Caloundra

History

Caloundra lies within the Aboriginal Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) language region. The name Caloundra is from the Gubbi Gubbi language Cullowundoor with Kal Owen meaning 'beech tree' (Gmelina leichhardtii) and Dha meaning 'place'. Point Wickham was in use by 1860, where it was noted on official maps. In an 1892 map it is named "Caloundra Head (Wickham Point)" and at some time later the use of Caloundra Head became dominant and the use of the name Point Wickham seems to have discontinued. In 1875, Robert Bulcock, an English immigrant who founded a Brisbane newspaper and later represented the Brisbane electorate of Enoggera in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1885 until 1888, bought of land in the region. A town was surveyed in the 1870s, and land sales commenced in 1883. The first allotments of land in Caloundra were advertised for public auction on 28 August 1883. The map states 'the land is of a sandstone nature, undulating and ridgy, heavily timbered with Gum, Bloodwood, Tea-tree and Oak'. A 1907 map shows several sections from George Street to Ernest St advertised for auction on 7 January 1907 by the Government Land Office. With its proximity to beaches, the area became popular with tourists and a number of hotels and guest houses were set up to accommodate them. In 1917, Bulcock's son, Robert Bulcock Jr, who was a councillor in the Shire of Landsborough, subdivided part of the land into 404 lots. This area became known as Bulcock Beach. In 1919, 29 subdivided allotments of 'Caloundra Heads Estate' were advertised to be auctioned on 20 December 1919 by Cameron Bros. in Brisbane. A map advertising the auction shows the majority of blocks were on Albert Street between King Street and Kings Beach. Another undated map shows more…

Geography

Caloundra is north of the Brisbane central business district. Caloundra is accessible from Landsborough railway station, away, and the Caloundra bus station. Bribie Island is located across the Pumicestone Passage to the south. Caloundra marks the coastal northern extent of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Most-observed species

• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  3,238
• Noisy Miner

  Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  3,193
• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  3,185
• Welcome Swallow

  Hirundo neoxena Gould, 1842 · Aves
  2,503
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  2,496
• Lewin's Honeyeater

  Meliphaga lewinii (Swainson, 1837) · Aves
  2,273
• Australian Ibis

  Threskiornis molucca (Cuvier, 1829) · Aves
  2,240
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  2,238