Ian Ross first visited what would become Rainbow Beach in 1960 and fell in love with the place. In 1966, Ian was transferred to Gympie by his employer the Southern Electric Authority of Queensland (now Energex) and was able to again renew an interest in the area. Queensland Titanium Mines who were sand mining the Inskip Peninsular were our largest customer and received appropriate attention from the Electric Authority and visits to the area were not uncommon. Widgee Shire Council the local authority back then was keen to develop a township in the area and badgered the Queensland Government through 1968 to subdivide the land between the mineral sand plant and the Rainbow Beach Road. There persistence eventually was successful a township was surveyed and Council was commissioned to build the roads in the proposed estate.
It was finished quickly and the formation of the proposed town announced in the Government Gazette on 15th February 1969. The land sale would be by Auction and held in the Gympie Land Office on 26th March. Ian did not think he had any chance of getting a block but called at the Land Office and collected a brochure a few days ahead of the Auction. There were 25 blocks in the subdivision divided into 4 sections. Section 1 which was nearest the sand mining plant and comprised 5 blocks was not offered for sale and Ian was advised, was being held for possible future sale to residents involved in the Sand Mining operation. The 7 blocks along Rainbow Beach Road, 3 of which were occupied by houses for maintenance staff of the Sand Mining company were also withheld presumably for sale as commercial blocks as the town developed.
Ian arrived at the Lands Office in Channon Street Gympie on the 26th March 1969 about half an hour before the proposed sale. It was a very small building staffed only by the local Lands Department Officer who Ian thought was known as the land agent and an assistant. There were no private Auctioneers present the Government Land Agent would conduct the Auction. The Widgee Shire Council was well represented by Shire Chairman Neal Buchanan, Shire Clerk K. C. Rafter, Engineer Don Clarkson and several other Councilors, all lookers Ian presumed. There were only about six or seven others.
One person Ian did recognize was Amamoor Farmer Gordon Elmer. Ian had got to know Gordon and who could miss his farm with a large Ferro Concrete Barge taking shape in the back yard. Gordon had moved his Barge to Inskip Point in 1967 and now 2 years later was operating a successful Fraser Island Ferry service and the farm was falling in to disuse. I could certainly understand why he would wish to move to Rainbow Beach.
The Auction got underway on time at 11 Oclock the Land Agent first reading out all the many conditions imposed at Government Sales. It started with Lot 1 described as lot 1 of section 2 which today you will recognize as the block on the corner of Ilmenite Avenue and Clarkson Drive across road from Doctors Surgery. The upset price was $630 and the auctioneer called for an opening bid. Gordon’s hand shot up. Further bids were called, all quiet, the hammer fell and Gordon Elmer became the first land owner at Rainbow Beach for the upset price of $630 less 10% if you had cash to pay on the day.
The auctioneer moved to the adjacent lot 2 the upset price was $30 less this time only $600, somebody would surly snap this bargain up. The bidding was opened all was quiet, a second and third chance were offered still no bids and the lot was passed in. The auction moved to lot 3 and astoundingly the same result. The auction then moved to lot 5. Lot 4 was not offered as it was encumbered by a powerline that Queensland Titanium Mines had built from the the mineral sands dry plant to their houses in Rainbow Beach Road. The power line effected other blocks in section 3 and 4 also.
The auction moved to lot 6 the last in what is now Ilmenite Avenue, Ian figured there would someday be a road along the front and this would become a corner block. The upset price had risen to $650 but surly this was well worth it. Was Ian game with a mortgage in Gympie and a wife and 2 kids to feed? The auction opened no bids at the first time of asking, no bids second time, Gordon Elmer was looking at me with a forlorn look on his face he obviously didn’t want to be left alone as the only land owner at Rainbow Beach. Damm it my hand shot up the hammer fell just as quickly and Ian and his wife Lesley become the second land owners at Rainbow Beach.
How would they pay for it? The Queensland Government did offer extremely good terms and you could pay it off over 10 years if you wish but it would be good to pay cash and get the 10% discount. Ian approached his Dad who offered a loan and we were able to pay cash. Having made this commitment Ian did not pay a lot of attention to the rest of the Auction but can report there were another 5 buyers most of whom received their block for the upset price. Ian think’s there was some spirited bidding for the last block lot 7 in section 4 which attracted above $1000. For the Lands Department only selling 7 out of 25 blocks was a bitter disappointment and it would be three years before they attempted a second Land Sale.
Gordon Elmer built a house quickly on his land and consequently became the first permanent resident in the town as well as the first land owner. For Ian and Lesley it would be camping for a few years and then an onsite caravan. There was a building covenant on the land sale which did require the land to be developed to the extent of $2000 in 2 years. Ian and Lesley did test this out but were able to finance a small 2 bedroom unit by 1972. The property has been improved and extended over the years, there are now 2 units there and the property is called Palmgrove after Coconut trees the family planted around the perimeter. The property is still in the family although the ownership has changed to Ian and Lesley’s son and daughter in law.
Ian will tell the story of the later Land Sales in another article.