Caloundra with the Glass House Mountains in the background

Caloundra (including Palmview)
Delightful holiday beach resort town within easy reach of Brisbane.
In recent times Caloundra has changed. Once a truly classic Queensland retirement town - units with ocean views, senior citizens making their way carefully along the beachfront, old men tossing fishing lines in Pumicestone Channel - it has now become a mixture of young commuters (it is only 91 km north of Brisbane via a four-lane highway), holiday makers and retirees, with migration occurring chiefly from Brisbane, New South Wales and Victoria. The population, for example, has ballooned from 2800 in 1961 to around 25,000 today (with about 70,000 in the local government area which covers 1100 square kilometres), with growth exploding from around 1986. This demographic expansion has been accompanied by commercial growth, which also caters to around 50,000 visitors who arrive over each summer. The local economy revolves around tourism, clothing production, building supplies, boat, coach and aircraft manufacturing and small goods.

On any morning, in the narrow strait between Caloundra and the northern tip of Bribie Island, there are people fishing for their breakfast or maybe their lunch or dinner. Caloundra is that kind of place, although its development means that it has all appropriate accommodation (from exclusive resorts to caravan parks) and facilities, commercial and governmental, as well as a popular race track and an aerodrome.

Old men tossing fishing lines into the Pumicestone Passage

The local government area of the City of Caloundra extends north to Buddina and south to Bribie Island and Beerburrum. It is noted for its excellent surf beaches, extending southwards from Buddina, Warana, Bokarina and Wurtulla (forming a continuous strand backed by The Esplanade Park), across Currimundi Lake, and on through the more centrally located beaches of Ballinger, Dicky, Moffat, Shelly, Kings, Bulcock and Golden Beaches. It also sweeps westwards through the attractive hinterland to include the Glass House Mountains, the Blackall Range, and country villages such as Beerwah,Landsborough, Mooloolah, Maleny, Witta and Conondale. With its greenery, near perfect climate, easy lifestyle, and the ideal conditions which prevail, in Pumicestone Channel, for fishing and water sports, the city of Caloundra is fittingly known as the most southerly resort on the Sunshine Coast.

The Blackall Range area is thought to have bee occupied by the Gubbi-Gubbi people prior to European investigation. They gathered once every few years on the banks of Obi Obi Creek at Baroon Pocket to feast on Bunya nuts.

The first European to sight the Caloundra area was Captain James Cook who noted and named the Glass House Mountains in May 1770. Perceiving a similarity between the unusual shapes of these volcanic plugs and the glass furnaces in his native Yorkshire, he named them the 'Glass Houses'.

The next explorer was Matthew Flinders who, in 1799, entered the channel which lies between modern day Caloundra and Bribie Island, staying in the area for fifteen days. Because of the pumicestone on the shoreline he named it Pumicestone River, which subsequently became known as Pumicestone Passage. Flinders ventured ashore and climbed Mount Beerburrum on 26 July, 1799.

The first European settlers in the Caloundra area didn't arrive until 1862 as the land grab, which started in the early 1840s, had concentrated on the Darling Downs and the fertile lands north of the Brisbane River Valley. The first permanent settler in the area was John Ballinger who selected land for sheep-raising south of Lake Currimundi.

Perhaps the most important nineteenth-century settler was the explorer William Landsborough who, with a £2000 reward from the Queensland government, purchased 2372 acres of what is now Golden Beach, on Pumicestone Passage, in 1882. Although he only lived another four years, during which time he grazed sheep, Landsborough Shire is named in his honour.

It was during the 1880s that Caloundra began to acquire its reputation as a seaside resort. The first hotel was built in 1885 on Shelley Beach and by 1905 Wilson's Guest House offered holidays on Dicky Beach. A bakery was built in 1909 and the first general store appeared the following year.

While the fertile inland soils were used to grow maize, oats, sugar and tobacco and the local dairy industry prospered, all Caloundra could offer was tourism.

