Witta is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Witta had a population of 1,201 people.[1]
Witta Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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![]() ![]() Witta | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 26.6975°S 152.8119°E / -26.6975; 152.8119 | ||||||||||||||
Population | 1,201 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 34.02/km2 (88.12/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4552 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 35.3 km2 (13.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Sunshine Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Glass House | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Fisher | ||||||||||||||
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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.[4] The town was renamed in 1916 during World War 1 due to anti-German sentiment.[5] 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.[6][7]
A reserve for a School of Arts (often known as Mechanics' institutes outside Queensland) was gazetted in 1907.[8] The School of Arts was opened on 7 October 1908 by Harry Frederick Walker, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Wide Bay.[9]
In the 2011 census, Witta had a population of 1,230 people.[10]
In the 2016 census, Witta had a population of 1,201 people.[1]
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.[11]
There is a small cemetery on Witta Road (26.7062°S 152.8268°E / -26.7062; 152.8268 (Witta Cemetery)).[11]
Obi Lookout is on Schultz Road (26.6880°S 152.8047°E / -26.6880; 152.8047 (Obi Lookout)).[12]