Caboolture Archives - Caboolture Today

New Caboolture Kids Club Offers Supervised Play Into The Evening

Photo Credit: Sports Central Caboolture/Facebook

Parents visiting Sports Central Caboolture now have access to supervised play for children aged three to 12 into the evening, following the opening of the venue’s new Chipper Kids Club.

The indoor space opened on 2 September and operates supervised sessions until 9pm across the week, with daytime sessions added from Friday to Sunday. Children can use an indoor playground, movie room, soft-play zone, mini market stall and play kitchen while their parent or guardian remains elsewhere on the premises. Entry is free for children of current CSC Group members, although capacity and session limits apply.

After-School Play Stretches Into The Evening

Monday to Thursday supervised sessions run from 5pm to 9pm, creating an after-school and early-evening option during the working week. Weekend trading is broader, with supervised sessions from 11:30am to 2:30pm and again from 5pm to 9pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

School holiday hours expand further. Monday to Thursday sessions include both 11:30am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 9pm, while Friday to Sunday supervision runs from 11:30am through to 9:30pm. Opening times can change, and families may face wait times when the club reaches capacity.

Caboolture Kids Club — Photo Credit: Sports Central Caboolture/Facebook

The play space is also available outside supervised sessions if an adult stays with the children and supervises them directly. CSC Group chief executive Craig Thomas said the club had been designed to give children room to play and explore while parents could eat, meet friends or spend time elsewhere within the venue.

Photo Credit: Sports Central Caboolture/Facebook

Parents Stay Close While Children Play

Use of the supervised service comes with several conditions. Parents or guardians must remain at Sports Central Caboolture and be contactable at all times. Children must be fully toilet trained, with nappies, pull-ups and assisted toileting not permitted. Socks are compulsory, while children who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness cannot enter. Food and drinks are also excluded from the Kids Club, although water is available.

The opening has coincided with longer dining availability at the Upstairs Restaurant & Bar, which now trades seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Chipper Kids Club branding has also been introduced at Caboolture Sports Club and North Lakes Sports Club. CSC Group members can use the Kids Clubs at all three venues without an additional entry fee and receive discounted access to selected children’s events.

Sports Central Caboolture operates from the corner of Hasking Street and Beerburrum Road, with general venue hours running from 10am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 10am to 2am on Friday and Saturday.

Published 30-September-2026

Caboolture’s Chris Paterson Sets the Standard as Search Begins for 2027 Honours

Months after Chris Paterson’s work cleaning local waterways and supporting people living with disability or mental health challenges earned Moreton Bay’s top community honour, the search has begun for the people who will follow him.

Nominations for the 2027 City of Moreton Bay Australia Day Awards are open until 31 October 2026, with residents able to put forward people for Citizen of the Year or the Mayor’s Community Spirit Award. Long-term service and exceptional contributions made more recently can both be recognised.

From Caboolture River to city honour

Paterson was named 2026 Citizen of the Year for his work with Bamboo Projects, a charity combining waterway clean-ups with employment and support for people living with disability or mental health challenges.

Bamboo Projects uses accessible boats to enable people of different abilities to take part in cleaning waterways. Paterson and his team have removed more than 80 tonnes of debris from the Caboolture and Pine rivers, while creating employment opportunities through the program.

Paterson also volunteers more than 30 hours each week, mentoring people and supporting community members through Bamboo Projects. His Caboolture and Pine river work had already brought together environmental clean-up and inclusive employment before his Citizen of the Year recognition.

Receiving the award was a surreal moment for Paterson, who said the acknowledgement showed the work was heading in the right direction and recognised the hard work and volunteer hours involved.

Five decades of Caboolture service

Paterson joins a longer record of Caboolture residents recognised for sustained community work.

Julie Kaeser received a Mayor’s Community Spirit Award in 2024 after more than five decades of involvement in the community. Her contribution included a career as a teacher, church and Sunday school work, fundraising, involvement with Caboolture Rugby Club from its early years and support for Meals on Wheels. She also documented local history through books about the area.

Her recognition showed the breadth of work covered by the city’s community awards, spanning education, sport, welfare and the preservation of local stories.

Community work takes many forms

Recognition has also extended to the wider Caboolture area. Emily Finn of Narangba received a Mayor’s Community Spirit Award in 2025 for her work promoting inclusion through boccia and other sports for people with disability. Finn coached the Moreton Bay Boccia program, supported athletes and helped organise competitions, with her work extending to teams competing internationally.

