The owners of Bli Bli’s beloved Sunshine Castle have mapped out a bold new chapter for the attraction – and it has a twist!
One of the Sunshine Coast’s longest-standing tourism drawcards, the castle was forced to vastly reduce operations in January last year.
This followed the discovery of concrete cancer, which made some areas of the 1972-built property unsafe.
However, the owners continue to run mini tours, a toy store and coffee shop.
Despite the setbacks, they have worked towards a positive future for the Coast icon.
Owner-operator Birte Benecke-Uhrig, alias Queen B, said a wonderful solution had emerged, one that would honour the attraction, see it rebuilt in the Bli Bli area, create jobs and provide an enormous tourism boost.
Birte said she had been “inundated with support from the community to keep a castle on the Sunshine Coast”.
She said every effort would be made to save, preserve and repurpose the fittings and “treasures”, including medieval artefacts, from the local icon.
Birte revealed to Sunshine Coast News that the twist was the latest vision would be a project led by the community, not a private enterprise.
“We have gathered the troops and formed a team of motivated and committed supporters and stakeholders to plan what will be a major evolution of the 50-year-old showpiece.”
A not-for-profit organisation will be registered to forge ahead with a mission to rebuild the castle on a block in the Maroochy River cane lands at 479-561 David Low Way, bordered by the Sunshine Motorway.
Birte said a Brisbane-based family-run property developer, very invested in the Sunshine Coast region, had offered the proposed not-for-profit entity tenure on the site.
“Primo Property, which only plans to develop part of the site themselves, has allocated close to 24 hectares for a community precinct that would include the castle, medieval parklands and a range of cultural and heritage elements,” she said.
“It will be called Heartland SC and its goal is to be a community-led sustainable project that provides history, education, culture, a unique event centre and the opportunity for other small special interest groups and NFPs to operate and collaborate.
“The vision is to create value for the entire region with a community and tourism-driven leisure hub.
“Located next to council-planned future sporting fields and amenities and neighboured by the golf course, the Bli Bli Watersports Complex and Muller Park, this area is ideal for a zoning that allows for these type of activities to flourish and enhance our community into the future.”
Birte said the parcel was currently zoned ‘rural’ and would require re-zoning approval to allow it to become a community precinct.
“Heartland SC foresees activities like medieval festivities, markets, food and music events, re-enactment displays and education, local art exhibitions and specialist sporting club opportunities, such as archery.
“Not to forget the return of well-established events such as Opera in the Castle, with a Great Hall and beautiful grounds perfect for weddings, fundraisers and corporate events.”
Birte said the attraction would add to the region’s diverse cultural landscape and she also hoped it would pay homage to Indigenous culture and the area’s cane growing heritage.
She said fundraising would be required, including working towards obtaining support in the way of grants and corporate donations.
“Whilst it may sound ambitious, a project like this could not have better timing, purpose or location. It is our hope that this could be well established and thriving before the 2032 Olympics and decades beyond.”
The current Sunshine Castle site is for sale through Burns Property and is being earmarked for a future development in keeping with the Bli Bli town centre. It comprises four elevated properties that span over 10,244m2.
Originally called the Fairytale Castle, the attraction was built by local Scottish couple Ian and Marcia Hayne in 1972.
Birte said that her family had given the castle an extra 20 years since her parents Bernd and Margret acquired it in 2002, turning it into a multi award-winning tourist and event favourite.
“We have changed names three times in half a century, we have weathered many a storm, now we need to change location and find a new forever home,” she said.
“This will be a home befitting the legacy of the castle and benefitting the future, which is the vision.”
The Heartland SC organisation is encouraging people to contribute their ideas. A community Facebook Page has been set up at www.facebook.com/Heartlandsc-10480255231691.