Anne Wensley's An Introduction to The History of Caloundra is an informative and useful publication on the area.

Things to see:  

$HEAD

Tourist Information

Caloundra has its own tourist information centre, located at 7 Caloundra Rd, tel: (07) 5491 0202 or 1800 644 969.

Beaches and Boat Ramps
The local government area is noted for its excellent surf beaches, extending southwards for 30 km from Buddina Beach through Kings and Bulcock Beaches at Caloundra city centre, south to Pelican Waters in the Pumicestone Channel.

Buddina Beach has a surf lifesaving club, offering swimming, surfing and snorkelling. From here there is a continuous 8-km strand, backed by foreshore parkland, extending south through Warana, Bokarina and Wurtulla to Currimundi Lake and the Environmental Park on its northern shore. Canoeing, fishing, boating and swimming can be enjoyed in the lake (there is a boat ramp in Lara St), though its waters are not patrolled. The adjacent beach area to the south is patrolled on weekends and in the summer school holidays.

South of Currimundi Beach is Dicky Beach, named after the SS Dicky which ran aground there in 1893. One of the more popular of the area's beaches, it is patrolled every day, offering swimming, fishing and surfing, as well as children's play facilities, a skate park and picnic-barbecue facilities.

At the southern end of Dicky Beach is a rocky outcrop which separates it from Moffat Beach which is named after Brisbane chemist James C. Moffat who built a holiday house here in 1883. A plaque on Moffat Headland commemorates the occasion in 1863 when a burial party was washed up on the rocks here and marooned. They had been attempting to bury a female passenger who had died on board the Queen of Colonies ship. On the other side of Moffat Head is Shelly Beach. Moffat and Shelly Beaches offer especially good beach fishing opportunities.

At the southern end of Shelly Beach is rocky Caloundra Head (also known as Wickham Point). A plaque here recalls the loss of 301 men and women, crew and medical staff, on board the Centaur which was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese forces ten miles east of Cape Moreton in 1943.

From here the coastline veers southwest before picking up sandy beaches again at Kings Beach, which offers safe swimming (the beach is patrolled daily), surfing and snorkelling. There are picnic and barbecue facilities, an ocean pool at the northern end of Kings Beach and a boat ramp nearby on Caloundra Head (The Esplanade).

Beyond Kings Beach is Caloundra Bar, formed between Deepwater Point and the northern end of Bribie Island. The bar is considered extremely dangerous so please do not attempt to cross it in a boat. From this point visitors are in the calm waters of Pumicestone Channel, which lies between the mainland and Bribie Island.

Just west of Deepwater Point is Bulcock Beach, adjacent the main shopping area of Caloundra. It is patrolled daily, offering safe swimming, boating, fishing, windsurfing, barbecues, picnicking, play facilities, a boat ramp next to the jetty (off Bulcock St) and a boardwalk along The Esplanade.

From here the coastline veers south to Golden Beach, offering calm waters for safe swimming, boating, windsurfing, fishing and waterskiing with jetties, play facilities, and foreshore barbecues and picnic tables. Golden Beach Hire, on The Esplanade (opposite Gregory St), hire out sailboards, boogyboards, kayaks, surf skis and catamarans and offer tuition in sailboards and catamarans, tel: (07) 5492 4344. Silver Bream Boat Hire are located at 126 The Esplanade, tel: (07) 5492 1222. There is a power boat club at the southern end of Golden Beach and a sailing club at the northern end.

The Esplanade follows the coastline south over the entrance to Lamerough Canal to Pelican Waters which has a jetty, a fine golf course and other sporting facilities. There are four boat ramps at the southern end of The Esplanade: one at Golden Beach (on the northern side of the Lamerough Canal estuary), and three at Pelican Waters (two just south of the Lamerough estuary and one at the Bells Creek estuary).

Blue Water Kayak Tours operate in Pumicestone Passage and Moreton Bay, tel: (07) 5494 7789 while Island Cruises operate two-hour cruises, full-day wine and dine tours and charters along the Passage and the northern tip of Bribie Island, tel: (07) 5494 7896.

