Memorial Park on the foreshore opposite 11 Mudjimba Esplanade (). The park also has beach access, car parking, barbeque facilities, toilets and a children's playground. The Mudjimba RSL sub-branch is at 43 Cottonwood Street (). It coordinates the annual dawn service on Anzac Day at the war memorial.

Attractions

The Mystery of Old Woman Island - Flickr - PaulBalfe

Although a buffer of coastal bushland has been maintained along the foreshore, Mudjimba Beach () can be accessed from Mudjimba Esplanade via a series of paths through the bushland. It is known as a good beach break for surfing. Mudjimba Island is also known as a surfing area but only for expert surfers; a boat is recommended to access the island. Ex-HMAS Brisbane is a dive site (). The wreck site has been colonised by

sponge Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate throug ...

s, soft corals, and hard corals, while over 200 different species of fish have been sighted in the area. It is a restricted access area requiring a dive permit. Commercial dive tours are available and can provide transport, equipment, guides and permits. A walking track through the Maroochy River Conservation Park commences at Cottonwood Street (corner Coolibah Street, . It passes through a variety of natural vegetation types and includes boardwalks and bridges to traverse the paperbark swamp. The Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park on Cottonwood Street () provides cabins and site for caravans and campers.

References

External links

* * {{Sunshine Coast Region Suburbs of the Sunshine Coast Region Maroochydore Beaches of Queensland