Valdora, Queensland
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = suburb
| name = Valdora
| state = qld
| city = Sunshine Coast
| image =
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|-26.5486|153.0011|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Valdora (centre of locality)}}
| pop = 776
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| established =
| postcode = 4561
| area = 10.1
| timezone = AEST
| utc = +10:00
| dist1 = 13.7
| dir1 = SW
| location1 = Coolum Beach
| dist2 = 17.1
| dir2 = NE
| location2 = Nambour
| dist3 = 43.9
| dir3 = NNW
| location3 = Caloundra
| dist4 = 126
| dir4 = N
| location4 = Brisbane
| lga = Sunshine Coast Region
| stategov = Ninderry
| fedgov = Fairfax
| near-n = Yandina Creek
| near-ne = Yandina Creek
| near-e = Yandina Creek
| near-se = Maroochy River
| near-s = Maroochy River
| near-sw = Maroochy River
| near-w = Ninderry
| near-nw = North Arm
}}
Valdora is a rural locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|50288|Valdora|locality in Sunshine Coast Region|access-date=17 November 2019}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Valdora had a population of 776 people. The name Valdora comes from Val d'Ora, which means Golden Valley.{{Cite web |title=Valdora Community Hall History |url=https://www.valdoracommunityhall.org.au/history}}
Geography
The Yandina-Coolum Road runs along the eastern boundary.{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Valdora+QLD+4561/@-26.5428504,152.9671899,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x6b937a71ea5df663:0x502a35af3deae20!8m2!3d-26.5570252!4d153.0117291!16s%2Fm%2F0277b7n?entry=ttu |title=Valdora, Queensland |access-date=18 November 2023}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Streets_and_Roads_of_Yandina_&_District.pdf |url=https://yandinahistorichouse.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Streets_and_Roads_of_Yandina_&_District.pdf}}
Golden Valley State School opened on 27 August 1918. On 1 July 1940, it was renamed Valdora State School. It was at Valdora Road ({{Coord|-26.5472|153.0049|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Valdora State School (former)}}).{{Cite web |date=1943 |title=Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m76 |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-qld-2m76-surv-control-1943.jpg |url-status=live |access-date=17 October 2021 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map |archive-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505073838/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-qld-2m76-surv-control-1943.jpg }}{{Queensland Globe|access-date=23 August 2023}} 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.{{Citation|author1=Queensland Family History Society|title=Queensland schools past and present|publication-date=2010|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}
The Sunshine Coast Solar Farm commenced operating in July 2017. It is the first solar farm in Australia built by a local government.
Demographics
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Valdora had a population of 532 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32957|name=Valdora (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Valdora had a population of 776 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32926|name=Valdora (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}
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.
Facilities
Sunshine Coast Solar Farm is at 909 Yandina Coolum Road ({{coord|-26.5601|153.0257|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=solar farm}}).{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=Landmark Areas – Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121195536/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |access-date=21 October 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{Google Maps|access-date=23 August 2023|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/909+Yandina+Coolum+Rd,+Valdora+QLD+4561/@-26.5604084,153.0304243,3a,30y,247.46h,93.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7UdH3jFqNOVHPYWbGuZ1tA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x6b93708e390b4377:0xb0170710a33f2884!8m2!3d-26.5613545!4d153.0304179!16s%2Fg%2F11k5j_7m3h?entry=tts|title=Sunshine Coast Solar Farm}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Solar farm overview |url=https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Environment/Sunshine-Coast-Solar-Farm/solar-farm-overview |access-date=2023-08-24 |publisher=Sunshine Coast Regional Council |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603155045/https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Environment/Sunshine-Coast-Solar-Farm/Solar-Farm-Overview |url-status=live }}
Valdora-Yandina Creek Rural Fire Station is at 269 Valdora Road ({{coord|-26.5498|153.0073|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Valdora-Yandina Creek Rural Fire Station}}).{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=Emergency services facilities – Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/923a4139-4a79-4744-8955-d73230796bd6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124224500/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/923a4139-4a79-4744-8955-d73230796bd6 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |access-date=24 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{Google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/26%C2%B032'59.3%22S+153%C2%B000'26.3%22E/@-26.5499145,153.0071174,3a,37.5y,59.78h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sCc3YszOPb_q8DOAVS_cizQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DCc3YszOPb_q8DOAVS_cizQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D56.929886%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d-26.5498!4d153.0073?entry=tts|title=Valdora-Yandina Creek Rural Fire Station|access-date=23 August 2023}}{{Cite web |title=Valdora/Yandina Creek Rural Fire Brigade |url=https://www.facebook.com/RuralBrigadeVYC/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |via=Facebook |language=en}}