Timeline – Central Queensland

1901-1950 | 1951-2001

Wildhorse Fire Tower in the parish of Beerwah is built.

1953 Mudjimba and Marcoola beaches are named, after a competition.

1956 Cooroy building boom.

1957 Tooway Lake, Caloundra, declared a native bird sanctuary.

1958 British Prime Minister Harold McMillan watches a surf carnival at Kings Beach.

1959 The first plane lands at Mudjimba Airstrip.

1963 Sir Raphael Cilento unveils Flinders Memorial at Tibrogargan Creek, Glass House Mountains.

1966 Forestry employees discover the remains of the Campbellville Cemetery which operated between 1890-1893.

1967 Old Caloundra lighthouse is decommissioned for relocation at Golden Beach.

1968 Mooloolaba Harbour opens.

1969 Permission is granted for Sunday night movies at Nambour.

1970 Mapleton/Flaxton to Montville road opens.

1972 Spray-on suntan oil service is offered to Maroochydore Beach visitors.

1974 The great Beerburrum mail robbery. At the time, it was the largest mail robbery in Australia.

Chenrezig Institute, a centre for Buddhist study, meditation and retreat, opens at Eudlo.

1975 Cooloola National Park is gazetted after years of conflict between government and conservationists.

1977 Kawana Estates threatens to stop development if approval is given to a local nude beach.

1980 15-year-old Grant Kenny wins junior and senior Ironman titles.

1981 Noosa Shire chairman unveils a plaque commemorating the rescue of Eliza Fraser.

1982 Kawana Waters Shopping Centre is extended.

Construction of Underwater World begins.

1983 Sunshine Coast rescue helicopter moves to its permanent home at Maroochydore Airport.

1984 Sunshine Coast's first sex shop opens.

Sunshine Coast's first bluewater game fishing contest is held.

Sunshine Coast's first time-share apartment block opens.

1985 Inaugural race meeting is held at Corbould Park, Caloundra.

1986 Maroochy Airport's first 737 flight touches down.

1987 Mike Ahern, the member for Landsborough, becomes Queensland Premier.

1988 Mooloolaba Wharf opens.

1991 Noosa Cat Boat building company wins $600,000 navy contract.

1994 1000 people evacuated in the Glass House Mountains area during severe bushfires.

1996 200 homes are connected to pay TV in one week .

1998 Australian Wallabies set up a training camp on the Sunshine Coast.

1999 Sunshine Coast University College officially opens.

2000 First police station and council public library for Beerwah opens.

2001 Old Caloundra Lighthouse restored to original site.

1901-1950 | 1951-2001

• Compiled by Lesley Jenkins with assistance from Gille Warren, the Montville Historical Group and the Shire of Landsborough Historical Society Inc.