Sunshine Coast’s oldest, most-iconic businesses reveal how they started, survived and thrived
An iconic Nambour mechanic has shared how a creative ploy saved him from one of seven floods. Hear from him, and check out 19 other business icons.
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They’ve battled through fire, floods and the pandemic and now the Sunshine Coast’s oldest and most-iconic businesses have revealed how they have survived and thrived for decades.
From iconic pubs and cafes to dairy farms and go-kart tracks, the Sunshine Coast has many longstanding businesses, with some dating back to the 1980s, 1930s and even 1911.
The Sunshine Coast Daily has hunted down some of the most-iconic businesses to find out how they have stood the test of time.
Starting off the list is an award-winning, family-owned icon, Erbacher’s Fruit and Vegetables.
Erbacher’s Fruit and Vegetables – since 1945
Erbacher’s Fruit and Vegetables began in 1945 with Eric and Thelma Erbacher and their purchase of a farm at Diddillibah.
As the business grew, Mr Erbacher was inspired to turn an old chicken shed into a shop to meet the growing demand and it is where the locally-loved business remains today.
It remains family-owned with multiple generations of Erbachers involved.
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Office manager and third generation family member Tanya Husband said the business had kept growing since her grandfather opened his first produce stand.
“We are word-of-mouth due to our customer service and quality fruit and veg,” she said.
“We’ve got regular customers who have been shopping here since the 1960s and now their children and grandchildren shop with us.”
Ms Husband said the key to their success was their work ethic and reliability of fresh local produce.
“It’s been lots of hard work, lots of long hours and a really good group of staff that are like family,” she said.
The Nambour Book Exchange – since 1985
On one of the main streets in Nambour and down a set of stairs, book lovers can find a friendly face and thousands of reads at the Nambour Book Exchange.
Originally located in the basement of the old Bayards department store, Nambour Book Exchange is now a treasure trove of novels and one of the few bookstores still remaining in the area.
Started by Mum and Dad operators Joan and Barry Bailey, the store is now run by their son Darren.
Mr Bailey said a love of books and people has been what has kept the store alive.
“And love of Nambour,” he said.
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While many bookstores have gone bust, even before the pandemic, Mr Bailey said he is back on his feet.
“I’ve bounced back after struggling through Covid-19 and managing to pay the bills,” he said.
He said his regulars are mostly older people.
“They’re the ones that do keep me going, the locals,” he said.
The Barn on Flaxton – since 1969
Perfectly positioned between Mapleton and Montville in the Blackall Range, The Barn on Flaxton has had a few lives in its over 100 year history.
The current owners took over the shop in 2019 where it now has a cafe, grocer and giftware store.
Owner Angela Bowen said the locals had been very supportive since they changed things up.
“It used to be an antique store,” she said.
“But everyone has been so supportive and that’s what’s got us through the harder Covid-19 times.”
Fresh produce is donated by residents and neighbours with funds raised from produce sales going to charity.
Ms Bowen said the building had a historic meaning for the community.
“It used to be a pineapple packing farm and the building is over 100 years old so it is recognisable,” she said.
With their array of giftwares and crafts, Ms Bowen said they support artists in the area.
“I think that our menu, pricing and trading hours focuses on the locals and so they then support us,” she said.
Daisy Chain Scrapbooks – since 2002
What started out as a small operation on two trestle tables in a rented hall has expanded to a full shop front on Daniel St in Nambour – where Daisy Chain Scrapbooks has been for the last 19 years.
Offering a wide variety of arts and crafts supplies, as well as classes and workshops, Daisy Chain Scrapbooks has become a local favourite as well as a drawcard for craft enthusiasts from far and wide.
Owner Barbie Shipton said the business’s growth was a testament to community support.
“This whole industry is very much community based, it’s a craft of the heart,” she said.
“We’ve had people who have walked the journey with us for many many years.”
“People think we are this little shop in the backstreets of Nambour but we’re actually a destination shop.
“We have customers from all over New Zealand and Australia who have put this on their itinerary because that’s what scrapbooking is and every shop has something a little bit different.”
Ms Shipton said people often find the process of scrapbooking cathartic.
“We’ve had ladies who have chosen Daisy as a safe place to come and meet for the first time their adopted daughter or mother. It’s pretty special.”
