Backward Glance: Sunshine Coast’s café’s and their stories (Part 1)

The café latte set is thought to be a modern trend but history shows us that cafés and local restaurants were part of Sunshine Coast life from very early days.

These old-time restaurants provided many memories of a favourite eating place, whether it be Collins’ Pies or the burgers at the Chuck Wagon in Maroochydore.

One of the earliest cafés on the coast was the Ocean Beach Café at Maroochydore, directly opposite Maroochydore Beach.

This two-storey structure remained a fixture in the Maroochydore area since 1924.

The original café burnt down in 1929 and was replaced in 1930 with the help of Mr Lanham of Nambour.

Lanham’s operated a hardware business in Nambour which was established by Walter Lanham in 1910.

Maroochydore’s Ocean Beach Cafe provided refreshments for the beachgoers and was advertised as a “refreshment room” selling ice cream, confectionery, soft drinks and fruit and ice cream.

In latter days, the café traded as the Chuck Wagon and it was a favourite haunt for surfers and beachgoers. It had a reputation for the best burgers on the coast.

By 1935, the café scene was thriving with most towns having a tea room or café as part of their business district.

Caloundra had Theodore’s Coronation Tea Room at Kings Beach.

This icon built in 1936 not only served Goldenia tea (as the tea of choice) but coffee as an alternative. Coffee was not always on menus at that time.

Another of the earlier cafés on the Sunshine Coast was the Glen Ellice Café situated on the corner of Minchinton and Bulcock streets in Caloundra.

The café was built by Bob Maltman and was used as a canteen for the Australian Army Northern Command during World War II.

Alderdice’s Bakery and Caloundra Café situated between Dingle and Bulcock streets was built in about 1927 in front of Mr Alderdice’s home beside the track to Caloundra Lighthouse.

The Seabreeze Café owned by Eva Cochrane was also a popular place when visiting Caloundra. Eva ran the Seabreeze Café until 1944.

Comino’s Café in Bulcock Street opened in 1940 and ran till 1952.

Comino’s was extremely busy during the war years with American soldiers providing much of their business.

It is rumoured that US General Douglas MacArthur stopped at Comino’s during the war years.

Military tanks were often seen in Bulcock Street during WWII pulled up outside cafes while the soldiers went in for drinks or snacks.

Mooloolaba was a favoured holiday spot, with the Bondoola guesthouse a favourite holiday destination.

The guesthouse was situated on the corner of Foote Street and River Esplanade.

The two-storey building was erected by Lanham Brothers in 1928 for Charles Clarke, who had purchased the land facing the public wharf on River Esplanade, Mooloolaba in 1925.

Bondoola contained a boarding house, café and store and became a popular destination for holidaymakers.

The boarding house closed shortly after the death of Charles's wife, Minnie in 1942 and Charles' daughter Gertrude (Gertie Clarke) continued to run the café and shop.

In 1976, the building and land were sold.

Records show that the Bondoola was a popular place with visitors as is shown by the recording of visitors in the local newspaper.

It was a venue for card evenings, fishing and trips to the hinterland.

One of the most notable cafes and restaurants on the Sunshine Coast was the Boolarong.

Initially it commenced as a trendy drive-in expresso bar – the first of its kind in Australia.

Betsan Coates had purchased the site in the early 1950s and the first incarnation of the Boolarong was opened in 1957, followed closely by a one story hotel.

Remembered for its cool oasis like feel and modern décor it was an icon of the Sunshine Coast.

The drive-in café evolved into a modern two-storey hotel, with many notables spending time at the Boolarong including Prime Ministers McMahon and Whitlam and television favourites Bert and Patty Newton who had their honeymoon at the Boolarong.

Cotton Tree was a favourite holiday destination for people and the Whites Kool Korner Café at the corner of King Street and Cotton Tree Parade was one of the favourite shops.

Built in 1935 by Albert John Foster, a sawmiller from Cooloolabin, it was named after the “cool sea breeze” in the area.

It sold all the items needed for a great holiday as well as drinks, bakery and dairy items.

It was bought by the MacLeod’s in 1962 who renovated it into an American-style café and it was renamed Cotton Tree Inn. It was sadly destroyed by fire in 1977.

The Moffatt Beach Post Office and Café was one of the earliest business in the Moffatt Beach area.

The café itself was built in 1937 with a residence overhead, soon followed by a general store next door.

The café was owned by Richard and Beatrice Overland, and the store by their son James and his wife Myrtle Overland.

The business advertised morning and afternoon teas and sold hot water, a necessity for day trippers.

It was also multifunctional hosting the post office, phone booth and in 1945 a post box.

Mrs Holmes from Landsborough had Semloh built in Beerburrum Street, Dicky Beach.

It was a café and guesthouse which she ran until 1957.

Semloh is now the site of Portobello Resort. The name Semloh is Holmes spelt backwards.

One of the more notable and colourful restaurants was Judd’s Tourist’s Restaurant at River Esplanade Mooloolaba.

With its candy cane cabinets, it looked like a very smart restaurant straight from “I Love Lucy”.

The restaurant was a mainstay for grills, hamburger, pies, homemade cakes and advertised “fish and chips cooked while you wait”.

Soft drinks, sundaes, Goldenia tea and coffee, ice creams and smallgoods were all in abundance. This restaurant was sold in 1961.

Cafés performed an important social and community function – just as they do today.

Make sure you catch part 2 next week which will focus on the Hinterland café scene.

Thanks to Sunshine Coast Council’s Heritage Library Officers for the words and Picture Sunshine Coast for the images.

_In 2017 we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Naming of the Sunshine Coast. For more information on this milestone anniversary visit www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/fifty._

Image captions:

Hero image: Ocean Beach Cafe, facing Maroochydore Beach, opposite the Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club clubhouse, Maroochydore, 1924. Built for, and partly by, Wallace Alexander Morrish between late 1922 and 1923 and destroyed by fire in April 1929.

Carousel images:

Image 1: White's Kool Korner Cafe, corner of King Street and Cotton Tree Parade. The cafe was named after the localities 'cool sea breeze'. In 1962 it was purchased by Douglas and Doris MacLeod who renovated the premises and reopened it as the 'Cotton Tree Inn'.

Image 2: 'Bondoola' Boarding House, store and cafe, corner of Foote Street and River Esplanade, Mooloolaba, early 1930s.

Image 3: Glen Cafe situated in Queen Street, Caloundra, 1920. The Cafe was used as a canteen by the Australian Army's Northern Command during World War II.

Image 4: Suncoast Cafe and Flats adjacent to Currimundi Lake, January 1969.