History of Caloundra on Queenslands Sunshine Coast
Caloundra has a colourful history from its shipwrecks
to its Aboriginal legends.
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.
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