Last month we learnt how the Mapleton Lily Ponds started out as an unwanted swamp before coming into the hands of the far-sighted Ernie Setterfield. Ernie saw the potential of the swamp for the Mapleton community
Mr Ernie Setterfield purchased 54 acres in the early 1970’s from Mrs Best on Delicia Road in Mapleton where he established the caravan park and built a house on the corner of Delicia and Obi Obi Road – now Fish Tales Seafood Café.
In the 1950s – 60s local sanitary man Mr “Blue Gum” Millett used a horse and cart to service Mapleton’s backyard toilets. Blue Gum used the swamp as his cleansing area! But when Ernie took over the area he set about cleaning and clearing the swamp area.
After settling in, Ernie and his wife thought the site would be a good tourist attraction and set about considering an aquatic park. Ernie planted many varieties of water lilies and kept the ponds weed free with much effort. Prior to his death Ernie donated this rejuvenated area to the Maroochy Shire Council (in 1987) for the benefit of the community.
Our local Councillor Bob King in conjunction with The Mapleton Centenary Committee consulted with the community and prepared a plan and design to further beautify and enhance the area. A gazebo, amenities and landscaping was officially dedicated and opened by His Excellency The Governor of Queensland Sir Walter Campbell Q.C. on November 5 1988 as part of Mapleton’s Centenary Celebrations. On this auspicious day a Time Capsule was buried!
Unfortunately weed infestations have continued to make the Lily Ponds a high maintenance problem. For some years the “Friends of the Lilyponds”, a dynamic group of volunteers destroyed and removed the weeds. After extensive public consultation it was decided to deepen the ponds and create more parklands which brings the area to its present attractive state.
The latest “rejuvenation” of the Mapleton Lily Ponds was officially proclaimed by federal member for Fairfax, Alex Somlyay on Sunday December 7, 2008.
If you or your family have further information or early photographs to further enhance this account, please contact Lindsey Wareham on 5445 7253 as she is very keen to get the facts right and produce another book. Thanks to Lindsey for the information in these two articles.
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