Two awards seek their 2027 recipients

Citizen of the Year recognises a local resident for outstanding achievement or contribution to the community. The recipient must be an Australian citizen living in the City of Moreton Bay.

The Mayor’s Community Spirit Award recognises significant contributions through service, leadership or community involvement. Recipients do not need to be Australian citizens or residents of the City of Moreton Bay.

Nominations for both 2027 Australia Day Awards close on 31 October 2026 and can be submitted through the City of Moreton Bay Australia Day Awards page.

New 2.4km Pathway Will Improve Access to Caboolture–Wamuran Rail Trail

Photo Credit: GoogleMaps

A new 2.4km pathway will connect Pumicestone Road with the Caboolture–Wamuran Rail Trail, adding another walking and cycling link to a route built along a railway corridor that once carried produce from the district towards Brisbane.

City of Moreton Bay has included construction of the pathway in its 2026–27 program for Caboolture, with the new link to run between Pumicestone Road and the existing rail trail on Beerburrum Road.

At 2.4km, the connection will be almost a quarter of the length of the 10.5km Caboolture–Wamuran trail itself.

A New Way Into the Trail

The existing trail starts on Beerburrum Road in Caboolture and follows the former railway corridor west to Atwood Street in Wamuran.

Mostly separated from roads and with relatively gentle grades, it has become an established route for walkers and cyclists, linking the more urban Caboolture end with the rural landscape towards Wamuran.

The new pathway will improve access from the Pumicestone Road side of Caboolture, rather than extend the rail trail beyond its existing endpoints.

It also appears in the Queensland Government’s current Transport and Roads Investment Program as a project to upgrade and construct a new pathway between Pumicestone Road and the Wamuran rail trail head.

State planning is underway through the Safer Roads, Better Transport Initiative, although the State program does not nominate procurement or construction dates. Council’s 2026–27 budget goes further, listing construction of the 2.4km connection among its key projects for Division 3.

From Railway Line to Walking and Cycling Route

The pathway will connect into a corridor with more than a century of local transport history.

The railway through Wamuran opened in 1909, giving farmers better access to Brisbane markets at a time when fruit growing, particularly bananas, was important to the district. The line was later extended through to Kilcoy.

Council’s original rail trail concept deliberately drew on that history. The project was designed around the old railway alignment, with bridges, culverts and interpretive signage helping retain some of the character of the former line.

The railway west of Wamuran was closed in 1964, while the remaining Wamuran section survived for several more decades before finally closing.

Decades later, the old corridor found another use. The Caboolture–Wamuran Rail Trail was developed as a 10.5km shared pathway, with shelters, seating, drinking fountains, wayfinding and other facilities incorporated along the route.

Its first stage was already open by 2019, when work was continuing on the remaining sections.

Another Crossing Is Changing Too

The Pumicestone Road connection isn’t the only work planned around the trail in Caboolture.

Council is also upgrading the Henzell Road, Toohey Street and Watt Street intersection, close to where the rail trail crosses Henzell Road.

The existing roundabout will be replaced with traffic lights, while the approaches will be widened to provide additional turning lanes. New on-road bike lanes, wider footpaths and pedestrian crossings are also planned, including safer links to the rail trail.

Service relocations have already started and are scheduled to finish in early 2027. Construction of the intersection upgrade is then expected to begin in 2027, with Council’s project timeline extending into 2028.

Taken together, the projects shift the focus from building the Caboolture–Wamuran trail itself to improving how people reach it and move through its Caboolture end.

For a route that began life carrying trains through the district, that marks another chapter in how the old corridor is being used to connect Caboolture.

Updated 20-September-2026

Glasgow Gold for Caboolture’s Calab Law, Lakeisha Patterson and Jye Dixon

Caboolture has plenty to celebrate after Calab Law, Lakeisha Patterson and Jye Dixon all returned from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with gold medals.

The trio were among the Moreton Bay athletes recognised on 23 September after the region’s contingent won 14 medals across swimming, para swimming, athletics and boxing. Together, the group collected 12 gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

Law, whose hometown is Caboolture and who attended Morayfield State High School, added Commonwealth champion to a growing international résumé. The 22-year-old reached the 200m semi-finals in Glasgow before helping Australia win the men’s 4x100m relay.

