A time capsule has offered a trip back in time to the days when $10 would buy a decent meal out and a block of land on the Sunshine Coast cost well under $100,000.
The capsule was buried 25 years ago near the Landmark building on the Mooloolaba Esplanade and has been unearthed in a ceremony attended by Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli, two of the figures involved in its burial, and business representatives.
The capsule contained letters from then-Maroochy Shire Mayor Don Culley and prominent developer Graeme Juniper, along with newspapers from December 31 1999 and January 1 2000 – the turn of the millennium.
It also held a bottle of Tyrell’s tawny port, photos, tourism brochures, clippings from a newspaper business section promoting the Sunshine Coast as “the place to invest” in the new century, a Celebrate 2000 stamp collection, and a 1999 commemorative coin set dedicated to the International Year of Older Persons.
The newspaper stories, advertisements and classifieds hark of a more affordable and low-tech time.
The Caloundra Bowls Club had a $3.95 T-bone daily bistro special, while Maroochy Surf Club had a $8.95 Monday steak night, and Alfies at Caloundra offered a three-course menu for $25.
A two-bedroom unit at Alexandra Headland rented for $115 a week, while $190 a week would get a three-bedroom air-conditioned unit with ocean views, and a three-bedroom house on acreage at Palmwoods went for $195 a week.
Land at Chancellor Park was advertised at $52,000, a beachside home on Oceanic Drive cost $219,000, and a Brisbane investor snapped up five Mooloolaba penthouses for $2.5 million.
A 1980 Datsun 200B was $500 or nearest offer, Notting Hill was one of the top videos to hire, and the lovelorn took to the newspaper classifieds rather than Tinder.
Mr Culley’s letter hoped that the world would survive the millennium bug, the Y2K computer issue that was expected to strike as clocks ticked over from 1999 to 2000.
He also wrote that although it was a “remote possibility”, he would like to be around to see the opening of the time capsule, a feat he has managed to pull off by reaching the ripe old age of 95.
His wishes for the region included “continuing acquisition of fragile areas of land requiring conservation and rehabilitation for fauna and flora, from the Coast to the hinterland, as well as connections with our adjoining Shires and City (Caloundra)”.
The Sunshine Coast Council has secured 4235 hectares for conservation since Maroochy Shire and Caloundra City began programs in the 1990s before council amalgamation.
Mr Culley’s final wishes were a “healthy ocean”, “plentiful mullet and bream” and “everyone enjoying themselves in a very beautiful and special area known as the Sunshine Coast which we have tried to sensitively develop and protect”.
He was delighted to see council initiatives such as the Coastal Health Report and Healthy Coast Management Plan championing his vision.
Mr Juniper’s time capsule letter covered the need to preserve the history of “a vital period”.
He documented changes at Mooloolaba, such as the arrival of The Wharf and its associated marina and Underwater World in 1984, and projects including Landmark, Zanzibar, Malibu, Sirocco and Sea Temple, later renamed Oceans Mooloolaba.
“It will be interesting to see whether these buildings stand the test of time and remain as architectural icons, which was the intent of our company and architect Peter Conley, to create quality on The Esplanade that we could all look back and be proud of,” Mr Juniper wrote in 2000.
He also confidently and successfully predicted Mooloolaba would have “found its place as one of the premier tourist destinations north of Brisbane”.
Mayor Natoli said the capsule opening was an opportunity to reflect on the past 25 years and how much the region had flourished.
“Mr Juniper’s vision for Mooloolaba as a tourist haven definitely came true, and Mr Culley’s advice regarding preserving the environment – our number one resource – could not have been wiser,” she said.
“It is amazing to see what’s changed since 2000 and vital that we learn from the past 25 years as we shape the next 25.”
More millennium memories:
- 100,000 gathered to herald a new century.
- A “mini-tornado” tore off roofs and brought down 60 powerlines at Nambour, Palmwoods, Chevallum and Dulong.
- A concrete pool (8m x 4m) with bonus pool fence cost $11,950.
- The Holden Commodore was Australia’s best-selling car for the fourth year in a row (1996-1999).
- Alex Lloyd, Screaming Jets and Killing Heidi played at Nambour RSL, while Jimmy Barnes rocked the Ettamogah Pub.
- Top videos to rent were Notting Hill, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Matrix and Two Hands.
- The “top flicks” were The Blair Witch Project, Toy Story 2, End of Days, Sleepy Hollow and Inspector Gadget.
- CDs cost from $5 and popular artists were Vanessa Amorosi (“Absolutely Everybody”), Macy Gray (“I Try”), Tom Jones and the Cardigans (“Burning Down the House”) and Madison Avenue (“Don’t Call Me Baby”).
- Dick Smith Electronics was selling a home phone with call waiting feature $49.
- Australia had claimed a 2-0 lead in the cricket Test series against India.
- The Checkout Connections classified ads read: “Sunshine Coast guy, 53, tall, medium build, NS (non-smoker), SD (social drinker), hardworking, responsible and caring with no hang-ups, would like to meet a special lady and form a lasting relationship”. And “Cuddly mum, 37, NS, SD, enjoys speedway and cooking, seeks caring man for friendship VTPR (view to permanent relationship) 34-45, must be genuine”.
