Council exhibition tells the story of the last 50 years of Noosa's history
What’s up Sunshine? is Noosa Council’s exhibition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the naming of the Sunshine Coast, focusing on Noosa over the past half-century.
To open on June 15, What’s up Sunshine? features more than 400 photographs and pieces of memorabilia.
Combined, they tell some of the stories of Noosa’s social and cultural history.
The exhibition features photographs and video by leading local and Queensland artists as well as historic images from the Picture Noosa collection.
“The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore the region’s contemporary stories,” says exhibition curator, John Waldron.
“Picture Noosa has a significant collection that documents the life of Noosa and the region over the past five decades. These images mixed with the creative works of artist photographers reveal events both good and bad. They show the changing landscape, towns and fashion, and document people celebrating, achieving, getting on with life and having fun.
“It’s likely that local visitors to the exhibition may spot themselves in the photos on display and, if so, we’d love to hear their stories.”
The display of memorabilia includes postcards, posters, maps, brochures, souvenir teaspoons, as well as some more quirky or unique items such as a banana money box and the first King of the Mountain cup, plus a Noosa version of Monopoly.
"Thanks to the many donors and clever curation, What’s up Sunshine? is a fond walk down memory lane for those who remember Noosa in those happy days, and a fun peek into Noosa's story for those who wish they'd been there," says Cr Ingrid Jackson, Chair of Noosa Council’s Sunshine Coast 50th Anniversary Working Group.
Members of the community have donated many of the objects on display, with others sourced from the Noosa Library Service Heritage Library and Noosa Museum collections.
Artists whose work features in the exhibition include: Glen O’Malley, Mal Sutherland, Judy Barrass, Emma Freeman, Brian Rogers, Bianca Beetson, James Muller, Larisa Salton, Lin Martin, Raoul Slater, Blair McNamara and Andy Staley as well as press photographers Bill Griffiths and Ian Murray
The exhibition is part of the range of activities planned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the naming of the Sunshine Coast.
August 2017 marks 50 years since the adoption of the name ‘Sunshine Coast’ to describe the region from Caloundra to Noosa.
The then Landsborough, Maroochy and Noosa councils endorsed the name to cover the three shires for promotional purposes. “Sunshine Coast” replaced the name “Near North Coast”, which had previously been in use. It was not considered distinct enough or identifiable by southerners.
The Sunshine Coast name was officially gazetted by the Queensland Government in July 1967 to take effect from 1 August 1967.
The exhibition is proudly supported by Noosa Council’s Heritage Levy.
What’s up Sunshine? will open on 15 June and run until 23 July 2017 at Noosa Regional Gallery. Excerpts of the exhibition will be on display at Noosaville Library from 25 July to 14 August.
14 June 2017