Sounds like a GREAT place to live!

With the strong economy and temperate climate, the Sunshine Coast is an ideal place to live and is easily accessible from any where in the world. 

End-Less Summer

The territory invites a relaxed lifestyle with plenty of opportunities to enrich your understanding of theater, culture, art and religion as well as an exhaustive list of outdoor activities to fit any life style. 

The exceptional facilities at the Regional quality tennis facility, the 2 National Parks and the miles of pristine beaches offer a variety of outside pursuits. I have to finish now…off to go pack my bags!! 

Economic Geography

Surfers Paradise

The Sunshine Coast of Australia is a balance of rural and urban areas, with a large portion of income of the region being generated generated by catering to the tourist, retail and construction sectors. The population of Queensland from the 2011 census is an estimated 338, 429 with an expectation for that to grow exponentially in the next 20 years. The Unemployment rate is at 6.2%. The Sunshine Coast Enterprise Corridor, the main area for growth in the industrial and commerce sector stretches from Noosa to Caloundra South.

The University of the Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast Council facilitates a website that provides residents of the area with information ranging from recycling pick up day, to capital plans as well as special events that will be taking place in the area in the near future. The University of the Sunshine Coast  has created a course catalog that has a wide variety of instruction in many fields with an emphasis on research. The University has also invested heavily in the community partnering with many businesses to create beneficial relationships throughout the business sector.

Australian Currency

The Sunshine Coast offers many business incentives including lower corporate tax rates than most other Australian States. The personal tax rate is lower than all other Australian states at the rate of 4.75%. The average income is $778.21 Australian dollars. The over 50% of the employment sector is made up professional positions, technicians and tradesmen, managerial, clerical and administrative. Rent in the area is comparable to neighboring states. 

Queensland Coat of Arms

A Little History

Pineapple farm

First settled by castaways in the 1820s, the Sunshine Coast of Queensland became a haven for run away convicts. Set aside as a nature reserve, the region became entangled in the Australian war between the Aboriginals and the white settlers interested in exploiting the natural resources that abounded in the region. Originally a heavily forested region, the area experienced a growth of industry in timber, cattle and gold mining. The railroad expansion began shortly there after.  Agricultural endeavors replaced mining and timber by the middle century. Sugar cane and Pineapple farms encouraged settlement and towns began to appear. By World War II the 178.5 square mile region became and area of relaxation and recreation. On the wave of the development boom through the nineteen sixty’s and seventy’s this trend has continued through current times.

Cooktown Orchid
Queenslands flower

Industry

Tourism, retail and construction are the mainstays of the economic health although the governing businesses and politicians are aware that they need to maintain diversity in the economic sector to ensure long-term financial stability. An emphasis on sustainable and innovative technologies is recognized.

Government

Bottle Brush ~ A common Australian flower

Australia follows Britain’s Parliamentary Government procedures using a unicameral government managed by a Governor and a Premier. Queensland is a relatively conservative state when measured against the rest of the country. The Court systems consist of a Supreme Court and District Courts that oversee seventy-three local governments. 

Religion 

Predominantly Christian, Buddhism is the next most practiced religion in the area, although only by 1% of the population according to the 1995 census. 

Physical Geography of the Sunshine Coast

I have decided to do a little research on the Sunshine Coast of Australia, mostly because I would love to visit! My youngest sister and her lovely daughter Madeleine live there right now. I am hoping I can make the trek before Angel and Maddie move elsewhere!

The Sunshine Coast is located in the northern part of the Australian state of Queensland. The area is extremely diverse. The coastal region includes islands, reefs and miles of beautiful beaches. The Blackall Range creates a diverse area of farming land and rainforest.

The subtropical climate is very temperate, with the lows during the winter months of May through June never dipping far below 50 degrees. The summer months can reach up to the mid 80’s. Annual rainfall is approximately 56 inches, with December through February being the heaviest months of precipitation.