Henzells Agency – since 1935
The legacy that is Henzells Agency dates back to 1935 when Roy Henzell established an agency in partnership with his friend Bill Farlow.
In 1941, Roy had bought out his partner and was raising his young family at the back of his office on Bulcock St, Caloundra.
In 1946, the family made a leap and brought a large parcel of undeveloped land that was mostly swamp. That property now makes up the Pelican Waters Estate.
General manager Katherine Allen credited Henzells Agency’s ongoing success to being able to change with the times.
“You have to pivot constantly,” she said.
“We’re always trying to be one step ahead of where the market is at so when things do change we’re already there.”
Ms Allen also said the business’s involvement in the community keeps them relevant.
“We sponsor and are involved in a lot of things happening in the local community,” she said.
Yandina Hotel – since 1887
As one of the oldest buildings on the Sunshine Coast, the Yandina Hotel has managed to keep up with the crowds for well over a century.
With traditional pub lunch offerings and spaces for events and functions, the Yandina Hotel continues to be a favourite watering hole.
The hotel was established by Australian pioneers and was a staging depot on the way between Brisbane and the gold fields in Gympie.
John Sommer built it around 1887, then called the Australian Hotel in Yandina, and was granted a licence in 1889.
But he learnt he had built it on the wrong position on Gympie Road so the Australian Hotel was hitched to a collection of bullocks and moved on skids to its new home on Stevens Street.
Thrill Hill Waterslides – since early 1980s
Thrill Hill Waterslides, two kilometres north of the Big Pineapple in Woombye, has been getting adrenaline pumping with its 120m hydro slide since the early 1980s.
Owner Richard Law, 68, said he bought the business in December, 1981 when it only had a water slide before he renovated and added new features.
“There’s a big difference (now),” he said.
Mr Law, a former accountant in the construction industry, said the trick to keeping his business flowing steady was to follow the philosophy and acronym, KISS, “keep it simple, stupid”.
Mr Law, who owned the only water slide park in the Sunshine Coast, said he and his business partner were hands-on operators who hadn’t “overly” commercialised the venue.
He said his venue was extra popular during Covid-19 as locals looked to use their backyard given travel had been restricted.
Mr Law said he was now getting ready to add a couple of cabins to his site.
Bill’s Boat & Bike Hire – since 1956
Craig and Kerrie Chandler are the sixth owners of iconic boat hire service Bill’s Boat & Bike Hire, which has been located at the same spot along Golden Beach, Caloundra since founded by Bill Aselen in 1956.
Mrs Chandler said the business, which was the second oldest shop in the town after Henzells Agency, started from a “little house” with a retail front, hiring out tinny boats.
Mrs Chandler said the brand’s red and white theme was originally inspired by the classic design of the old Caloundra Lighthouse.
Today, the couple, who took over in 2016, offer a range of services from the humble tinny, to bikes, kayaks, and popular BBQ pontoon boats.
“That’s what everyone wants these days,” she said.
She said the business has been able to stay afloat for decades partly because it was an iconic, historical and nostalgic service used by young and older generations.
“They want their children to experience what they experienced,” she said.
Big Kart Track – since 1983
By allowing thrillseekers to blast around a go-kart track at up to 70 km/h, Big Kart Track in the Sunshine Coast hinterland has been a famous service since 1983.
Owner Ferre de Deyne said his 35-team business was first opened by his Belgium in-laws before taking over in 1989.
Mr de Deyne said his go-kart business, which has a 1.2km track, was supported heavily by his loyal team, saying some staff have been there for 15 to 20 years.
“If you take care of (them), they’ll stay,” he said.
Mr de Deyne said one challenge was to ensure the business was constantly fun and exciting, which was already supported by his service being real, unlike Mario Kart.
Down the track, Mr de Deyne said “surprises are coming” but wouldn’t reveal details.
Fisheries on the Spit – since 1978
After playing in the park or swimming in the beach, Sunshine Coast residents have often looked no further than fish and chip store Fisheries On The Spit.
Fisheries On The Spit owner Gary Heilmann, also owner of De Brett Seafood, said he bought the crowd favourite business in 2000 because it had been “iconic” since being born under the name of Mooloolaba Fisheries in 1978.
In the past three years, Mr Heilmann, a former bank manager, said he has transformed the venue from offering mostly imported, “run-of-the-mill fish” to mostly locally-sourced seafood.
