A truly sustainable community project:

HISTORY: Cooroy was established in the late 1880’s as a logging centre to mill timber from the surrounding land. As settlement spread rapidly from the central points on the railway, so did sawmills and eventually there were in excess of 30 mills. Timber supplies tended to support such mills for up to 20 years.

Only a few sawmills continued into the 1990’s. Straker’s sawmill in Cooran and Cooroy dominated the area in the period from the end of the Second World War (1945) and the Cooroy mill continued to expand and became the largest hardwood mill in Queensland until it was closed in October 2000 by actions of the Queensland Government.

DISASTER STRIKES: Premier Beattie’s actions cost Cooroy over 80 jobs and the community did not take this lying down. The Cooroy Taskforce was formed comprising community members as well as representation from Noosa Council. Lengthy negotiations resulted in the State Government finally donating the land to Noosa Council for the Cooroy community.

A deeply trusting relationship between the Council and the community gave birth to the Cooroy Lower Mill Board In in 2004, comprising 3 members chosen by council, 3 chosen by the Cooroy Chamber of Commerce and then another three from the community chosen by this 6.  A councillor was invited to attend meetings as a non voting member.

OUT OF THE ASHES: With hard work and tenacity many improvements were made to the acreage that was the Lower Mill Site. To the credit of council and the dedicated people of the Lower Mill Board, the former mill site continues to develop as a precinct for the use and benefit of the Cooroy community. By re-locating buildings, refurbishing selected ones and adding new structures along with the active participation of the Cooroora Woodworkers club (the Woodies) and Camphor Laurel project (Camphor) the old boiler house has been restored and we even have a Peppers Ghost to tell visitors about how the mill used to run. The Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre presents a changing program of local and touring art and heritage exhibitions, with free admission, an ongoing workshop program and a well-equipped ceramics workshop and kiln firing services. Add to this the building of an ultramodern Cooroy Library and we have a vibrant and innovative community space. The ever present Friends of Mill Place provide the necessary volunteers to make the place work.

BLUE SKIES AHEAD: The Cooroy Future Group Inc is incorporated and continues the worthy work of the community of Cooroy. New projects are on the drawing board to continue to enhance this beautiful precinct for the benefit of future generations.

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

Mill Site History

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. 

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.

Recent History: 

  • Year 2004 - Cooroy Lower Mill Board formed by community and Noosa Council to oversee the development of the land.
  • 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.
  • Year 2008 - Refurbishment of heritage boiler and kilns
  • Year 2009 - Sale of remaining commercial land, regeneration of riparian zone, construction of library
  • Year 2010 - Official opening of library
  • Year 2013 - Opening of the Log Maze
  • Year 2015 - Cooroy Lower Mill Board renamed Cooroy Future Group Inc
  • Year 2016 - Management of the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre passed to the Cooroy Future Group Inc

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

Mill Place Background

When Mill Place was in concept stage the aim was for it to be a landmark civic precinct both at the geographic and social heart of the Cooroy community which would include public library, community facilities and technology access. The aim was for it to reflect the relaxed country atmosphere of the hinterland and be an accessible, welcoming community hub that would draw people together and that they could be proud of. It was to demonstrate best practice in environmentally sustainable design while also delivering practical functionality. It was to inspire and nurture the community's recreational, educational, cultural and creative needs.

As part of Queensland’s 150th Celebrations Legacy Infrastructure Program, Mill Place celebrated the heritage of the Noosa region and created pathways to the future.

Project Components

The components of the Mill Place precinct include:

  1. Library - funding of $3.5 million by State Government under the Q150 Legacy Infrastructure Program with additional funding from Sunshine Coast Regional Council providing a total project budget of $9.55 million. Brewster Hjorth Architects are the architects for Mill Place and are one of the leading public library designers in Australia - refer to the architectural drawing (copyright Copyright of Brewster Hjorth Pty Limited 2008 All rights reserved). Hutchinson Builders were appointed for the construction of the Library and work commenced in March 2009. The development incorporated a Public Library of approximately 1,300 m2 including Global Connect online centre, meeting room facilities and café; community square and public art; and landscaping and parking areas.
  2. Cooroy Butter Factory– creating a precinct to connect the Butter Factory to the Mill Place development.
  3. Noosa Clever Networks project – delivering world-class broadband and data storage facilities to the Noosa hinterland. This $5 million project received funding of $1.2 million from the Federal Government and $4 million from the three major partners: Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Mach Technology and Allegro. The project planned to incorporate a wireless broadband feed to Noosa hinterland; construction of a data storage centre; and connection of the fibre optic cable to the Data Centre and the Library.

Milestones

  • Tender for Design team - Completed June 2007
  • Design Phase - Completed February 2008
  • Development Approval -  Completed March 2009
  • Tender for Construction - October 2008 to January 2009
  • Construction- April 2009 December 2009
  • Commissioning - January / February 2010
  • Official Opening June 2010

Master Plan

The Lower Mill Board supported by Noosa Council commissioned the development of a Master Plan for the Lower Mill Site which was prepared by consultant Shaun Walsh.  The Master Plan was approved by Noosa Council in 2006 and the Lower Mill Board believes the vision for the site has been realised by the attraction of organisations that are focused on "Design for Living" activities and apply excellence, innovation and training as intrinsic components of their approach and processes for use of the land.

The Master Plan saw the creation of four precincts:

  • Creative and Learning
  • Design for Living Centre
  • Design for Living Enterprises
  • Greenbelt

The implementation of the Master Plan continues today.

The Master Plan details the development vision and concepts of the site as well as providing additional information on the history of the site and the Cooroy Task Force which was the community group which preceded the current Lower Mill Board.

Master Plan- Precincts
Master Plan- Precincts
Master Plan - Concept
Master Plan – Concept
Library Concept
Library Concept