Fish 'n' Chips and take-away shops
The take-away shop has always been an important and popular part of the Sunshine Coast experience
The take-away shop has always been an important and popular part of the Sunshine Coast experience. Locals and holidaymakers alike will remember some of the well-known shops where they could get their favourite fish ’n’ chips, hamburgers, malted milks, ice-creams and other take-away delights.
A relaxing holiday or weekend escape for all the family might have included walks on the beach, surfing the waves, even boating along the river where you could try your luck at catching your own dinner. The corner shops were well prepared to provide for your every need, be it boat or canoe hire, ice for the Esky, bait and tackle supplies and of course some refreshments and sandwiches for the day out.
If you were camping in your tent or renting a flat or a caravan at the caravan park you might rely on the nearest store for necessary supplies to make your visit carefree and relaxed. Many shops stocked just about anything the camper or day-tripper might find useful including tourist information and maps of the area. After all, you couldn’t be expected to pack everything.
The family businesses that welcomed the regular holiday crowds to their shops became familiar faces and even friends. Let’s take a look back at some of those memorable, even iconic Sunshine Coast businesses.
Originally published as a Backward Glance story.
Silver Bream Store, corner of the Esplanade and Raleigh Street, Golden Beach, Caloundra, ca 2007. The store, with a boat hire service and bait and tackle bar, also advertised fish and chips and refreshments and had a fuel bowser out the front. It was established opposite Military Jetty by J. and H. Vokes late in 1947 and demolished ca 2010.
Cool Corner Cafe, corner of King Street and Cotton Tree Parade, Cotton Tree, ca 1945. Built by Albert John Foster, a Cooloolabin saw miller and timber merchant, who moved to Maroochydore in 1937. The cafe was located opposite the Cotton Tree Caravan Park and was named after the 'cool sea breeze' at Cotton Tree locality. The cafe also sold groceries and camping supplies. In 1962 the business was taken over by Doug and Doris MacLeod, who extensively renovated the building and redesigned it based on an America-style cafe. Renamed the Cotton Tree Inn, the new premises included a fish and chip shop, a snack bar, eat-in cafe and restaurant and also sold fresh seafood. The building was destroyed by fire in 1977.
Judd's Cafe on River Esplanade, Mooloolaba, August 1959. The cafe was owned and operated by members of the Judd family. Pictured: Proprietors Neil and Phyllis Judd with their children Gale, Dianne, Rodney, Graham and Colin Judd in front of the cafe. The family moved from Toowoomba to Mooloolaba to run the tourists' restaurant in June 1959. The menu included grills, hamburgers, pies, homemade cakes and 'fish and chips freshly cooked while you wait'. Soft drinks, sundaes, Goldenia tea and coffee, ice creams. The Judds sold the business in March 1961.
Interior of Judd's Cafe on River Esplanade, Mooloolaba, August 1959.
Mothers Take-Away shop, Bulcock Beach, Caloundra, ca 2002. Shop frontage of the fast food store advertising a range of convenient food and beverages including fish and chips, hamburgers, sandwiches and drinks.
Golden Take-Away and Convenience Store, 10 Esplanade, Golden Beach, Caloundra, ca 2007. Located near the corner of Leichhardt Street and the Esplanade, the store advertised a variety of goods and services including boat hire, ice, bait and tackle supplies, refreshments, fish and chips, delicatessen products and newspapers. The fibro clad building with a residence on the upper level, was later refurbished and occupied by the hairdressing business Barber by the Sea
Chuck Wagon' take-away store at the corner of Beach Parade and Alexandra Parade, Maroochydore, 1980s. Wallace Alexander Morrish constructed the premises in 1930 after his original cafe (built during 1922-1923) was destroyed by fire on 8 April 1929. The business had traded as the Ocean Beach Cafe and subsequently operated as Chuck Wagon take-away, advertising fish 'n' chips, burgers and refreshments. Ocean view flats were available for rent on the top floor.
Fish and chips shop on The Esplanade, Bulcock Beach, Caloundra, 1960. The shop was located next to a convenience store (right) on the corner of The Esplanade and Minchinton Street. The site was later re-developed to accommodate a modern two storey complex with the Sand Bar Cafe and a fish and chips shop on the ground floor and Tides Restaurant on the top floor.
Silver Bream Store, corner of the Esplanade and Raleigh Street, Golden Beach, Caloundra, ca 2007. The store, with a boat hire service and bait and tackle bar, also advertised fish and chips and refreshments and had a fuel bowser out the front. It was established opposite Military Jetty by J. and H. Vokes late in 1947 and demolished ca 2010.
Cool Corner Cafe, corner of King Street and Cotton Tree Parade, Cotton Tree, ca 1945. Built by Albert John Foster, a Cooloolabin saw miller and timber merchant, who moved to Maroochydore in 1937. The cafe was located opposite the Cotton Tree Caravan Park and was named after the 'cool sea breeze' at Cotton Tree locality. The cafe also sold groceries and camping supplies. In 1962 the business was taken over by Doug and Doris MacLeod, who extensively renovated the building and redesigned it based on an America-style cafe. Renamed the Cotton Tree Inn, the new premises included a fish and chip shop, a snack bar, eat-in cafe and restaurant and also sold fresh seafood. The building was destroyed by fire in 1977.