His relay success followed a national record in 2025, when he was part of the Australian team that ran 37.87 seconds in Sydney. Law has also represented Australia at the Paris Olympics and World Championships.

Patterson Returns To The Top of The Podium

Caboolture resident Lakeisha Patterson claimed gold in the women’s 100m freestyle S9, continuing a Commonwealth Games career that began in Glasgow 12 years earlier. Patterson first competed at the Games in 2014, winning bronze in the 100m freestyle S8. She followed that result with two gold medals at the Gold Coast Games in 2018 before winning again in Glasgow in 2026.

Her early swimming years also passed through the local area, including training at Bribie Island and an association with Lawnton Swim Club. Patterson lives in Caboolture and has gone on to build a career that includes Paralympic and world championship medals. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics she won silver in the women’s 400m freestyle S9, before taking gold in the same event at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore.

Caboolture-Born Dixon Takes Boxing Gold

Boxer Jye Dixon was born in Caboolture and grew up in Brendale, where his sporting career developed through All Star Boxing Academy. Dixon has trained with the academy since the age of 12 and entered Glasgow with eight Queensland titles and seven Australian titles already to his name. He returned as Commonwealth champion after winning gold in the 55kg division.

Commonwealth Games athletes — Photo Credit: CrCathTonks/Facebook

The 21-year-old was also selected for a Tier 2 Scholarship through the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s 2026 Scholarship and Mentoring Program. Ms Cath Tonks said Dixon had previously received an Individual Achievement Grant.

Law, Patterson and Dixon were recognised alongside fellow Moreton Bay competitors following the Games, with Mr Peter Flannery praising the dedication required to represent Australia internationally.

Their results give the Caboolture area three fresh Commonwealth gold medals across three different sports — athletics, para swimming and boxing — with each athlete taking a different local pathway to the international stage.

Published 23-September-2026

Cancer Experience Changes Patient Care for Caboolture Anaesthetist Steven Hocken

Photo Credit: Metro North Health

A Caboolture doctor who was told his metastatic bowel cancer was inoperable has returned to anaesthetic practice after intensive treatment and specialist training, carrying lessons from his own experience as a patient into his clinical work.

From Anaesthetist To Patient

Dr Steven Hocken was an anaesthetic registrar preparing for his final specialist examinations when several months of pain led to an urgent colonoscopy.

Gastroenterologist Dr Adrian Swaine performed the procedure at Redcliffe Hospital, with Hocken choosing to remain awake. He saw the large tumour on the screen before further testing confirmed metastatic bowel cancer.

Hocken was 35 when colorectal surgeon Dr Andrew Riddell provided the first surgical consultation. At that stage, the cancer was considered inoperable and Hocken was told he may have about three years to live.

The diagnosis shifted him from treating patients to experiencing healthcare from the other side. He later described the experience as changing aspects of his own practice, including the way he handles pain crises, prepares patients for major surgery and considers their perspective during treatment.

Treatment Changes The Surgical Outlook

Hocken’s care involved specialists across Metro North Hospital and Health Service in gastroenterology, colorectal surgery and oncology.

His treatment was aggressive because of his young age. Associate Professor Melissa Eastgate, Executive Director Cancer Care at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, was his medical oncologist and provided chemotherapy and immunotherapy with the RBWH oncology team.

After an intensive treatment period that also involved significant complications, Hocken responded strongly enough to chemotherapy for surgery to become possible.

Riddell, who had initially advised that the cancer could not be operated on, later performed an ultra-low anterior resection at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

By June 2026, Hocken’s metastases had disappeared, his stoma had been reversed about a year earlier and he had completed his specialist training.

By August, almost two years had passed since the operation and follow-up scans continued to show no recurrence. The possibility of the cancer returning remains, with Riddell noting that patients are followed for five years.

Caboolture Doctor Returns To Practice

By June 2026, Hocken was working full-time as an Anaesthetic Consultant at Caboolture Hospital.

His healthcare career had begun well before medicine. He initially worked as an Assistant-in-Nursing before becoming an intensive care nurse and later pursuing medicine and anaesthetics.

During specialist training, Hocken rotated through seven hospitals. Caboolture stood out to him for the way its team worked together and cared for colleagues, and returning there after completing his training had always been part of his plan.

He now intends to continue working as an anaesthetist in Caboolture for the foreseeable future.

Published 9-September-2026

Another 22 Homesites Coming to Lilywood as Waraba Takes Shape

Another 22 homesites are about to be released at Lilywood Landings, adding to the first stages of a new city expected to reshape this part of Moreton Bay over the next four decades.