Two Coastal Walks
It is pleasant to wander around the coastline from the boardwalk at Bulcock Beach, along public paths, past Deepwater Point to Kings Beach, where the Centaur memorial commemorates the torpedoeing of a vessel off Cape Morton in 1943, and on around the rocky headland known as Wickham Point to Shelly Beach - a distance of some 2.5 km. En route are barbecues, playgrounds, toilets and showers.

Alternatively one can walk or cycle south from Bulcock Beach via Tay Ave, Bulcock St, Landsborough Parade and The Esplanade, along the shore of Pumicestone Channel to Diamond Head - a distance of 5 km.

Walk of Stars
A novelty factor walk at Caloundra is from the Velvet Waters restaurant (a rock'n'roll theme restaurant), at the lower end of Bulcock St (Caloundra's main drag), up the hill, passing tributes to Australian rock figures.

Pumicestone Channel
The calm waters of Pumicestone Channel (hemmed in between Bribie Island and the mainland) are a marine park. They are immensely popular for boating, fishing and other watersports. Boats are available for hire.

Ben Bennett Botanical Park and Other Greenery
This lovely patch of greenery is located in Queen St, just south of the golf course. It is home to many birds and boasts a range of trees and wildflowers. These include a patch of vine forest (a rarity in this region), melaleuca, eucalypts, hakea, casuarinas and a water-lily lagoon. It is a pleasant spot for walking, birdwatching or just relaxing. Adjacent are Caloundra High School, Central Park and the public swimming pool, while, over the road, is Roy Hazell Park, with its croquet lawn.

Further north, in Wurtulla, is a 51-ha seaside reserve with picnic area known as Currimundi Environmental Park, noted for its wallum heath, tea-trees and its springtime displays of wildflowers, tel: (07) 5494 3983.

Queensland Air Museum
A major local attraction, the Queensland Air Museum is located at the Caloundra Aerodrome, at 7 Pathfinder Drive. It is clearly signposted on the main southern route into the city. The collection includes 15 complete aircraft from Australia's aviation past, a number of other craft in various states of completion, dismantlement and restoration (some on display and some in storage) and plenty of aviation memorabilia. Those on display include four de Havillands (a Vampire, a Dove, a Sea Vixen and a Sea Venom), a Hawker Hunter, a Douglas DC3, a Gloster Meteor, an Armstrong Whitworth Meteor, a GAF Canberra Mk 20 and a Nord Mohawk. It is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Admission, as of October 1, 2002, was 5 for adults, $3 for children and $4 for each individual who has booked in as part of a group, tel: (07) 5492 5930, qam@powerup.com.au or www.

Caloundra Regional Art Gallery
The city of Caloundra has its own art gallery displaying regional works at 22 Omrah Ave. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., tel: (1300) 650 112 or (07) 5420 8200.

Two private galleries are Hopkins Gallery and Framing at 26 Bulcock St, Caloundra (tel: 07 5492 6877) and Seaview Artists Gallery at 4 Seaview Terrace, Moffat Beach, tel: (07) 5491 4788. The caloundra Arts Centre Association is located at 5 North St and is open daily, tel: (07) 5491 6488.

Propeller
Near the caravan park at Dicky Beach (in fact it's in front of the toilets) is the propeller from the SS Dicky which ran aground on Dicky Beach on 1 February 1893 with a crew of 11 and 40 tonnes of sand. Attempts to relaunch it proved unsuccessful so it was used for local dances until someone knocked over a kerosene lamp and it was burnt out.

Lighthouse
Previously located on Golden Beach, Caloundra's old lighthouse has been returned to where it was originally constructed at the top of Canberra Terrace. It was established here in 1898, at which time there were only four other houses in what is now Caloundra.