He said his team dropped the imported fish after noticing most customers wanted locally-sourced fish despite it coming at a premium price.
Looking ahead, Mr Heilmann said he would continue offering his much-loved products but said there was room for his nearby precinct to undergo a “refresh”.
Brown’s Autobahn in Nambour – since 1986
Before celebrating his 20th birthday, Todd Kithler – a then apprentice mechanic – forked out $25,000 and bought and opened Brown’s Autobahn in Nambour in 1986.
Little did he know this would become a trusted, iconic garage for decades to come.
The Mudjimba resident, 57, said he started with two mechanics, himself and a friend, before growing into the up to four-man business known for its honesty and loyalty.
But the experienced mechanic said it hasn’t been without challenges, saying his business battled through seven floods in its first 20 years.
In 1983, Mr Kithler said more than seven feet of flood water entered his garage, causing him to throw all of his gear into two tinnies, calling the day “wet Wednesday”.
Today, Mr Kithler said he planned to continue running the shop as per usual, and might consider letting his son take over in the future.
Imperial Hotel Eumundi – since 1927
The Imperial Hotel Eumundi has been quenching the thirst of locals and tourists for more than a century.
The historic pub and hotel, which has been the cornerstone of Eumundi, Sunshine Coast, was built in 1911, was destroyed by a fire in 1926 and rebuilt in 1927 before, eventually, becoming its current venue where people enjoy cold beer and live music.
The Queenslander’s latest milestone was the addition of Eumundi Brewery, which opened in August, 2017.
Kenilworth Diaries – since 1952
Kenilworth Dairies owner John Cochrane, a fourth generation dairy farmer, bought his longstanding, 55-team dairy business in 2017 after the site was originally Kenilworth Cheese Factory since 1952.
Before he took over, the Mary Valley resident said he owned two butcheries in Gympie and was involved in the politics of the dairy industry for 31 years.
Mr Cochrane said part of his success has been to cater to those with an appetite for fresh, high quality dairy products with good flavour.
“We want to be known as quality food producers,” he said.
Mr Cochrane said he now wanted to boost his profile, increase his retail arm, and expand further across the country, saying he’d like to move into South Australia.
And at the age of 68, Mr Cochrane said he had “no intention of giving up”.
Kenilworth Hotel Brewery – since 1939
Offering steak, cold beer and a place to rest your head, the Kenilworth Hotel & Brewery in the heart of the Sunshine Coast hinterland has been an iconic, Art Deco-style venue since it was established by Joseph Lane in 1939.
The well-known hotel along Elizabeth St, Kenilworth was bought by former Sydney residents and couple Steve and Diane Conway about 15 years ago.
Mr Conway, who has a background in the beverage industry since being a cellarman in 1984, started brewing beer from the venue in 2019.
It’s understood the head brewer was now looking to ramp up the brewery side of his hotel.
Vandy’s Cafe – since 1918
Filling coffee cups instead of car engines, Nanthaphon Pui, 39, bought Vandy’s Cafe on top of Buderim mid-last year, which used to be home to an old service station and garage, dating back to 1918.
The Thailand-born woman bought the venue, which at one stage was called Vandy’s Garage, from its most-recent owners, The Birds & The Beans, after she owned a cafe in Toowoomba for seven years.
“It was a big decision to move,” she said.
While Ms Pui was happy serving coffee and cakes, she said might look at adding food to her menu, adding another change to the ever-evolving historical site.
Maleny Dairies – since 1948
Maleny Dairies along the hills of Maleny, is a fourth-generation, family-owned business, which started as a cream farm after the family purchased the land in 1948.
Maleny Dairies owner Ross Hopper, a third generation family member, said his well-known dairy farm “wouldn’t have gotten off the ground” if it wasn’t for his local community, such as shops deciding to stock his milk.
As well as his own farm and factory along McCarthy Rd, Maleny, Mr Hopper said he has partnered with 12 other farming families who supplied him with raw milk.
“We’re more than just a dairy farm,” he said
Mr Hopper said part of his success has been his farm’s name, location, story, and the taste of his signature brand of Guernsey milk, saying “it all adds up”.
Mr Hopper said he couldn’t reveal details on his business’s upcoming plans, but said his team was growing and moving in the right direction.
“We’re definitely not cruising,” he said.
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