Marcoola - Did You Know?

Marcoola, a coastal suburb in Maroochy Shire, is 100 km north of Brisbane. It is positioned between Mudjimba and Mount Coolum, and includes the Sunshine Coast airport. Its name, dating from the 1960s, was formed by combining the first part of Maroochy with a slightly altered 'Coolum'.

Marcoola's urban area began around the surf life-saving club, a coastal housing strip between the beach and David Low Way. In 1971 the Surfair high-rise apartment tower (the first on Sunshine Coast) was built on David Low Way. Said by some to be 20 years ahead of its time, it turned only moderate profits and building maintenance was neglected. Its fame came from some notable rock concerts in the 1980s, the noise competing with air-craft take-offs.

Image Courtesy of Marcoola Beach Resort

By the early 2000s Marcoola was identified as having some of the last remaining absolute beachfront sites. Its turn had come. The Atlantic resort opened in 2000, a much larger Marcoola Beach resort was opened in 2003 and Surfair was comprehensively refurbished in 2003-04 (over 220 rooms, apartments, penthouses). A Stockland housing estate has a projected 450 houses and 200 apartments.


The Surfair Central Tower is an iconic part of the Sunshine Coast.  Built in 1971, the tourism focal point was originally to be a part of the ‘City of Suncoast’ development of the sixties.  the tower stands today surrounded by similar buildings as a part of the Ramada Hotel.

The Surfair Tavern has been around nearly as long entertaining generations of Sunshine Coast locals and tourists.  Its proximity to the beach is unrivalled and over the years many a good time was had on the Marcoola stretch at Surfair.

Image Courtesy of Surfair Website

Information Directly via Wikepedia and the Queensland University Queensland Places website.