Corbould Park Racecourse
Races are held regularly at Corbould Park, with the major event on the calendar being the Spring Racing Carnival in September/October. The Caloundra City Cup Carnival is held in July. It is considered a well-built modern centre with excellent facilities, public access and disabled facilities. It is located at 170 Pierce Ave, tel: (07) 5491 6788.

Caloundra Road Environmental Park
West of Caloundra, adjacent to the highway, is the long, narrow 10-ha swamp known as Caloundra Road Environmental Park which, apart from the superb displays of Christmas bells and its natural scenic appeal, contains substantial stands of banksia, boronia and melaleuca.

Walking Tracks
There are two walking tracks west of Caloundra. If visitors follow Caloundra Rd to the Bruce Highway they can then cross over the highway and continue west along Glass House Mountains Rd. Just after crossing the highway the Jowarra Walking Track is located on the right-hand side of the road. About 6 km along Glass House Mountains Rd is the Ewen Maddock Walking Track, associated with Ewen Maddock Dam.

Palmview
Palmview is situated in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Simply follow Caloundra Rd west to the Bruce Highway, then it is just a short distance north along the highway. In Ballantyne Crescent (off Glenview Rd) visitors will find Skin Thing (tel: 07 5494 5248) and Opals Down Under, tel: (07) 5494 5400.

Aussie World and Ettamogah Pub
Aussie World is located at 73 Frizzo Rd, Palmview (just off the highway), and it is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (07) 5494 5444. Alongside general entertinments, such as carnival rides and amusements, a side-show alley, billy carts and a skirmish battleground, there are displays of native reptiles (including a particularly large collection of snakes, with snake handling and snake milking an optional extra), and traditional rural activities, such as an historical look at the evolution of sheep-shearing, stock-whip demonstrations, pony rides, the milking of cows, the feeding of lambs and a look at wool classing. Markets are held here each Saturday from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and the Ozziefest Music Festival is held in September.

The Aboriginal Cultural Centre offers a talk on indigenous cultures, demonstrations of traditional culture and lifestyles, dancing, boomerang and spear throwing, didgeridoo playing (and lessons), static educational displays, in-residence artists doing artefact and face painting and dreamtime storytelling. The Girraween Track features plants used by indigenous peoples.

Also on site is a recreation of the mythical Ettamogah Pub which derives from a comic strip by Ken Maynard. The cartoon series depicted the goings-on at this imaginary hotel and, in accordance with the cartoon pub, this is an exact replica, complete with seemingly impossible design - outward leaning walls and verandahs, a tree that stands in the middle through two floors, a jalopy on the roof and signs plastered over everything. Inside is a collection of Australian artefacts, along with restaurant and bar facilities, souvenirs, gifts, arts and crafts.

Wild Horse Mountain Lookout
South of Palmview, along the Bruce Highway, is a turnoff on the left, to Wild Horse Mountain Lookout, which offers fine views east over Pumicestone Channel to Bribie Island.

Scenic Flights
Scenic flights of the area are available from the Caloundra Aerodrome on Pathfinder Drive (bookings are advisable), tel: (07) 5491 1988. Sunshine Coast Skydivers operate a tandem and student skydive operation from the airport, tel: (0418) 776 775.

Markets and Events
The Caloundra Markets are held every Sunday from 7.00 a.m. to noon on West Terrace (adjacent the hospital), while the Caloundra Twilight Time Markets are held Fridays from 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. at Centrepoint Plaza, in Minchinton St.

The Caloundra MBF Triathlon is held in April, with many more athletic events throughout the year. The annual Calooundra Arts and Crafts Festival is held in August at the Caloundra Indoor Sports Centre, in North St, Golden Beach and the Caloundra Surf Classic is held at Dicky Beach in November.

