The history of the site is outlined in the important milestones below which gives some background to the various events that contributed to it being where it is today. For more recent events refer to the Mill Place page, the Creek Precinct Page and the Projects Underway page. 

Photograph: Linley Ball with felled Kauri log on Charles Ball's property near Cooroy Mountain, ca 1912 (courtesy of Maroochy Libraries' Heritage Library)

IMPORTANT MILE STONES:

Year 1907 - Large tracts of land east of Cooroy resumed by the government for closer settlement.  Several sawmills established to mill the timber as the new selections where cleared.

Year 1944 - Straker and Sons Sawmill established on site.

Year 1956 - Four double kilns and new planing mills erected adjacent to the Cooroy Sawmill.

Year 1970 - Wilkinsons of Yandina, Strakers of Cooroy and Cooran and Luttons of the Mary Valley joined together to form Northcoast Sawmills Pty Ltd at Cooroy.

Year 1980  - Quintex bought out Northcoast Sawmills which was later acquired by Boral Timber.

Year 1997 - a fire threatened the Cooroy Mill but was confined to a small area leased for experimental product development.

Year 2000 - Queensland Government closed the Cooroy mill in accordance with the Regional Forest Agreement.

Year 2002 - Queensland Government handed over the Lower Mill Site to Noosa Council to be used for community purposes.

Year 2006 - Board commissioned consultants to prepare a Master Plan to guide the development of the Lower Mill Site and the Butter Factory Precinct in accordance with the Design for Living Concept developed by the Board.

Photograph: Jack Ring with large Kauri log felled on Charles Ball's property near Cooroy Mountain (courtesy of Maroochy Libraries' Heritage Library)