Princess Di’s carriage unearthed just in time for Big Pineapple’s 50th birthday

Diablo Ginger Beer Distillery owner Dimitris Limnatitis found the disused royal carriage and helped put it on display at the Big Pineapple (Pic: ABC News, Owen Jacques). INSET: Charles and Diana aboard the carriage in 1983.

A train carriage ridden by Princess Diana and Prince Charles during a tour of Woombye’s Big Pineapple has been found and restored just in time for the iconic destination’s 50th birthday.  

The carriage had been in storage for the past 20 years and was found with its original plaque to commemorate the royal visit in 1983. 

Diablo Oasis owner Dimitris Limnatitis made the discovery when he went hunting for it after seeing it in a picture of the big day. 

As part of the Big Pineapple’s 50th birthday celebrations, the unearthed carriage will become a permanent feature at the Big Pineapple’s Diablo Oasis bar.  

The Big Pineapple opened in 1971 and was the biggest thing on the Sunshine Coast for many years. 

At its peak in the 1980s, about a million people would visit a year — enough to match the visitor numbers of Dreamworld on the Gold Coast even now. 

But  nothing was bigger than the royal couple’s visit on April 12, 1983. 

If you were around back then you may remember the crowds when Lady Diana and Prince Charles toured the region. 

People lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the very popular princess. 

The royal party attended a luncheon and also enjoyed a visit to Buderim Ginger and our very own Big Pineapple.

After going into receivership in 2009, The Big Pineapple site is currently undergoing renewal and transformation and features Wildlife HQ Zoo, TreeTop Challenge, Diablo Oasis bar, Cavu Distilling and more.