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The Sunshine Coast is building a new CBD and a health-tech hub at the same time

  • Population 375,328 (June 2024)
  • $5bn Sunshine Coast Health Precinct
  • 728-bed university hospital, serving ~450,000
  • Maroochydore: a purpose-built new CBD
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How Sunshine Coast’s tech scene grew

A tourism coast, building its own commercial centre from scratch.

Population reaches 375,328

As of 30 June. Tourism sales were $3.08 billion in 2024–25, with $1.48 billion in value-add — still a large share of the local economy, though council explicitly frames its future around technology, health and education rather than tourism alone.

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A city building its own centre

Maroochydore is being constructed as a purpose-built new central business district — a rare case of a city actively building its civic and commercial centre in real time. Alongside it, the $5 billion Sunshine Coast Health Precinct sits with the University of the Sunshine Coast, with stated regional ambitions to become a MedTech and health-tech innovation hub. The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs and the SunRamp program provide local startup infrastructure.

A city building a new CBD is a city where a meaningful share of businesses are establishing their presence — digital and physical — for the first time at the same moment. Getting the online presence right early is a genuine first-mover position here, not a catch-up exercise.

Where the work happens

A tourism-experienced consumer base being joined by a growing health, education and technology workforce.

Sunshine Coast University Hospital

728 beds, serving around 450,000 people, anchoring the $5 billion Health Precinct.

University of the Sunshine Coast

Central to the region’s health-tech and MedTech ambitions.

How Sunshine Coast businesses buy digital work

A tourism-experienced consumer base is being joined by a growing health, education and technology workforce, in a region whose commercial centre of gravity is itself still under construction.

Trades and home services

A fast-growing region. Name the suburbs and note if you serve the new Maroochydore CBD specifically.

Health and medical services

A genuine regional growth sector, backed by a $5 billion precinct. Lead with credentials.

Shops, cafés and hospitality

Tourism remains a large, real part of the economy. Real hours and location.

Professional services

New businesses are establishing themselves alongside the new CBD — a genuine first-mover opportunity.

The full piece

Sunshine Coast: building a new CBD and a health-tech hub at the same time

Digital market analysis•2 min read

The numbers

The Sunshine Coast's population reached 375,328 as of 30 June 2024. Tourism sales were $3.08 billion in 2024–25, with $1.48 billion in value-add — still a large share of the local economy, though council explicitly frames its future around technology, health and education rather than tourism alone.

The health-tech bet

The $5 billion Sunshine Coast Health Precinct, anchored by the 728-bed Sunshine Coast University Hospital serving around 450,000 people across the Coast and Gympie region, sits alongside the University of the Sunshine Coast, with stated regional ambitions to become a MedTech and health-tech innovation hub. The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs and the SunRamp program provide local startup infrastructure.

A city building its own centre

Maroochydore is being constructed as a purpose-built new central business district — a rare case of a city actively building its civic and commercial centre in real time, rather than one that grew organically over a century.

The buyer

A tourism-experienced consumer base being joined by a growing health, education and technology workforce, in a region whose commercial centre of gravity is itself still under construction.

The practical read

A city building a new CBD is a city where a meaningful share of businesses are establishing their presence — digital and physical — for the first time at the same moment. Getting the online presence right early is a genuine first-mover position here, not a catch-up exercise.

Sources

Caveats and sourcing

  • Verifiable — the population figure, tourism sales figures, and the hospital and health precinct's scale.
  • Explicitly unverified — no specific named data centre for the Sunshine Coast could be confirmed in research for this piece, so none is stated.

How well do you know Sunshine Coast’s digital economy?

Sunshine Coast quiz · 1 of 5

What is being built as a purpose-built new CBD for the Sunshine Coast?

Why FastSites works here

A region building its centre in real time is a good place to establish a clear, professional web presence early rather than catching up later.

Live in days, published price, built mobile-first. Tell us whether you serve the tourism, health or growing professional side of the coast.

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