Witta, Queensland

Witta is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Witta had a population of 1,296 people.^[1]

Witta Queensland
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2006
Witta
Coordinates	26.6975°S 152.8119°E / -26.6975; 152.8119 (Witta (town centre))
Population	1,296 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	36.71/km2 (95.09/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4552
Area	35.3 km2 (13.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	8.7 km (5 mi) NW of Maleny 40.1 km (25 mi) SW of Nambour 42.2 km (26 mi) WNW of Caloundra 105 km (65 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Glass House
Federal division(s)	Fisher
Localities around Witta: Obi Obi Obi Obi Montville Curramore Witta North Maleny Elaman Creek Reesville Maleny

Geography

Witta is located within the Blackall Ranges. The lower land is mostly cleared for residential and farming purposes. The higher land is largely undeveloped natural bushland.^[4]

History

C M Nothlings vineyard and shingle roof cottage at Teutoberg, circa 1899

Looking from Witta Road towards Conondale, circa 1931

Witta was first settled around 1887 by German immigrant families. They called it Teutoberg (also spelled Teutoburg), possibly referring to the Teutoburg Forest area in Germany.^[5][6] The town was renamed in 1916 during World War 1 due to anti-German sentiment.^[7] The name Witta is a corruption of the word wetya meaning dingo in the Kabi language.^[2][3]

Maleny Provisional School opened on 1 October 1892 with the first enrolments on 3 October 1892. It was renamed Teutoberg Provisional School in 1893. It became Teutoberg State School in 1909, and Witta State School in 1926. The school closed on 23 August 1974.^[8][9] It was at 316 Witta Road (26.7086°S 152.8268°E / -26.7086; 152.8268 (Witta State School (former))).^[10][4][11]

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Witta, 7 April 1946, at a re-dedication service

Teutoburg Lutheran Church was built in 1893. In 1911, it was demolished to enable a new timber church to be erected. The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was opened and dedicated on 22 January 1911.^[12][13]

A reserve for a School of Arts (often known as Mechanics' institutes outside Queensland) was gazetted in 1907.^[14] The School of Arts was opened on 7 October 1908 by Harry Frederick Walker, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Wide Bay.^[15]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Witta had a population of 1,230 people.^[16]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Witta had a population of 1,201 people.^[17]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Witta had a population of 1,296 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Witta. The nearest government primary school is Maleny State School and the nearest government secondary school is Maleny State High School, both in neighbouring Maleny to the south-west.^[4]

Amenities

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is at 295 Witta Road (26.711208°S 152.8275°E / -26.711208; 152.8275 (Good Shepherd Lutheran Church)).^[12][18]

Witta Cemetery gates, 2006

Witta Cemetery, 2006

There is a small cemetery on Witta Road (26.7062°S 152.8268°E / -26.7062; 152.8268 (Witta Cemetery)).^[4]

Attractions

Obi Lookout is on Schultz Road (26.6880°S 152.8047°E / -26.6880; 152.8047 (Obi Lookout)).^[19]

Notable people

• Otto Nothling, born in Witta, represented Australia in cricket and rugby union

See also

• Mechanics' institutes of Australia
• Blackall Range road network

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Witta (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Witta – town in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 37782)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
3. "Witta – locality in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 50050)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
5. "Witta". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
6. Archives, Queensland State (23 May 2016). "What's in a name - Teutoberg or Teutoburg? NO … it's Witta!". Stories from the Archives. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
7. "TOWN OF TEUTOBERG". The Telegraph (SECOND EDITION ed.). Brisbane. 18 May 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 10 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
9. "Agency ID 6545, Witta State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
10. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m76" (Map). Queensland Government. 1955. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
11. "Witta State School (former)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
12. Blake, Thom. "Good Shepherd Lutheran Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
13. "History". Witta Lutherans. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
14. "RURAL INTERESTS". The Brisbane Courier. 1 March 1907. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
15. "Maleny". Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser. Qld. 17 October 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Witta". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Witta (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
18. "Witta Lutherans". Witta Lutherans. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
19. "Tourist points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.

Further reading

• Maleny schools' centenary celebration : 100 years of education, 1913-2013, Maleny P&C, 2013 — includes Witta State School

External links

• "Witta". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
• "Town map of Witta". Queensland Government. 1977.