Palmwoods, Queensland

Palmwoods Sunshine Coast,  Queensland
Margaret Street, Palmwoods, 2009
Palmwoods
Coordinates	26°41′18″S152°57′35″E / 26.6883°S 152.9597°E / -26.6883; 152.9597 (Palmwoods (town centre))
Population	6,357 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	266.0/km2 (688.9/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4555
Area	23.9 km2 (9.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	8.4 km (5 mi) S of Nambour 16.1 km (10 mi) WSW of Maroochydore 27.0 km (17 mi) NW of Caloundra 103 km (64 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Nicklin Glass House
Federal division(s)	Fisher
Localities around Palmwoods: West Woombye Woombye Woombye Hunchy Palmwoods Chevallum Montville Landers Shoot Eudlo Ilkley

Palmwoods is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. ^{[2] [3]} In the 2021 census, the locality of Palmwoods had a population of 6,357 people. ^[1]

Geography

Pineapples growing at Palmwoods, 1928

Palmwoods is part of the Sunshine Coast situated near Nambour. Palmwoods is located 15 minutes from the beach and the Blackall Range.

The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the south (Eudlo), passes through the town, and exits to the north-west (Woombye). The town is served by the Palmwoods railway station ( 26°41′19″S152°57′39″E / 26.6887°S 152.9607°E / -26.6887; 152.9607 (Palmwoods railway station) ). ^{[4] [5]}

Pineapple growing remains the most important primary industry in the area. ^[6]

Eudlo Creek National Park is in the south-east of the locality. It is a conservation site providing habitat for threatened plants and animal species. ^[7]

History

Early residents Peter and Catharine Kuskopf, 1879

The small town was previously named Merriman Flats in 1881 by the Kuskopfs who were early European settlers in the area. ^{[2] [8]}

Palmwoods Provisional School opened on 21 October 1889. On 1 January 1909, it became Palmwoods State School. A preschool was added in 1985. ^[9]

Palmwoods railway station opened in 1891 leading to the nearby town to be renamed Palmwoods after the Piccabeen Palm groves growing in the area. ^{[2] [8]}

Palmwoods Post Office opened by 1902 (a receiving office had been open from 1892). ^[10]

Palmwoods Union Church opened in 1903. It was built from timber. ^[11]

From 1915 to 1935, the Palmwoods-Buderim tramway connected Palmwoods to Buderim for the transport of passengers and goods. ^[12]

Palmwoods Presbyterian Church, 1975

Palmwoods Presbyterian Church was opened on Saturday 1 November 1924 by the Reverend James Gibson, the Moderator of the Queensland Presbyterian Assembly. Built from timber, it was the first church to open in Palmwoods. It was built using funds raised almost entirely by the local Women's Guild. ^{[13] [14]} It has subsequently closed and was demolished after 1975. ^{[15] [16]}

St Augustine of Canterbury Anglican church was opened and dedicated on Saturday 23 May 1925 by the Archbishop of Brisbane, Gerald Sharp. It was built from timber and fibro-cement at a cost of £435 and could seat 100 people. It was designed and built by Vincent Batt of Palmwoods. ^{[17] [18]}

Palmwoods Methodist Church was built from timber in 1928. It was 40 by 32 feet (12.2 by 9.8 m) with a 14-by-20-foot (4.3 by 6.1 m) vestry and a front porch. It was officially opened on Friday 2 November 1928 by Reverend Charles Columbus Truman, President of the Queensland Methodist Synod. ^[19] In 1977, it become the Palmwoods Uniting Church when the Methodist church entered into the amalgamation which formed the Uniting Church in Australia. ^[20]

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was officially opened by Monsignor James Byrne on Sunday 30 May 1926. ^[21] It was built from timber and was designed by Cavanagh & Cavanagh. It was sold in 1977. It was at 3 Briggs Street ( 26°41′07″S152°57′32″E / 26.685188°S 152.9589°E / -26.685188; 152.9589 (Immaluate Conception Catholic Church) ). ^[22]

Today Palmwoods is a vibrant historic town for its thriving heritage tourism industry. It is a time capsule and preserves its largely unchanged historic streets.

