Tales from the Regions
As told by early settlers
Revoiced by Noosa Museum
From: Historical Tales of the Noosa Shire
Written by: Irene Christie, Edna Smith & Olive Macklin
Published by: Hessie Lindsell
Personal stories of toil, triumph and tragedy
As told by early settlers in the Noosa Shire
Available from Noosa Museum
Animated Episodes
Events from our colourful past,
brought to life onscreen
Tales from the Cooran district
Mr Christie Kenny's recollections of early days in Cooran
Harrowing times, joyous times
Misfortune overcome; Mrs Vera Grady's Story of pioneering days on Elanda Plains and in the Wahpunga district
When things go wrong
Brushes with death; An act of instant karma
Pranksters at large
Tricks played on unsuspecting locals
A full day's journey to Gympie and back
Traveston Powder Magazine
A glimpse into the colourful past of the Traveston Soldiers Memorial Hall, formerly an explosives magazine, and its sometimes shocking effect on the township
Towns and Places
A brief history of some of the towns and localities in our region
Could this be you?
Tell us your story
Tell Us Your Story
Maybe you have a story to tell, something about our region that needs sharing, before it's forgotten?
A tale from the past, a family history, a recollection of early days, a rare snippet of information, maybe even the story behind a museum item.
We can help.
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Welcome to Capturing the Past: Noosa Museum's oral history series.
Noosa Museum holds a vast collection of artifacts reflecting the history of our region.
They include items on display, Heritage photos, Family histories, Working machinery.
Most of these have a story to tell. Could you be the one to tell it?
We can make it happen.
We'll guide you in capturing your recollections, and, with your kind permission, we'll make the result available to everyone through our website.
All you need do is tell us your story, in your own words, and we'll do the rest.
Reckon you've got a story to tell? There's a form on our website where you can register your interest.
Visit noosamuseum.org for more information.
Doonella Bridge Opening, 1929
As told by Neil from Tewantin
Sample Episode
In this episode, Neil from Tewantin tells of the opening of the bridge over Lake Doonella entrance, and the effect it had on the future of the town.
Disclaimer: This episode was created for demonstration purposes only. It includes digitally generated content.
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I've lived here most of my life. My dad was born here, my grandad moved here in the nineteenth century.
Growing up, I sometimes heard my elders reminisce about the opening of the bridge at Lake Doonella entrance.
Apparently, it was a significant event in the lives of the townfolk.
Before the 1930's, Tewantin was more easily accessible by river than by road.
There were rough dirt tracks to places such as Cooroy and Eumundi, where you could catch the train to Brisbane.
But to get to Noosa, it was easier to catch the ferry than to drive around Lake Doonella.
This changed when the Doonella Bridge opened in October, 1929, to much fanfare and celebration.
Tewantin was abuzz, the streets were packed with bystanders, as a lineup of cars awaited their chance to make the historic crossing.
Local businesses relished the occasion, now the town had become accessible to customers from farther afield.
Unsurprisingly, the pubs also enjoyed the benefits.
They were easygoing times, when a Sunday drive often involved a stopover at your favourite beer garden.