Caloundra is a coastal suburb and also the central suburb of the town of Caloundra in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the, the suburb of Caloundra had a population of 3,917 people.
The suburb takes its name from the headland Caloundra Head, which in turn comes from the Kabi language words "kal/owen" meaning beech tree and "dha" meaning place. In 1883 the first allotments of land in Caloundra were advertised for public auction on 28 August 1883. The map states 'the land is of a sandstone nature, undulating and ridgy, heavily timbered with Gum, Bloodwood, Tea-tree and Oak'. A 1907 map shows several sections from George Street to Ernest St advertised for auction on 7 January 1907 by the Government Land Office. 404 allotments of 'Bulcock Estate' were advertised for auction on 16 August 1917 by Isle, Love and Co, auctioneers, with an edge of the Estate mapped as adjacent to Tripcony's store and the Tramway terminus. In 1919, 29 subdivided allotments of 'Caloundra Heads Estate' were advertised to be auctioned on 20 December 1919 by Cameron Bros. in Brisbane. A map advertising the auction shows the majority of blocks were on Albert Street between King Street and King's Beach. Another undated map shows more blocks of this estate were advertised for auction on King Street towards Ernest Street. Caloundra Provisional School opened on 8 March 1899 and became Caloundra State School on 1 June 1912. Caloundra State High School opened on 23 January 1967. Our Lady of the Rosary School opened on 29 January 1980 by the Roman Catholic teaching order, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Caloundra Christian College opened on 2 February 1983 by the Caloundra CityLife Baptist Church, which meets for worship at the college.
Heritage listings
The suburb of Caloundra has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Caloundra State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at 56A Queen Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 608 students with 45 teachers and 25 non-teaching staff. It includes a special education program. Caloundra State High School is a government secondary school for boys and girls at 88 Queen Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1209 students with 95 teachers and 47 non-teaching staff. It includes a special education program. Our Lady of the Rosary School is a Catholic primary school for boys and girls at Alfred Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 313 students with 22 teachers and 14 non-teaching staff. Caloundra Christian College is a private primary and secondary school for boys and girls at 7 Gregson Place. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 330 students with 31 teachers and 25 non-teaching staff. Caloundra is also home to a campus of the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE.
