Caloundra lies within the AboriginalGubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) language region.[7] The name Caloundra is from the Gubbi Gubbi language Cullowundoor with Kal Owen meaning 'beech tree' (Gmelina leichhardtii) and Dha meaning 'place'.[8]
Caloundra Head was previously known as Petrie Point and Point Wickham (or Wickham Point). Point Wickham takes its name from John Clements Wickham, who did a hydrographic survey of the northern section of Moreton Bay in 1846 and was later the Government Resident of Moreton Bay from 1853 to 1859.[9] Point Wickham was in use by 1860, where it was noted on official maps.[10] In an 1892 map it is named "Caloundra Head (Wickham Point)"[11] and at some time later the use of Caloundra Head became dominant and the use of the name Point Wickham seems to have discontinued.[12]
In 1875, Robert Bulcock, an English immigrant who founded a Brisbane newspaper and later represented the Brisbane electorate of Enoggera in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1885 until 1888, bought 277 acres (1.12 km2) of land in the region.[13] A town was surveyed in the 1870s, and land sales commenced in 1883. The first allotments of land in Caloundra were advertised for public auction on 28 August 1883. The map states 'the land is of a sandstone nature, undulating and ridgy, heavily timbered with Gum, Bloodwood, Tea-tree and Oak'.[14] A 1907 map shows several sections from George Street to Ernest St advertised for auction on 7 January 1907 by the Government Land Office.[15]
With its proximity to beaches, the area became popular with tourists and a number of hotels and guest houses were set up to accommodate them.[16]
Real estate subdivision of Bulcock Beach, 1917
In 1917, Bulcock's son, Robert Bulcock Jr, who was a councillor in the Shire of Landsborough, subdivided part of the land into 404 lots. This area became known as Bulcock Beach.[13] 404 allotments of 'Bulcock Estate' were advertised for auction on 16 August 1917 by Isle, Love and Co, auctioneers, with an edge of the Estate mapped as adjacent to Tripcony's store and the Tramway terminus.[17][18][19]
In 1919, 29 subdivided allotments of 'Caloundra Heads Estate' were advertised to be auctioned on 20 December 1919 by Cameron Bros. in Brisbane. A map advertising the auction shows the majority of blocks were on Albert Street between King Street and Kings Beach.[20][21] Another undated map shows more blocks of this estate were advertised for auction on King Street towards Ernest Street.[22]
On Saturday 29 December 1934, Caloundra Methodist Church was opened and dedicated by the President of the Methodist State Conference, C. C. Truman. It was the first church in Caloundra.[23]
St Andrew's Anglican Church was dedicated on Sunday 22 January 1939 by ArchbishopWilliam Wand. The construction of the church had been strongly encouraged by Wand who holidayed at Caloundra with his friend Queensland GovernorLeslie Wilson. The Governor also attended the church's dedication.[26] On 10 December 1966 the foundation stone of the new church was laid Archbishop Philip Strong, who opened and dedicated the new church on 8 December 1967. The new church was consecrated in 1974.[27][28]
The first female councillor was Miriam Westaway, who represented Division 5 from 29 April 1961 to 30 March 1973. She was one of the first teachers at Caloundra State School. She was active in community groups such as the RSL Women's Auxiliary and a founder of the Caloundra Branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association and the local branch of the Red Cross.[29]
During World War II, the area became key to Australian defence due to defensive positions along the beaches. Radar stations and machine gun pits were mounted, and Australian and US armed forces came to the area. From the early 1950s onwards, Caloundra experienced a boom in development and population, and by 1968, it had come to dominate the Shire of Landsborough so completely that the council chambers were relocated to Caloundra.[16]
The Caloundra Library opened in 1986 with a major refurbishment in 2017.[30]
Bullcock Beach, Pumicestone Passage and the Northern tip of Bribie IslandApartments along Kings Beach
Caloundra has a variety of beaches, providing amenity to the local residents and tourists.
Golden Beach is protected by Bribie Island to the east, and is used for swimming, windsurfing, boating and fishing. At low tide, Golden Beach and Bribie Island are relatively close.
Bulcock Beach which is a still water beach, has board-walks, piers and numerous restaurants, and is situated opposite the northern end of Bribie Island. The Des Dywer walking track is an oceanway that starts at Bulcock beach and follows the coastline on cliffs and boardwalks. The walking track ends at Moffat Beach north-east of Bulcock, and is about a one-hour walk. Bulcock Beach is patrolled by volunteer lifesavers from Ithaca–Caloundra City Life Saving Club.
Kings Beach, named for Allan King who ran a guest house in the area in 1888, is the main beach of Caloundra. Kings is patrolled all year round by Metropolitan – Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club and has a picnic and children's play area. Kings Beach also has a swimming pool which, whilst built to be separate from the ocean, is fed directly from seawater.
Shelly Beach is not a swimming beach, with the danger of wild rough waves and rocks. However, the northern and southern ends are safer for more advanced or supervised swimmers. Locals often find these places appropriate as, not only is it remote from the crowds of the adjacent King's beach, but local council laws allow dogs on the sand. On low tide, shells and rock pools can be found along the beach. Shelly is surrounded by residential housing with a maximum of five storeys.
Moffat Beach is not a patrolled beach, but Dicky Beach, located one kilometre north, has a surf lifesaving club and is patrolled year-round. Moffat Beach is surrounded by residential housing, cafes, a post office, a newsagent, parkland and apartments.
The surf beaches are Kings Beach and Dicky Beach which commence at the eastern end of Bulcock Beach, namely
Happy Valley (full east/south-east exposure) – Officially Happy Valley is part of and shown on maps as Bulcock Beach.
Corbould Park Racetrack – Home of Sunshine Coast Turf Club which holds an important race meet during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, with the Group 3Sunshine Coast Guineas and Listed Caloundra Cup.[39]
Caloundra has won the Australian Tidy Town Award in 2012.[43] The Queensland Tourism Industry Council named Caloundra the 2023 Queensland Top Tourism Town.[44]
^"Moreton Bay Marine Park". Parks and forests. Queensland Government. 6 October 2009. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^"Caloundra Heads Estate". State Library of Queensland. 20 December 1919. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
^"Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 16 December 1919. p. 10. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020 – via Trove.
^"Caloundra Church Dedicated". Truth. No. 1814. Queensland, Australia. 30 December 1934. p. 15. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"MALENY". The Telegraph. Brisbane. 13 August 1937. p. 17 (City Final Last Minute News). Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Dedication of Church at Caloundra". The Telegraph. Brisbane. 23 January 1939. p. 3 (City Final Last Minute News). Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Parish profile"(PDF). The Anglican Parish of Caloundra-Glasshouse Country. p. 3. Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Gubbi Gubbi". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
