Historical Timeline of Sunshine Coast, the Peri-Urban Area of Queensland!
The third most populated area of Queensland, Sunshine Coast is a peri-urban, thriving, and popular zone. It touches the centre of Brisbane, the Coral Sea Coastline, Pelican Water, and Tewantin. Sunshine Coast is a popular place to live for Queenslanders and people migrating from other states making its population about 351,424. The Council of the Sunshine Coast is driven to increase the inhabitants of the area by implementing the Environment and Liveability Strategy. Sunshine Coast is an integral part of Queensland and it has rich history everyone should know about. Keep reading to trace the historical time of this area.
30,000 Years Old Tribes
The earliest known residents of Sunshine Coast were aboriginal tribes of Gubbi Gubbi and Wakka Wakka. The tribes co-existed peacefully, intermarried, and had similar class restrictions. Their ancestors occupied and settled in the land about 30,000 years back. These tribes were among the well-fed and healthiest because the area had abundant food and water.
1770
The first European explorers sighted the areas and their records show they observed water with a different colour emerging from the south of the ocean. The water ways they saw were later named Pumicestone Passage. The person to first see the area was Joseph Banks who was on board James Cook’s H. M. Bark Endeavour. He along with Cook explored the prominent hills and more. They called the hills Glass Houses.
1799
Lieutenant Matthew Flinders was sent years later to explore the Glass House Bay that James Cook and his entourage has witnessed. He along with Sydney native Bongaree found the Glass House Creek, Beerburrum Mountain, and Glass House Mountains. After the exploration, Flinders returned to Sydney after being unsuccessful in finding the Brisbane River.
1824
After this year more and more Europeans started exploring and traversing the Sunshine Coast areas. It happened because of settlement of convicts in Redcliffe, Brisbane, and Moreton Bay. James Davis was a runaway convict who lived with Gubbi Gubbi people.
1859
The new colony of Queensland is created which will be state Sunshine Coast is a part of today.
1959
Although by this time areas of Noosa and Caloundra were popular, the area still didn’t have its modern name. Sunshine Coast was introduced and it was backed by Maroochy identity Eddie De Vere and Premier Sir Frank Nicklin.
1960
The name ‘Sunshine Coast’ is made official. But it wasn’t gazetted until 1967.
1966
Maroochydore, Noosa and Landsborough Shires and chose to adopt the name Sunshine Coast the region. The name was suggested to in replace the term ‘Near North Coast’.
1996
The famous and flourishing Sunshine Coast University College was established at Sippy Downs by Queensland Governor Mrs Leneen Forde.
2008
In March of the year, councils of Noosa Shire, Maroochy Shire and Caloundra City amalgamated to make the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and its first mayor was Bob Abbott.
Endnote
Today Sunshine Coast is a reckoned and popular area to live for Queenslanders and migrants from other Australian state. It is known for its line of unbroken beaches and national parks. Due to development of residential and commercial real estates, it has become a place for families, working professionals, business owners, students, and more.