	Tourist Information
	Caloundra Tourist Information Centre 77 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5420 8718 or 1800 644 969
	Caloundra Tourist Information Centre 7 Caloundra Rd Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5420 6240 or 1800 644 969
	Caloundra Tourist Information Centre Jessica Park, Nicklin Way Minyama Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5420 8006 or 1800 644 969
	Motels
	Altons Palm Breeze Motel 105 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 5566 Rating: ***
	Caloundra Motel 30 Bowman Rd Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1411 Rating: **
	Caloundra Ocean Views Motor Inn 115 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1788 Rating: ***
	Caloundra Safari Motel Cnr Orsova Tce & Minchinton St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 3301 Rating: ***
	Caloundra Suncourt Motel 135 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1011 Rating: ****
	Golden Beach Motor Inn 3 Baldwin St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 2344 Rating: ***
	Oasis Resort Landsborough Pde Golden Beach Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 0333, 1800 072 096 Facsimile: (07) 5491 0300 Rating: ****
	Rolling Surf Resort 10 Levuka Ave Kings Beach Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1300 Rating: **
	Wandalua Motel Cnr Roderick & Buccleugh Sts Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 2122 Facsimile: (07) 5492 8015 Rating: ****
	Anchorage Motor Inn and Resort 18 Bowman Rd Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1499, 1800 626 299 Facsimile: (07) 5491 7279 Rating: ****
	Hotels
	Currumundi Hotel 32 Buderim St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 5200 Rating: ***
	Resorts
	Whitecaps Resort 44 Edmund St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 5254 Rating: ****
	Apartments
	Burgess Holiday Apartments Cnr Burgess & Albert Sts Kings Beach Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 4594 Rating: ****
	Cheltenham Apartments 40 King St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 6564 Rating: ****
	Kings Way Apartments 20 Warne Tce Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 7500 Rating: ****
	Lindomare Holiday Apartments 11 Orvieto Tce Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 5922 Rating: ****
	Mainsail Holiday Apartments 1 Saltair St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 5600 Rating: ****
	Gemini Resort Holiday Apartments 49 Landsborough Pde Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 2200, 1800 652 822 Facsimile: (07) 5492 1000 Rating: ****
	Norfolks on Moffat Beach 32 Queen of Colonies Pde Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 6666, 1800 068 798 Facsimile: (07) 5492 6262 Rating: ****
	Holiday Homes & Units
	Campbells Cove 30 Esplanade Kings Beach Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 5288 Rating: ****
	Centrepoint Caloundra Cnr Minchinton St & Leeding Tce Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 0100 Rating: ****
	Maritime Holiday Units 38a King St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 8255 Facsimile: (07) 5499 7823 Rating: ***1/2
	Tripcony Quays 42 Maloja Ave Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1166 Facsimile: (07) 5491 9838 Rating: ****
	Cottages & Cabins
	Mooloolah Valley Holiday Houses Mooloolah Valley Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5494 7109, 0408 224 668
	Caravan Parks
	Alexandra Caravan Park Burgess St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 3428 Rating: **
	Hibiscus and Tripcony Holiday Park Bowman Rd Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1564 Rating: ***
	Military Jetty Caravan Park 131 Esplanade Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 1288 Rating: **
	Danmira Caravan Park 1 Onslow St Golden Beach Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 1731 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Bamboo Garden 95 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 2768
	Chinese Holiday Restaurant 106 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 6066
	Deck Restaurant Oasis Resort Landsborough Pde Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 0333
	Golden Dragon 45 Minchinton Rd Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 2788
	Islander Restaurant 18 Bowman Rd Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1499
	Kings Beach Tavern 43 Burgess St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1366
	Megs Joint Mexican Restaurant 126 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 7744
	Pronto's Restaurant 123 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 7411
	Rolling Surf Restaurant 10 Levuka Ave Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1300
	Simon's In The Strand Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 3833
	Spud Mulligans 44 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 6566
	Sunny Village Chinese Restaurant 42 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1681
	Thai Suphan Cnr Bowman Rd & First Ave Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 7899
	Tivoli's of Pia Place 118 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 1768
	Velvet Waters 97 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5492 6600
	Cafés
	Cafe Mediterranean 55 Bulcock St Caloundra QLD 4551 Telephone: (07) 5491 9755