The Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia is where Expat Living’s SHAMUS SILLAR and his family call home, following a long stint in Singapore and then Brisbane. Here, he talks us through some of the highlights of his beachside neighbourhood of Wurtulla.
# Overview of this Sunshine Coast neighbourhood
Where do you live in Australia?
In Wurtulla, a town on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. It’s in the southeast corner of the state, about an hour from the capital, Brisbane. (The Sunshine Coast starts just north of Brisbane, while the better-known Gold Coast starts just south.)
If it’s in another language, what does it mean?
Wurtulla is an Aboriginal word meaning “southward”. All the suburbs in my area have Indigenous names: Currimundi (“place of flying foxes”), Kawana (“wild flowers”), Mooloolaba (“red-bellied black snake”) and so on.
What’s a common myth or misconception about Wurtulla?
No myth or misconception. It’s just not very well known compared to the bigger Sunshine Coast centres of Caloundra, Mooloolaba and the much-more-famous Noosa (40 minutes away). One reason for this is that’s is a very new place. It was only named as a town in 1967, and wasn’t gazetted as a Sunshine Coast suburb until 1989.
Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home?
“Wait, I didn’t know there were any taxis in Wurtulla!” (You’d have more chance of getting doubled home on someone’s skateboard here than getting a taxi or an Uber – there just aren’t enough fares to make it viable to operate.)
Closest public transport?
There’s a bus stop a few hundred metres away for getting to bigger centres up and down the coast. The nearest train station is Landsborough (20 minutes), where you can get the one-hour train to Brisbane.
How long have you lived on the Sunshine Coast? Why here?
Five years. We had done city living our whole adult lives (including in China, Italy, Singapore and other places) and we were keen to try a more laidback vibe, especially for our two daughters. We definitely got that in Wurtulla!
# A snapshot of Wurtulla on the Sunshine Coast
When you walk out of your place, what’s the first thing you see?
Often, a posse of yellow-tailed black cockatoos sitting in a tree, which sounds charming until you’ve heard their diabolical call. (Google it!) We also see our neighbours’ three young boys, who spend every waking minute riding their bikes up and down the road doing wheelies.
Speaking of bikes, we’re just around the corner from an entrance to a 10km-long bicycle and walking path alongside the beach.
What’s the closest store to your front door?
A tiny convenience store that has lovely owners but is usually inconveniently devoid of any product we need.
If your street was chosen for a remake of a film, which would it be?
Surprisingly for a beachy suburb, maybe something war-related. Our area was a hotbed of Australian military activity in World War II, including live firing of artillery, mortar and anti-tank weapons for training purposes. (When you walk to the beach there are signs telling you to stick to the paths because of the possibility of unexploded ordinance.) These coastal waters were closely monitored for Japanese ships, too, especially in the wake of the attacks in Sydney Harbour in 1942.
We’re sure your neighbours are great, but is there anything you wouldn’t mind a little less of?
Our neighbours are great, though there is the occasional audible quarrel from the older married couple over the back fence, presumably when old mate leaves the toilet seat up. Honestly, though, it’s a fairly typical Aussie street – you wouldn’t say we’re best friends with people living nearby, but everyone gets on well and helps out where needed, whether it’s mowing a lawn when a family is away or shooing a beloved pet away from a passing eastern brown snake.
What’s the unofficial uniform of your street?
In Paris, it’s a baguette tucked under the arm; in Wurtulla, it’s a surfboard.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street?
From our neighbours’ perspective, it’s probably when our dog Blue greets them by standing upright on her back legs for about a minute, like a meerkat. She’s the most vertical four-legged animal I’ve met.
We have a skydiving landing area on the beach near us, so you’ll frequently hear a light plane pass by and unload passengers. You can then stand in our street and look up at the tiny dots of colour descending in the sky as they freefall to 5,000 feet. On a quiet day, you can hear them squeal when their chutes pop open.
# Highlights of Wurtulla on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
What are your three favourite places to eat or drink in the neighbourhood?
Bocca is an excellent Italian restaurant in the new Bokarina development a five-minute walk from us. It does a sublime garlic bread that comes pumped up like a pufferfish – you have to stab it with a fork to release the steam. The same strip of cafés and restaurants has some excellent coffee options as well.
Just a few doors along is Wallace & Wood, an artisanal ice cream shop with owners who care so much about their ingredients that I can imagine them foraging for raw vanilla beans on the side of a mountain each weekend. They’re also a dab hand at making a strong flat white.
Not exactly in the neighbourhood but a short drive away is Umami Ramen, which does a wicked bowl of noodles and gives us all those awesome Asian dining feels we miss from our many years in China and Singapore.
What are the best places to shop at in the neighbourhood?
Shoppers won’t get much out of Wurtulla. You’re better off driving 15 minutes up the road to Sunshine Plaza at Maroochydore, which is the biggest shopping mall on the Sunshine Coast (350 shops, 5,000 car parks). Is it okay if I don’t join you?
What are some fun or interesting things to do in Wurtulla?
Hit the beach! On a good day, Wurtulla has a world-class surf break that’s well known to Aussie surfing pros.
Our suburb is also home to the Kathleen McArthur Conservation Park, which is great for walks, especially in wildflower season.
If it’s raining, there are plenty of options, from art galleries to VR gaming. The Sunshine Coast was never renowned for its food scene in the past, but this is changing rapidly – there are cafés, restaurants and craft breweries that are as good as anywhere in Australia. (For beers, try Moffat Beach Brewing Co, Your Mates, Blackflag and 10 Toes, for starters.)
Also, don’t miss a drive in the hinterland for rainforests, waterfalls, wildlife and pretty towns including Maleny, Woodford and Montville.
What’s one thing you’d never change?
The complete lack of infrastructure along the beach dunes. When you stand at the water’s edge and look inland, all you see is vegetation. It’s glorious.
How about one thing you would change?
The Sunshine Coast Airport is only a 20-minute drive from us, but it’s still finding its feet, especially as an international hub. There are a couple of options, but I can’t wait for the day that it has a proper schedule of flights to Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and so on.
If the city gave you a million dollars to soup up your street, how would you use it?
Some other streets of the Sunshine Coast are probably more in need of a million bucks to fix a few things, so I’d probably suggest that the funds were redirected.
# Beyond the ‘hood
What are your favourite spots for taking out-of-town guests?
If they’re beach-lovers, the beach. If they’re landlubbers, a hike in one of the nearby national parks.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, where do you go?
I wouldn’t call Brisbane a cultural powerhouse, but it’s still a really good option for theatre, art, international touring acts and global cuisine.
If you’re missing home, what do you do?
Drive three hours to Byron Bay (just over the border in New South Wales) and have a schooner at the Top Pub.
# Have your say
If you also love your corner of Queensland or elsewhere in Australia and want to share your neighbourhood info with others, email us with “Street Talk” in the subject line. Include your name and street, and we’ll be in touch.
Enjoyed this article about living on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland? Now find out some of the best Brisbane suburbs to live in.
