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Arthur Wallace

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HERITAGE NOOSA

Gympie Terrace

DETAILS

DescriptionAt the end of the 19th Century, downstream from the young town of Tewantin, a few houses were built on the southern bank of the Noosa River. It became known as Gympie Terrace. Its name grew from the fact that all of its earliest settlers came from the gold mining town of Gympie. Some still worked there, only using their places on the Noosa River for weekends and holidays. The idyllic spot was perfect for peace and quiet, and perhaps a spell of fishing. Families began to settle on Gympie Terrace permanently. Over the decades it has grown into the flourishing Noosaville we know and love, remaining a perfect place for holidays or to live and enjoy all of the comforts of modern Australian life.

First Australians made this land home tens of thousands of years ago. The Noosa River and the surrounding country belonged to countless generations of the Kabi Kabi nation. The estuary was full of fish and oysters, and the land was rich with casuarina, ash, gums, mahogany, honeysuckle, bloodwood, stringy bark, tea tree, scrub tree and box tree.

Colonial interest in the Noosa area began with timber in the early 1860s. When gold was discovered nearby in Gympie in 1867, development increased quickly in the area. Tewantin was established as a port for the local timber industry and to supply the booming town of Gympie. In the 1870s and 1880s a small number of miners and families from Gympie built houses on the bank downriver from Tewantin. This area became known as ‘Gympie Terrace’.

For nearly 60 years the only way to reach Gympie Terrace was by river as there was no bridge across the mouth of Lake Doonella to connect Gympie Terrace to Tewantin.

The railway line from Brisbane to Gympie was completed in 1891 and rail became the preferred mode of transport for passengers and goods to Gympie. This reduced the use of Tewantin as a port and by the turn of the 20th Century the wharves were largely abandoned and in decay.

When Noosa Shire was formed in 1910, the population was estimated at 2000. Around 30 of these people lived at Gympie Terrace. Following the long, difficult years of the First World War (1914-1918), the 1920s brought many new residents to Gympie Terrace. It also saw a marked increase in holidaying and camping along the Noosa River, especially at Easter and Christmastime.

In 1929, Gympie Terrace was connected to Tewantin by a bridge over Lake Doonella, and to Noosa Heads by a bridge over Weyba Creek. Access via land and an increasing number of automobiles brought many more residents and visitors to the idyllic spot. The river’s reputation for fantastic fishing was spreading also.

By 1933, there were about 60 houses and shops at Gympie Terrace. Soon free buses would carry the residents of Gympie Terrace and Noosa Heads into Tewantin to attend the cinema on Saturday evenings.

During the Second World War, some troops from the 2/14th Battalion spent time training in amphibious vehicles on the river and Lake Weyba. In the winter of 1942, Maisie Massoud fed hundreds of them each day from the wood fired ovens at her family’s café on Gympie Terrace. The Department of Army Artillery then used the area for artillery practice in the summer.

After the war, fishing increased significantly. Professional fisherman and prawners multiplied. Boat hire businesses for amateur fisherfolk and holidaymakers were established on Gympie Terrace also. Electricity was connected to the suburb now known as Noosaville in 1947 and urban development began to increase in the area over the ensuing decades. By 1967, Noosaville had 430 dwellings.

The 1970s saw large amounts of land along Hilton Terrace sold for residential development and Hay’s Island reclaimed and turned into Noosa Sound. In 1974 a bridge was opened on Noosa Parade connecting Munna Point to Noosa Sound and thence to Noosa Heads.

Expansions of the Sunshine Coast Airport in the 1980s and 1990s increased visitor numbers further.

Construction of the large subdivision called Noosa Waters began in 1990, the same year that the Council restricted building height to four storeys throughout the shire. The same year camping was banned at Noosa Woods, leaving Munna Point as the last camping space on the estuary.

In 1993, a 9-hectare community complex, which includes Wallace House, Noosaville Library and the Noosa Leisure Centre, was opened at Wallace Park. This land was the site of Noosaville’s first house.

At the beginning of the 21st Century, there were 6,808 residents in Noosaville out of Noosa Shire’s population was around 46,000.

Over the years, there have been proposals to change the name of Gympie Terrace. Residents with long ties to the street were strongly opposed. The original name remains as a reminder of the history and origins of this area.

Photograph

Aerial view Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, ca 1987-1992

Aerial view Munna Beach Apartments and T Boat Hire, Noosaville

Aerial view, Gympie Terrace and Keyser Island, Noosaville

Aerial view, cnr Gympie Terrace and Weyba Road, Noosaville

Blue River Lodge, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, ca 1987-1992

Boarding House, 177 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 1980s

Boarding House, 177 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, ca 1987-1992

Boat Ramp, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville

Boat Ramp, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 1970s

Building under construction, 177 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 2000

Dwelling, 291 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, ca 1987-1992

Dwelling, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 1980s

Elvis statue, Offshore Noosa Resort, Noosaville

Fishing Boats, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville

Flooding, Cnr Gympie Terrace and Thomas Street, Noosaville, 1992

Flooding, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 1992

Flooding, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, ca 1987-1992

Flooding, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, ca 1992

Flooding, corner Gympie Terrace and Thomas Street, Noosaville, February 1992

Fred and Esme Canfield (l-r) with friends, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, January 1943

People & Family

Burgess Family

David Elder Reid

Ely Family

George Salta

Gibson Family

Joe Keyser

Massoud Family

Parkyn Family

Tom Salta

Walter Hay

Business

George's Sports Store

Maisie's Restaurant

O Boats

T Boat Hire

Terrace Stores

U-Drive Boat Hire

Postcard

Gympie Terrace, Noosaville

Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 1947

Gympie Terrace, Tewantin, 1947

Noosa River Country Lodge

Queenslander, Cnr Gympie Terrace and Thomas Street, Noosaville, ca 1941-1944

Souvenir of Tewantin and Noosa. 12 Views in colour

Article & Manuscript

A brief history of boats on the Noosa River

A brief history of fishing on the Noosa River

A brief history of floods on the Noosa River

Gympie Terrace: A Not So Brief History

Holidays and Camping on Gympie Terrace

Landmarks & Memorials

Elvis Statue

Pete the Pelican

Tree of Knowledge

Motels & Guesthouses

Kirriwina Motel and Caravan Park

Noosa Riverlodge Motel

Ocean Breeze Motel

Organisations & Club

Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club

CONNECTIONS

LocalityNoosavillePlaceNoosa Leisure CentrePersonArthur WallaceFamilyWallace familyOrganisation & ClubNoosa Arts and Crafts AssociationNoosa Bridge ClubNoosa Community SupportTewantin-Noosa Meals on Wheels Endeavour Foundation

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Gympie Terrace