The lots form the first release within a new section of Lilywood Landings known as River Bend and range from 294sqm to 463sqm, with prices starting at $495,000. Developer Lennium Group plans to release them from 9am on 29 August 2026.

While the release represents a relatively small addition to the local housing market, it is part of a much larger development taking shape across what was formerly known as the Caboolture West growth area.

Lilywood is the first suburb to emerge within Waraba, which was declared a Priority Development Area in August 2024 and covers about 2,900 hectares between existing and emerging communities to the east, the D’Aguilar Highway to the north, Caboolture River Road to the south and the low hills along Old North Road to the west.

Current Economic Development Queensland planning envisages Waraba developing over approximately 40 years to accommodate about 25,000 homes and 65,000 residents, as well as approximately 17,000 jobs across employment and activity centres.

The scale of the project means the progress of individual neighbourhoods such as Lilywood is tied closely to the much broader question of how housing growth will be matched by roads, schools, water, sewerage and other community infrastructure.

Earlier government planning for the Caboolture West growth area indicated a community of this scale could require up to nine new primary schools and four high schools, as well as health, emergency and other community facilities.

Some of the infrastructure needed to support Waraba’s early growth is already under way or funded.

An initial $38.5 million water and wastewater infrastructure program was announced in 2024 to enable development of the first 2,500 homes at Lilywood. The Queensland Government subsequently committed $71 million towards upgrading Caboolture River Road West between Grant Road and Morayfield Road, including widening the road to two traffic lanes in each direction and providing cycling and pedestrian paths on both sides.

Waraba has since been included in the Australian and Queensland governments’ $2.4 billion Infrastructure Activation Fund. Economic Development Queensland says infrastructure delivered through the program is expected to support approximately 16,845 new homes within the Waraba PDA by mid-2034, including 6,738 supporting first-home buyers.

Against that broader backdrop, Lilywood Landings continues to expand.

The River Bend section is planned near future river parklands and will eventually connect with the walking and cycling network proposed for Lilywood Landings. Lennium Group says the development is planned to include around 30 kilometres of walking and cycling paths, while green spaces around the river are intended to retain and enhance habitat for local wildlife.

Lennium Group Development Director Ian Worthington said River Bend was intended to broaden the range of homesites available as Lilywood Landings developed.

“As Lilywood Landings grows, we want to continue broadening the choice available to buyers and creating distinct neighbourhoods that offer their own character and appeal.”

River Bend follows other early developments at Lilywood Landings, including the establishment of Waraba’s first display village.

The first River Bend release comprises 22 homesites and is scheduled to begin at 9am on 29 August 2026.

Published Date 26-August-2026

Caboolture Locals Eye a Show Holiday for Bayside and Museum Fun

The show holiday in Caboolture will give families a handy long weekend on Monday, 9 August 2027. Moreton Bay Council has adopted the date as the region’s Show Holiday, and that means an extra day for residents and workers to slow down and enjoy the area.

Caboolture already has a strong place in the region’s visitor story. Queensland Tourism describes Caboolture as just under one hour from Brisbane and as a gateway to mountain scenery and charming country villages. That makes the show holiday in Caboolture a good fit for people who want a break without a long trip.

Centenary Lakes Park in Caboolture
Photo Credit: Queensland.com

Bayside air within reach

For many locals, Moreton Bay Marine Park will be an easy choice for the day. The park stretches across water, islands, wetlands and beaches. It also offers boating, fishing, sailing, snorkelling and bushwalking.

Moreton Marine Bay Park
Photo Credit: Queensland.com

That mix gives families plenty of room to plan their own day. Some may head out early and enjoy the coast. Others may stay close to home and keep things simple. Either way, the show holiday in Caboolture creates a chance to enjoy the region without much fuss.

Caboolture’s location also puts Bribie Island and the wider Moreton Bay area within easy reach. That helps make the long weekend feel useful rather than rushed.

History close to home

If the weather turns, the Abbey Museum offers another local option. The museum holds around 4,500 objects and spans more than a million years of human history. It also welcomes more than 10,000 students each year.

That gives the museum real value for families looking for an indoor outing. It offers school holiday programs, tours and a café, which makes it a practical stop during the show holiday in Caboolture.

Caboolture also has the Caboolture Historical Village, which gives visitors another way to spend the day close to home. Together, these attractions show why the area works well for a local break.

