Our History & Heritage

The Sunshine Coast has a colourful history from its shipwrecks to its Aboriginal legends

Aboriginal History

The traditional owners of the Blackall Range are the Gubbi Gubbi language group, who, before European settlement, would gather every two or three years on the banks of the Obi Obi at Baroon Pocket to feast on the fruit of the Bunya Pine (Bonyi Bonyi). Today, the tall Bunya Pine still grows on the range.  

Legend of the Glasshouse Mountains   It seems that Tibrogargan, the father, and Beerwah, the mother, had many children - Coonowrin (the eldest), Beerburrum, the Tunbubudla twins, Coochin, Ngungun, Tibberoowuccum, Miketeebumulgrai and Elimbah. According to the story there was also Round who was fat and small, and Wild Horse (presumably Saddleback) who was always straying away to paddle in the sea.

One day, when Tibrogargan was gazing out to sea he noticed a great rising of the water. Hurrying off to gather his younger children in order to flee to the safety of the mountains to the westward, he called out to Coonowrin to help his mother, who by the way, was again with child. Looking back to see how Coonowrin was assisting Beerwah, Tibrorgargan was greatly angered to see him running off alone. He pursued Coonowrin and , raising his club, struck the latter such a mighty blow that it dislocated Coonowrin's neck, and he has never been able to straighten it since.

When the floods had subsided and the family had returned to the plains, the other children teased Coonowrin about his crooked neck. Feeling ashamed, Coonowrin went to Tibrogargan and asked for forgiveness, but filled with shame at his son's cowardice, Tibrogargan could do nothing but weep copious tears, which, trickling along the ground, formed a stream which flowed into the sea.

Then Coonowrin went to his brothers and sisters, but they also wept at the shame of their brother's cowardice. The lamentations of Coonowrin's parents and his brothers and sisters at his disgrace explain the presence today of the numerous small streams of the area.

Tibrogargan then called Coonowrin, asking him why he had deserted Beerwah; at which Coonowrin replied that as Beerwah was the biggest of them all she should be able to take care of herself. He did not know that Beerwah was again pregnant, which was the reason for her great size. Then Tibrogargan turned his back on Coonowrin and vowed that he would never look at him again. Even today, Tibrogargan gazes far out to sea and never looks around at Coonowrin, who hangs his head and cries, his tears running off to the sea. His mother Beerwah, is still heavy with child as it takes a long, long time to give birth to a mountain.

Historical Monuments

"S.S. Dicky", carrying 11 crew and 40 tonnes of sand, was forced onto the beach during heavy seas in 1893. Attempts to refloat the ship were unsuccessful. A memorial stands in the park at Dicky Beach near the caravan park.   A female passenger on board "Queen of Colonies" died as the ship was sailing into Moreton Bay in 1863. It was decided to bury her on Cape Moreton but the burial party was marooned by a storm and washed up on the rocks at Moffat Head. A plaque has been erected at Moffat Headland.  

"Centaur", an Australian hospital ship, was torpedoed and sunk in 1943 by a Japanese submarine 10 miles east of Cape Moreton. Of the 365 medical staff and crew on board, only 64 survived. A plaque has been placed on Wickham Head, Caloundra.  

William Landsborough, was awarded £2,000 for his explorations in 1882 by the State Government. With his money, he bought 2,372 acres on Golden Beach. He died in 1886 and his family erected a cairn at what is now the Golden Beach Shopping Centre.  

The historic Caloundra Lighthouse, located in Canberra Terrace, was built in 1898 and is the city's oldest building - constructed when just four other houses existed in the township. Owned by the National Trust, this Caloundra landmark stands beside a new lighthouse, built in 1967 at a cost of $38,000.

A historic calendar of Caloundra's old lighthouse
1898 Canberra Terrace was the site chosen for the lighthouse. It was described at the time as, "a sturdy tower of galvanised iron sheeting on a frame of massive tree trunks." Only four other houses existed in Caloundra.

1897 The first lighthouse keeper, Walderman Edlundh, lived in a house next to the lighthouse. His home also housed the post office and Caloundra's first school.

1910 The lighthouse first used a wick burner to guide ships into Moreton Bay's north-west channel. This was replaced with an incandescent vapour kerosene lamp, which was the first of its type in Queensland.

1942 The lighthouse became electrically powered.

1967 Another lighthouse was built next to the original lighthouse; the new lighthouse incorporated a signal station.

1970 Three years after the "new" lighthouse was built, the old lighthouse was moved by the Power Boat Club to Golden Beach; an action which saved it from demolition.

1992 The signal station in Canberra Terrace was replaced by an automatic installation on Seapoint units at Wickham Point.

1999 The old lighthouse was moved back to Canberra Terrace and became a historical centre.  

Landsborough Shire Historical Museum

Landsborough Shire's Historical Museum is housed in a State Heritage listed building, one of few in Caloundra City and was the original Landsborough Shire Chambers.Established in 1976 by The Shire of Landsborough Historical Society Inc. it is one of the largest social history museums between Gympie & Brisbane.  The museum is located at 4 Maleny St, Landsborough. For further information please call (07) 5494 1755.  www.landsboroughmuseum.org.au/