From mullets to mâché and everything in between
A papier mâché chicken, a surf carnival and some interesting 80s fashion – you’ll find all this and more in the 2026 Sunshine Coast Heritage Calendar.
The 2026 Sunshine Coast Heritage Calendar honours the photographic legacy of Bill Robinson who, for decades, was the man behind the lens, capturing the everyday stories that shaped the Sunshine Coast.
The selection of images featured in the calendar were taken from Bill’s extensive archive, which was donated to the Nambour Library and digitised over a 30-year period, thanks to the Sunshine Coast Arts and Heritage Levy.
About the 2026 Sunshine Coast Heritage calendar
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the calendar was a wonderful keepsake and offered a nostalgic look at Sunshine Coast life from the 50s to the 80s.
“Every page tells our story, from what we wore to the beach, debutant fashions and hair styles through to signature moments and some of the quirkier events in our region’s history,” Mayor Natoli said.
“Bill’s photographs document a transformative period in our region – from quiet coastal towns to a thriving tourist destination.
“They capture our cultural and social evolution, as well as the changing natural and built environments from the 1950s through to Bill’s retirement in 1984.
“Bill’s legacy is now part of our collective memory, and his work will continue to inspire and inform generations to come.”
Where to buy the 2026 Sunshine Coast Heritage calendar
The 2026 Sunshine Coast Heritage Calendar costs just $5 and is available now at Sunshine Coast libraries and Council offices.
Photograph donation
Sunshine Coast Community Portfolio Councillor David Law said our region’s story was ongoing and built layer by layer by the people who lived, worked and played here.
“Everyday stories help paint the real picture of what Sunshine Coast life is like now and in the past, helping us understand how our regional fabric has been woven,” Cr Law said.
“Photography is such a powerful tool to do that, and the donation of the Bill Robinson collection helps us further understand the more recent history of our Sunshine Coast.
“Quite often we have photos tucked away that will never see the light of day, forgotten landscapes, unknown faces.
“Anyone with collections of Sunshine Coast based photographs or film can share these with our community via the Heritage Library, where they can be digitised and preserved as part of the region’s heritage collection.
“These items play an important part in helping us to understand and share our regional stories.”
The program is guided by the Sunshine Coast Heritage Plan and supported by the Arts and Heritage Levy.
Picture Sunshine Coast
To explore the collection, you can search the Library Catalogue or visit Picture Sunshine Coast on Council's heritage website and look up “Bill Robinson.” The images capture the people, events and places from Coolum to Caloundra, and inland to our hinterland towns like Nambour, Eumundi and Maleny.
Who was Bill Robinson?
Bill and his wife Phyllis Breadman brought their photographic talents to the Coast after serving in the Royal Australian Air Force during WWII. They settled in Tewantin, gradually expanding their business across the region.
In 1950, they opened a studio in Nambour, later acquiring Owen Studios in Currie Street. Their son, Ted, joined the family business, managing a studio in Caloundra from 1973.
By 1976, they had also opened a retail camera shop in the old Vogue Theatre foyer in Nambour.
Beyond studio work, Bill was a prolific freelance photographer, contributing regularly to the Nambour Chronicle and working with the local police.
From the mid-1970s to 1984, his weekly photo was often the only image featured in the paper. These negatives were donated to the Nambour Library in 1990 by the Nambour Apex Club.
The Sunshine Coast Arts and Heritage Levy
This project is supported by the Sunshine Coast Arts and Heritage Levy.
The Levy, which is charged to every rateable property, is used to document, research, conserve, protect, promote and provide access to those tangible and intangible items, places, facilities and events that define the stories, history and values of the people, communities and culture of the Sunshine Coast.