Cooloola National Park timeline

Historic dates

  • 1866
    • Timber getters began felling timber in Kin Kin Scrubs
  • 1869
    • Sawmill contructed and operated at Mill Point
  • 1870
    • Logging of Cooloola's sandmass forests begun
  • 1871
  • 1874
    • School opened
  • 1878
    • Telephone connection and plans announced to lay four miles of railway to be pulled by horses or small traction engine.
  • 1892
    • Mill closed. Cemetery contained 10 men, 4 women and 33 children.
  • 1910 - 1970
    • Development of grazing and dairy industries.
  • 1963
    • Beginning of "Cooloola Conflict" with Noosa Parks Development Association opposing sand mining operations along Teewah Beach.
  • 1964
    • Cudgen Rutile Pty Ltd is joined by Queensland Titanium Mines Pty Ltd to continue prospecting and applying for leases.
    • NPDA applies to Forestry Department for National Park on Cooloola sandmass
  • 1966
    • QTM begins mining at Inskip Point.
    • Commonwealth Government calls tenders to mine Double Island Point.
  • 1968
    • Government makes first National Park proposal for 1000 acres along top of sandmass.
    • Commonwealth Government again calls tenders to mine Double Island Point.
  • 1969
    • Forestry Department proposes National Park of about 60 000 acres in Cooloola State Forest.
    • Government promises National Park covering 'a substantial area'.
  • 1970
    • Cudgen Rutile and Qld Titanium Mines apply for 11 leases totalling 10 500 acres.
    • Government rejects applications following public concern.  Both mining companies threaten to sue Government.
    • Cooloola Committee formed to handle actions in Brisbane.
  • 1971
    • Boronia keysii is re-discovered in Kin Kin Creek area.
  • 1972
    • Road to Freshwater is built.
  • 1973
    • Mining of leases between Double Island Point and Freshwater Creek commences.
    • Separation plant and stockpile at Freshwater Creek.
    • Mineral trucked down beach to Tewantin.
  • 1974
    • Plan of proposed Cooloola National Park is published.
    • Central State Forest core and Western Catchment not included.
    • Cooloola Committee presses for inclusion of Western Catchment and undertakes botanical survey of area.
    • Cambridge Credit Corporation, owner of Elanda Plains and of about 2 000 acres on North Shore goes into liquidation.
  • 1975
    • National Parks and Wildlife Service formed out of National Parks branch of Forestry Department and the Fauna branch of the DPI.
    • Australian Government buys Elanda Plains for National Parks and Wildlife Service.
    • Cooloola National Park is gazetted one month after Widgee Shire Council obtains pumping rights to remove 1.2 million gallons of water daily from Teewah   Creek (within park boundaries).
  • 1977
    • mining ceases on leases on Teewah Beach.
  • 1978
    • National Parks and Wildlife Service re-routes Freshwater road.
  • 1979
    • land owned by Cambredge Credit Corporation of North Shore (1 400 acres put up for sale and is bought up by southern land developers). Land included Portion 5 (fronting Noosa River and Lake Cooroibah), Portions 1728 and 391 (centred around Halls Knob) and Portion 17 further south.
    • Portions 1728 and 391 sold, followed by Portion 17, to southern developers and Arab investors.
    • National Parks and Wildlife Services releases management plan for public comment.
  • 1980
    • Australian Heritage Commission places Cooloola on Register of the National Estate.                
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