The name Wootha comes from the Kabi language (Dallambara dialect) meaning red cedar tree.[2]
Blackall Range Provisional School opened on 18 October 1886 in a building constructed by Mr J. McCarthy on his own land. The first teacher was William Verrant. After a few years, the school building was relocated to land belonging to Mr R. Johnston. In 1900, it was relocated to its permanent site in Wootha at 369 Maleny-Stanley River Road (26°46′55″S152°49′18″E / 26.78186°S 152.82153°E / -26.78186; 152.82153 (Wootha State School (former))).[3][4][5] It became Blackall Range State School on 1 October 1909.[6] A new school building was constructed circa 1912.[7] It was officially renamed Wootha State School in 1937, although the name had been in informal use for some time. It closed circa 29 April 1949 with transport being provided so the children could attend Maleny State school.[8][9][10] In 1950, the Wootha school building was relocated to Palmwoods State School to provide an additional building.[11][12]
Demographics
In the 2016 census,Wootha had a population of 201 people.[13]
In the 2021 census, Wootha had a population of 258 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools in Wootha. The nearest government primary and secondary schools are Maleny State School and Maleny State High School respectively, both in neighbouring Maleny to the north-east.[14]
^"SCHOOL JUBILEE AT WOOTHA". Sunday Mail. No. 340. Queensland, Australia. 25 October 1936. p. 8. Retrieved 17 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"STATE SCHOOLS". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXVI, no. 16, 132. Queensland, Australia. 24 September 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 17 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"A Ride to School Maleny 1910". Maleny District Sport and Recreation Club Inc. 21 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.