Pioneer family honoured with long-awaited park dedication in Mapleton
Olive Patterson, Ivy Brandon, Nellie Woods, Harry Smith, Robert Williams & Charles Williams (Supplied by Grandson of Thomas Smith, Mr Colin Smith, Dallas, Texas).
By Donna Klease (nee Smith) great granddaughter of Thomas Smith
Smith Memorial Park, a lasting tribute to one of Mapleton’s founding families, has finally been officially dedicated after 41 years of anticipation.
The park, named in honour of the Smith and Williams families, who were among the first settlers in the region, now holds official status under the ownership of the State of Queensland and is managed by the Sunshine Coast Council as trustee.
The families’ contributions to Mapleton’s early development have been etched into local history, and the park’s dedication ensures that their legacy is preserved for future generations.
In 2019, I was surprised to discover that the park was not listed on Council’s website, as all the Smith/Williams descendants, including myself, had believed it was for many years.
On Saturday 15th October 1983 a historic event had taken place at Mapleton with the naming of the park and unveiling of a stone obelisk to commemorate the founding of Mapleton in 1889 by the first settlers the Smith brothers William and Thomas and their sister Amy Williams (nee Smith).
The ceremony took place in Smith Memorial Park which was part of the Amy and David Williams’ first selection, with over 200 descendants of the first pioneers including past and present residents attending the celebrations.
Mr Eddie De Vere OBE and prior Chairman of the Maroochy Shire Council, a past Mapleton student and resident of the area was Master of Ceremonies. Thanks was given to Councillor Moss Day who was instrumental in having the stone erected by council with Mr Day responding. The unveiling by each of the three oldest descendants children of William were (Mrs Nellie Woods), Thomas (Mr Harry Smith) and Amy (Mr Charles Williams) were introduced.
Afterwards a light lunch was served at the Mapleton Hall with historical displays, lots of stories to be shared and to commemorate the day specially designed glasses were for sale. Mapleton’s local Max Richards was the official photographer on the day capturing Mapleton’s historic day.
In the 1906 minutes of The Mapleton Fruit Growers & Farmers Progressive Association a motion was moved that the secretary write to the Maroochy Shire Council asking them for compensation for The Williams family, so that a boundary fence could be erected on the deviation of a road that had been negotiated with Council through their property. This allowed the range road to be rerouted for easier access in those early years of horse and carts. Smith Memorial Park is on a small portion of The Williams/Smith property on the corner of Nambour Mapleton Road and Post Office Road.
Since 2019 I have been in contact with Council, Department of Transport and Main Roads and Department of Natural Resources. In 2020 TMR advised they had no objection to the proposal to officially declare the intersection of Nambour-Mapleton Road and Post Office Road as Smith Memorial Park.
Sunshine Coast Council were also in agreeance, with council then applying for the road closure of approximately 364m2 with the Department of Resources which took place in 2023.
Lodgement with the Queensland Titles Office was then submitted by Council with official paperwork finalised recently. The descendants of the Smith and Williams families would like to thank the Sunshine Coast Council for the official dedication of the park, ongoing upkeep and securing the park for Mapleton’s history.