The jetties of Cotton Tree

Maroochy River was a popular route for travel and the distribution of supplies.

Timber on the river

Up until the late 1800s, the sole transport link from Brisbane to the Maroochy area was by boat. Timbergetters such as Petrie, Pettigrew, Low and Grigor arrived on the coast by boat in search of timber resources within the region.

The early explorers used the rivers and creeks to access inland areas. They found a wealth of timber, including red cedar, beech and pine.

From the 1870s, the Maroochy River was used to transport timber harvested from the inland areas and the Blackall Range.

William Pettigrew used Maroochydore as a timber landing place from 1884, twenty years after he first established a depot with James Low and William Grigor, at Mooloolah Heads.

Travel on the river

The Maroochy River was a popular route for travel as there was limited road access within the region. The ferry system and series of jetties along the river provided a means of transport for daily commuters, holiday-makers and the distribution of supplies.

Holiday-makers camped on the banks of Cotton Tree Lagoon from the late 1800s. In 2009, the Cotton Tree caravan park was heritage listed, as it was recognised as being the oldest campground in Queensland.

Download the Timber Heritage Sign displayed in the Black Swan Park.