Rare images reveal fascinating insight into Landsborough’s intriguing evolution
An exciting new exhibition called ‘Landsborough: Then and Now’ is set to launch at Landsborough Museum from Wednesday November 15. As the title suggests, the exhibition will feature objects and photographs highlighting over 25 key sites around town, through an engaging and sometimes surprising ‘then and now’ visual perspective.
Featuring archival photographs from the museum collection, Landsborough and District Historical Society’s repository, and Picture Sunshine Coast, the exhibition chronicles the evolution of the town from early settlement in the 1870s, when it was a Cobb and Co stop on route to the Gympie goldfields – through to its modern day expansion as the gateway town to the Blackall Range.
The exhibition serves as a way to celebrate the rich and often intriguing history of the town, with museum visitors able to glean a fascinating insight into Landsborough’s changing landscape over the years.
Museum Officer, Hayley Rowan, said staff and volunteers had spent months researching, collating and walking around town to capture the same place as the original photos.
Taken from the same viewpoint at different times in the town’s history, she said the new exhibition was a lot of fun to curate and also provided some surprising insights into the richly interwoven tapestry of history, landscape and culture found in Landsborough.
“We really enjoyed exploring the photographs from the move of the Landsborough Hotel, when it was known as the Mellum Club Hotel. Following the course it took from its original home at the roundabout of Landsborough Maleny and Gympie Roads, to its current location on Cribb Street, took a bit of investigating and a few walks through scrub and bush to find the exact location of the original photographs,” Hayley explained.
Hayley said one of interesting aspects of the exhibition was the way it also highlighted the personal histories and names of people who had a connection to the town.
“It is not only the buildings and landscape that make up the story of Landsborough: Then and Now, but also the people who occupied the houses and businesses who’s names are now synonymous with the town. Cribb Street is one of the main streets in Landsborough, but not many know that the land it is on was owned by John Cribb,” Hayley said.
‘What I have found is that Landsborough is still a country town, everyone knows everyone and they are extremely proud of their town. The people and businesses of Landsborough have been so friendly and excited to see the changes that are happening at the museum, so what better way to show off the town than an exhibition in the local museum’, she said.
‘Landsborough: Then and Now’ runs until March 2024.
