Cooroy, QLD

Cooroy is an historic country town known for its quality woodwork. This busy and creative centre has won acclaim and prizes for its streetscapes and community artwork. Settled in the late 1800s as a camp for sawmill workers, the town prospered when the railway arrived and the region’s timber and dairy industries boomed.

Today Cooroy is famous for Cooroy Mountain Spring Water, which flows from Cooroy Mountain and is sold all over Australia.

Visitors to this area can also explore the Noosa Botanic Gardens to see native plants and abundant bird life. Covering 20 acres, the gardens are a popular venue for concerts, weddings and other events.

The shores of nearby Lake Macdonald also abound with tranquil spots for a picnic. Created in 1965, the lake has an average depth of six metres and is a popular spot for fishing. Note that fishing enthusiasts must have a permit and may not use a conventional fuel-driven boat on the lake.

The Cooroy Butter Factory Community Arts Centre has an exhibition space that shows work by local and interstate artists. While logging is no longer a local industry, timber is still prominent in the materials chosen by local craftspeople, who exhibit at woodwork and craft shows as well as the Contemporary Furniture Exhibition each October.