Demographics

At the 2011 census, Palmwoods had a population of 5,492. ^[23]

In the 2016 census, Palmwoods had a population of 5,676 people. ^[24]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Palmwoods had a population of 6,357 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

Palmwoods has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Palmwoods-Buderim Tramway ^[25]
• Second oldest surviving ES&A Bank and Bank Manager's residence ^[26]

Education

Palmwoods State School, 2017

Palmwoods State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 111 Palmwoods-Montville Road ( 26°41′36″S152°56′48″E / 26.6933°S 152.9467°E / -26.6933; 152.9467 (Palmwoods State School) ). ^{[27] [28] [29]} In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 495 students with 40 teachers (37 full-time equivalent) and 23 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent). ^[30] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 495 students with 44 teachers (37 full-time equivalent) and 25 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent). ^[31] It includes a special education program. ^[27]

There is no secondary school in Palmwoods. The nearest government secondary school is Nambour State College in Nambour to the north. ^[4]

Amenities

Palmwoods CWA Hall, 2020

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates a mobile library service which visits Main Street. ^[32]

The Palmwoods branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Hall at 11 Main Street. ^[33]

St Augustine of Canterbury Anglican church is at 13 Hill Street ( 26°41′16″S152°57′30″E / 26.687884°S 152.9582°E / -26.687884; 152.9582 (St Augustine of Canterbury) ). ^{[17] [34]}

Palmwoods Uniting Church is at 10 Church Street ( 26°41′20″S152°57′31″E / 26.688861°S 152.9587°E / -26.688861; 152.9587 (Palmwoods Methodist Church) ). ^{[35] [20]}

Attractions

Palmwoods is regarded for its various eating and drinking establishments. The Palmwoods Pub, built in 1902, has recently undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation, and is known for creating job opportunities for backpackers. ^[36]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Palmwoods (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Palmwoods – town in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 25926)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 December 2019.
3. "Palmwoods – locality in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 48827)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 December 2019.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 12 March 2023.
5. "Railway stations and sidings – Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
6. "When Pineapple was King". Montville History Group. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
7. "Eudlo Creek National Park - Walks, Wetlands, Map, Habitat Area, QLD". Sunshine Coast Point. 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
8. Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 134. ISBN   0-7345-1008-X.
9. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
10. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
11. Blake, Thom. "Palmwoods Union Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
12. "History of the Buderim-Palmwoods Tramway from 1911 to 1935". Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
13. "PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH". The Brisbane Courier . No. 20, 836. Queensland, Australia. 3 November 1924. p. 6. Retrieved 12 March 2023– via National Library of Australia.
14. "NEW CHURCH OPENED". Daily Mail . No. 7078. Queensland, Australia. 3 November 1924. p. 14. Retrieved 12 March 2023– via National Library of Australia.
15. Blake, Thom. "Palmwoods Presbyterian Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
16. "CHURCH OPENED". Daily Mail . No. 7249. Queensland, Australia. 25 May 1925. p. 9. Retrieved 12 March 2023– via National Library of Australia.
17. Blake, Thom. "St Augustine of Canterbury". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
18. "Church News". Nambour Chronicle And North Coast Advertiser . Vol. XXI, no. 1121. Queensland, Australia. 1 May 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 12 March 2023– via National Library of Australia.
19. "NORTH COAST DISTRICT". The Brisbane Courier . No. 22, 082. Queensland, Australia. 3 November 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 13 March 2023– via National Library of Australia.
20. Blake, Thom. "Palmwoods Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
21. "CHURCH OPENED". The Brisbane Courier . No. 21, 324. Queensland, Australia. 31 May 1926. p. 9. Retrieved 13 March 2023– via National Library of Australia.
22. Blake, Thom. "Immaluate Conception Catholic Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
23. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Palmwoods (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
24. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Palmwoods (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
25. "Palmwoods to Buderim Tramway Track Foundation and Formwork Remnants (entry 601711)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
26. "Another development threat in Palmwoods?". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
27. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
28. "Palmwoods State School". Palmwoods State School. 8 December 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
29. "Palmwoods State School". Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
30. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
31. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
32. "Libraries: Mobile timetable". Sunshine Coast Regional Council . Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
33. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
34. "St Augustine's Anglican Church – Palmwoods". anglicanchurchpalmwoods.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
35. "Palmwoods Uniting Church". Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
36. Slade, Carolyn (2010). Take a Walk Around Palmwoods. Nambour, Qld: Genealogy Sunshine Coast. pp. 61–66. ISBN   9780980353846.

External links

• "Palmwoods". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.