Valdora, Queensland

Valdora is a rural locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Valdora had a population of 776 people.^[1] The name Valdora comes from Val d'Ora, which means Golden Valley.^[3]

Valdora Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Valdora
Coordinates	26.5486°S 153.0011°E / -26.5486; 153.0011 (Valdora (centre of locality))
Population	776 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	76.8/km2 (199.0/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4561
Area	10.1 km2 (3.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	13.7 km (9 mi) SW of Coolum Beach 17.1 km (11 mi) NE of Nambour 43.9 km (27 mi) NNW of Caloundra 126 km (78 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Ninderry
Federal division(s)	Fairfax
Suburbs around Valdora: North Arm Yandina Creek Yandina Creek Ninderry Valdora Yandina Creek Maroochy River Maroochy River Maroochy River

Geography

The Yandina-Coolum Road runs along the eastern boundary.^[4]

History

Valdora was part of the Yandina Cattle Run in the mid-19th century. Early selections were made after 1868 as cattlergrazing was the main early industry. Farming and timber followed, along with fruit, dairying and sugarcane, which remains a rural economy. Its name was replaced Valdora in order to avoid confusion with another Golden Valley abroad in Queensland.^[5]

Golden Valley State School opened on 27 August 1918. On 1 July 1940, it was renamed Valdora State School. It was at Valdora Road (26.5472°S 153.0049°E / -26.5472; 153.0049 (Valdora State School (former))).^[6][7] In 1949, the school building was moved to a new location in neighbouring Yandina Creek and re-opened on 1 February 1949 as Yandina Creek State School, which closed on 7 August 1964.^[8]

The Sunshine Coast Solar Farm commenced operating in July 2017. It is the first solar farm in Australia built by a local government.^[9]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Valdora had a population of 532 people.^[10]

In the 2021 census, Valdora had a population of 776 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Valdora. The nearest government primary schools are North Arm State School in neighbouring North Arm to the north-west, Coolum State School in Coolum Beach to the east, and Yandina State School in Yandina to the south-west. The nearest government secondary schools are Nambour State College in Nambour to the south and Coolum State High School in Coolum Beach.^[7]

Facilities

Sunshine Coast Solar Farm is at 909 Yandina Coolum Road (26.5601°S 153.0257°E / -26.5601; 153.0257 (solar farm)).^[11][12] It is operated by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. The 15 megawatt (MW) fixed tilt solar farm is able to fully offset the council's electricity use.^[9]

Valdora-Yandina Creek Rural Fire Station is at 269 Valdora Road (26.5498°S 153.0073°E / -26.5498; 153.0073 (Valdora-Yandina Creek Rural Fire Station)).^[13][14][15]