In this post, we find out about William Landsborough.
This is the third in our series from Caloundra local history research by a fellow member, Ruth L Carmichael. Knowing the local history for a location helps your understanding of your ancestors’ possible circumstances. From Ruth’s research, this early settlers timeline for Caloundra shows some of the regions key events.
William Landsborough 1825-1886
William Landsborough, one of Australia’s most famous explorers, was born on 21st February 1825 in Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland. He died on 16th March 1886 and was buried near his home “Loch Lamerough” in an area now known as Golden Beach, Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast.
His accomplishments were impressive. He traversed the Australian continent from north to south and in 1861 was called upon to rescue the ill-fated explorers’ Burke and Wills.
William Landsborough’s first wife Caroline Hollingsworth Raine died in 1869 at the young age of 28 after having given birth to three daughters. William’s second wife Maria Theresa Carter, a widow, gave William three sons, the eldest of whom died in the Boer War.
In 1913 William Landsborough’s remains were exhumed for internment at Toowong Cemetery where a memorial monument was built. In 1921 his wife Maria was buried next to him.
A plaque was unveiled by his granddaughter Mary Theresa Christensen in 1966 on the shores of the Pumicestone passage where he once lived providing a lasting reminder of a life well-lived.
William Landsborough Memorial Park
William Landsborough Memorial Park at Golden Beach Shopping Village marks his original burial location. A second plaque refers to the two Moreton Bay fig trees planted by his wife Maria in 1884 near their home at “Loch Lamerough”.
The town of Landsborough in the hinterland was named after him. Visit the Landsborough Museum for a history of the Landsborough Shire Council from 1912 until 1987 when renamed Caloundra City. Caloundra amalgamated with Maroochydore and Noosa to become the Sunshine Coast Council in 2008. Noosa became independent in 2014.
If you missed it, read part 1 and part 2. Thanks to member, Ruth L Carmichael for sharing. If any other Caloundra Family History member has stories to share in the Caloundra Clipper then contact the editor. Or to share on the web then contact the webmaster. Contact details in the Members-Only area.
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I am Ray Robinson, and was friends with David Landsborough Christensen during primary school at Caloundra. My reason for commenting was the reason Landsborough chose this area for his land grant, was the lines of coal that are visible in the main headlands. He thought they might lead to commercial deposits. Not true, but David was always sorry he didn’t get to inherit the land grant.