Kin Kin

Kin Kin is a town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia.

Kin Kin is a town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia.

There has long been debate over the origin of the name Kin Kin. It is most widely believed to mean "plenty black ants" after the small black ants very common in the area. This is reflected in the local school newsletter "Kin Kin ANTics" and the large ant sculpture outside the Kin Kin General store, home of Black Ant Gourmet. Some sources suggest the name comes from the Aboriginal kauin kauin meaning red soil.

Timber-getters moved into the area in the late 1870s. Until the mid-1970s Kin Kin was predominantly a smallcrop and dairy farming community, from then on land and farm usage started to change and there was a decline in production farms.Early deforestation and clearing of land led to small produce and dairy farming from the early 1900s. The banana industry boomed in the years after World War 1, but experienced a significant decline in the 1930s as prices fell. Beans and Zucchini were major crops for many years, but smallcropping declined from the 1980s and is now undertaken on a limited basis.Moran Group Provisional School opened on 7 March 1910. On 1 September 1914 it became Moran Group State School. It closed on 17 August 1952. It was located on Moran Group Road (approx 26.2207°S 152.8819°E? / -26.2207; 152.8819? (Moran Group State School (former))).Wahpunga State School opened on 15 August 1910 and closed on 31 December 1967. It was located at 502 Gympie Kin Kin Road (26.2375°S 152.9079°E? / -26.2375; 152.9079? (Wahpunga State School (former))) and is now Wahpunga School Park.The butter factory was closed in 1937 but the sawmill still survives. Deregulation of the milk industry led to the exit of all but a handful of family dairy farms. The last farms (in order of closure, Davis, Ferris, and Shepperson) had closed by 2012. Nowadays many original farms have been subdivided into small hobby farms, some growing fruit trees, and many carrying horses or beef cattle. Today Kin Kin boasts health retreats, accommodation, small businesses, artists, a rock quarry and bush foods.

The family of William D. Francis one of Queensland's pioneering botanists owned land in the area, and many native trees first identified by him are found in the area.From 1980 the "Great Kin Kin Horse Race" and associated Carnival was held annually on a hilly 3 km course over the southern end of the Wahpunga Range, starting and finishing at the showgrounds behind the Country Life Hotel. After peaking in popularity in the late 80s and early 90s, the race was eventually discontinued, with the last Carnival being held in 2004. The horse ride has been revived as an annual social ride covering 25 km on the Noosa Trail Network from the Kin Kin Showgrounds to Tablelands Lookout near Cooran and back.The area has suffered from severe weather on many occasions. On February 17, 1924 a severe storm caused substantial damage to the School of Arts hall which was reconstructed by July.A storm and associated tornado on January 16, 1930 that brought 6 inches (152mm) of rain in an hour was reported to have caused flash flooding and damage to crops and many buildings. On the morning of September 22, 1932 a severe thunderstorm produced a tornado estimated at 100 yards (91m) wide which traveled from the Cooran tablelands through the Sister Tree, Wahpunga, Eulama, and Cootharaba districts before crossing Lake Doonella and going out to sea. While no injuries were reported, many trees and crops were affected and a number of buildings damaged or destroyed. A hail storm several hours later caused further damage.A severe hailstorm on the afternoon of October 10, 1933 dumped 6 inches (152mm) of rain in 20 minutes causing flash flooding, and left drifts of hail up to 3 feet (91 cm) deep. Extensive damage was reported to businesses in the main street, and to banana plantations, smallcrops, and buildings in surrounding areas.On 14 August 1971, a tornado passed through the town killing Mr and Mrs WHT Fleet of Moran Group, and 13 month old Deborah Joy Lister of Wahpunga. 8 homes were completely destroyed, in total 25 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and the damage was estimated at over $100,000 (1971 dollars) Large hail was also reported.A hail storm and associated tornado hit on 28 February 1985, destroying the Butter Factory and causing widespread property damage. On 4 November 1994 a severe storm produced large hail and a tornado which damaged or completely destroyed several buildings.On April 4, 2009 the town was hit by the highest flooding on recordfrom Kin Kin Creek, a tributary of the Noosa River following intense rainfall. 78 year old local resident Margarida Jackson died after her car was swept off a bridge over the Kin Kin Creek West Branch, the Country Life Hotel on Main Street was inundated with 3m of water and there was widespread property damage and loss of livestock. A further flood on April 13 again inundated the Country Life Hotel.In 2007, a plan to develop a $400 million eco-tourism resort east of Kin Kin was rejected by the Government of Queensland on the grounds that the development was not part of the regional planning document.Although currently and historically within the Shire of Noosa, between 2008 and 2013 the Shire of Noosa (and hence Kin Kin) was within the Sunshine Coast Region) until 2014 when the shire was re-instated following a vote by the residents.At the 2006 census Kin Kin had a population of 546.At the 2011 census Kin Kin had a population of 694.At the 2016 census the population had increased to 764.