Charles Clarke Park

Charles Clarke was a prominent member of the Mooloolaba region during the early 1920s right up until his death in August 1968, aged 77. He purchased land in front of the public wharf on River Esplanade, Mooloolaba in 1925 while living with his family in Buderim. Charles worked in various trades before joining Queensland Railway and after five years as manager of the Buderim to Palmwoods Tramway, he began a carrying business at Buderim. In 1922 Charles started the first regular service to Buderim, Alexandra Headland and Mooloolaba using his own bus. The bus was a Ford Model T, one ton truck fitted with a covered wagon type of all-weather protection and canvas seats. It could carry eleven passengers and provided a daily service except Wednesday and Sundays. Charles extended his transport business to include carrying milk, mail and various grocery lines. The Ford bus lacked sufficient power to take full loads up the hill to Buderim (then known as Footes Hill) so adult male passengers had to walk up the hill while ladies and children rode in the bus. Charles Clarke subsequently purchased a new, more powerful Federal Knight chassis which was fitted under the same passenger body. This proved a huge success and the arrangements continued on until 1929, when Charles acquired an extra open tower and Willys Knight automobile. He was also the owner and operator of Mooloolah Pioneer Store from January 1, 1922 till December 31, 1925. As Mooloolaba Heads became a popular holiday destination, the Lanham brothers built a two storey building named Bondoola for Charles in 1928 on the land he purchased. Bondoola contained a boarding house, café and store and became a popular holiday destination for people that came to the coast by train to Palmwoods, and then by bus down to Mooloolaba. A week's accommodation cost two guineas ($4.40), including all meals. The boarding house closed shortly after the death of Charles's wife, Minnie, in 1942 his daughter Gertrude (Gertie Clarke) continued to run the café and shop. A Mooloolaba local, Donna Cannon recalls fond memories of this icon shop growing up. "Clarke's store was my local store growing up on Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba. Bought lollies there. So many friends remember Gert and her lolly selection," Donna said. In 1948, Charles Clarke was elected president at the first formal meeting of the Mooloolaba Bowling Club. During his club membership, Charles held the position of President for a total of nine terms and was honoured with a life membership in 1956. In 1976 the Bondoola building and land were sold. The building was renovated and converted to offices in 1986 and was subsequently demolished to make way for a multistorey apartment block which was erected in 2002. The new building retained the name 'Bondoola'.