The photographic legacy of former Tewantin resident Bill Robinson has been honoured in the 2026 Sunshine Coast Heritage Calendar honours
For decades, Bill 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.
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.”
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 2026 Sunshine Coast Heritage Calendar costs just $5 and is available now at Sunshine Coast libraries and Council offices.
To explore the collection, you can search the Library Catalogue or visit Picture Sunshine Coast online 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.
