Mudjimba is a coastal suburb in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia, and forms part of the Maroochydore urban centre.
Mudjimba is a coastal suburb in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia, and forms part of the Maroochydore urban centre. In the 2016 census Mudjimba had a population of 2,540 people.
History
The name Mudjimba is derived from the Kabi language word midyim/mudjim for a local plant, the Midyam (Austromyrtus tenuifolia) 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.
In January 2003, the Queensland Government decided to sink the decommissioned HMAS Brisbane off the Sunshine Coast to become an artificial reef and dive site. On 31 July 2005 the ship was scuttled in approximately 2.8 nautical miles (5.2 km; 3.2 mi) off the coast of Mudjimba in 27 metres (89 ft) of water. The ship was filled with 200 to 250 tonnes (200 to 250 long tons; 220 to 280 short tons) 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 3 metres (9.8 ft) below sea level. A 2009 study of the value of protected areas estimated that the wreck had contributed A$18 million to the Sunshine Coast economy. In July 2010, the Queensland Government 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 conducted the world's first live underwater radio broadcast from the wreck on 31 July 2015.In the 2016 census Mudjimba had a population of 2,540 people.
Weather
Things to do
Although a buffer of coastal bushland has been maintained along the foreshore, Mudjimba Beach (26.6150°S 153.1019°E? / -26.6150; 153.1019? (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 36.6-hectare (90-acre) dive site (26.6167°S 153.1689°E? / -26.6167; 153.1689? (Ex-HMAS Brisbane)). The wreck site has been colonised by sponges, 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 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) walking track through the Maroochy River Conservation Park commences at Cottonwood Street (corner Coolibah Street, 26.6180°S 153.0973°E? / -26.6180; 153.0973? (Walking track, Maroochy River Conservation Park). 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 (26.6174°S 153.0990°E? / -26.6174; 153.0990? (Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park)) provides cabins and site for caravans and campers.
