Capricorn Coast Historical Society
The Capricorn Coast Historical Society is based at Yeppoon on the Central Queensland coast about 50 km from Rockhampton, with a population of about 20,000 in the local area. The Society has no paid staff and members maintain the collection, answer inquiries and carry out all activities. The Capricorn Coast Historical Society is dedicated to making our past a living history. Our mission is to collect physical evidence of the past (including stories of local people, places and events) identify and maintain historic sites, encourage research, and promote and increase public awareness and knowledge of the unique heritage and history of the region.
Aside from material concerning pioneer families, local town & rural businesses, the fishing industry and historic beachfront, the Society boasts 5 significant small collections. These include the 1890s photos taken by Rutherford Armstrong, last manager of the Yeppoon Sugar Company; droving expedition diaries, maps, land settlement documents, and albums of James Atherton an original settler in 1865; manuscripts, correspondence and photos of Mary Rattenbury one of Central Queenslands most prolific writers and poets; the Walls family collection of photographs, documents and maps recording their nearly 60 years as prominent leaseholders on North Keppel Island; the Medew family collection of manuscripts, correspondence and memorabilia spanning from the 1920s to the 1980s; and the 1930s Theile Collection of cups, saucers and other dishes featuring colour and back & white scenes of Yeppoon.