Agnes Water Garden Villa

History

• Accommodation
  
  • Testimonials
  • Floor Plan
  • Town Plan
  • Prices
• Locality
  
  • 1770
  • Agnes Water
  • History
  • Climate
  • Local News
• Activities
  
  • National Parks
  • Water Sports
  • 4wd
  • Flora & Fauna
  • Bushwalking
  • Other
• Gallery


• Enquiries


• Feedback

Lieutenant James Cook and the members of HMS Bark Endeavour landed for the first time in Queensland (and their 2nd in Australia) on 23 May 1770 at what is now called Town of 1770 on the Discovery Coast.

When Cook and his party first landed here they noted evidence of Aboriginal fires and some of his crew members saw members of the local Gooreng Gooreng tribe in the distance but no contact was made. They had been running short of fresh meat so it was with great enjoyment that they shot and ate a bustard bird for the evening meal.

Captain Matthew Flinders was the second celebrated navigator to sail the Discovery Coast and on 2 August 1802 he named "Round Hill".

From the 1850's the area became sheep and cattle farms and 2 towns (Rosedale and Miriam Vale) were set up to cater for the farmers needs.

Turkey Beach to the north was established as a sheep farm in the early 1860's while Wartburg on Baffle Creek was settled from 1908 by German migrants.

The lighthouse at Bustard Head was erected and became operational from June 1868. Nearby a settlement and sawmill was established at Eurimbula Creek in 1870.

The Clowes family leased the land at Agnes Water as there was a permanent freshwater lagoon.

It is not known how the town came about its name but Agnes Water most probably came from the schooner Agnes which disappeared in the vicinity in 1873.

In 1945 T.C. Jeffery bought the freehold of Agnes Water and some years later he added amenities including toilets, showers, fresh water, petrol, gas and some shacks for rental. There was no phone but there was a two-way radio at Town of 1770. Holiday makers came for the seven kilometres of clean firm white beach, surfing, fishing and the generally wonderful lifestyle.

From about 1933 hardy holiday makers began to take up allotments and build holiday houses at Round Hill which was renamed Seventeen-Seventy in 1936. Many of them were professional men and their families from as far away as Melbourne. They travelled over some of the worst roads in Australia, had to carry in all their supplies, and would holiday for weeks in almost complete isolation.


Photos - click to enlarge image

Visit our other site