Photo Credit: Caboolture Historical Village

Spending locally, staying nearby

Council wants the holiday to encourage people to support local cafes, shops and attractions. That often happens when families choose to holiday close to home. They still spend money. They still explore. And they often discover places they have meant to visit for ages.

For Caboolture and surrounding suburbs, that makes the show holiday in Caboolture a useful one. It brings a break from routine while keeping the focus on local experiences.

The message is simple. Stay local, look around and make the most of what is already here.

Published 11-August-2026

Cassia Townhomes Move Into Construction Stage In Caboolture

Construction has begun on Cassia, a 31-townhome development at 27 Cassowary Court, Caboolture.

The project is about 60 per cent sold, according to the release from the developer, with interest coming from first home buyers, local upgraders and investors.

Site set for 31 homes

Cassia is being built on an 8,000sqm site and will include 25 three-bedroom townhomes and six four-bedroom townhomes. The project is being delivered by Niche and Urbanluxe Projects, with Realm Projects managing sales.

Niche director Nicholas Wieczorek said the development was designed as an alternative to a traditional house on a larger block.

Design and layout

The project was designed by Pacifik Design Studio. Plans include contemporary facades, landscaped streets, open-plan living areas, private patios and secure garages.

The release also said perimeter landscaping and tree planting are planned for the site.

Buyer interest and grant eligibility

Realm Projects director Shane Foley said interest had come from a mix of buyers, including first home buyers, local upgraders and investors.

The homes are priced from $749,000, and eligible buyers may be able to access the Queensland Government’s $30,000 First Home Owner Grant.

Another addition to Caboolture’s housing stock

Caboolture has seen continued residential growth in recent years, with the suburb attracting buyers looking for access to shops, schools, transport, health services and rail.

Once complete, the Cassia development will add 31 new homes to the local housing supply.

Published 5-August-2026

Record-Breaking Caboolture Local Calab Law Set for Commonwealth Games Glory

Photo Credit: Calab Law/ Instagram

Former Caboolture resident Calab Law, who made history as the first Australian teenager to qualify for a world semi-final, is now taking his record-breaking speed to the track for his debut at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

A Hometown Hero Goes Global

The 22-year-old runner has deep roots in the community as a former student at Morayfield State High School. Now representing the Mayne Harriers club, the proud Wakka Wakka man from southern Queensland is no stranger to top-level competition.

He is scheduled to race in the men’s 200-metre sprint and the 4×100-metre relay when the main track events begin. His journey from a local high school student to an international athlete has made him a genuine source of pride for the region.

Breaking Records on the Track

Law first caught the world’s attention a few years ago with a performance that rewrote the record books. In 2022, at just 18 years of age, he became the first Australian teenager to qualify for a World Championship or Olympic semi-final. Racing in Oregon, he ran a fast personal best of 20.50 seconds to secure his spot. A month later, he claimed a bronze medal at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Colombia, lowering his time even further to 20.42 seconds.

He kept that momentum alive the following year by taking home gold medals in both the 100-metre and 200-metre events at the Pacific Games in Honiara. By 2024, he won the Australian Athletics Championships title in the 200-metre race and earned a spot at the Paris Olympics, while also receiving a Tier 2 Scholarship in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame program.

Smashing National Relay Times

The young athlete continues to push his limits and lower his race times. At the 2025 Sydney Track Classic, he helped his relay squad break the Australian men’s 4×100-metre national record with a lightning-fast time of 37.87 seconds. He also set a personal best in the 100-metre sprint in Perth with a time of 10.17 seconds.

Earlier this year, he set a new personal best of 20.21 seconds in the 200-metre event during the Australian Championships in Sydney. These impressive runs led him to the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Botswana, where he and his team successfully qualified for the 2027 World Championships in the mixed 4×100-metre relay.

Tuning In to the Action

Local fans wanting to cheer on their hometown star can watch the events live on Australian Eastern Standard Time. The men’s 200-metre first round takes place on Wednesday, July 29. If he advances, the semi-finals will run on Thursday, July 30, with the final scheduled for Friday, July 31. The main 4×100-metre relay final will then wrap up his schedule on Saturday, August 1.

Published Date 22-July-2026

Caboolture woman wins $150,000 Instant Scratch-Its prize with Morayfield ticket

A Caboolture woman has scratched her way to a $150,000 top prize on an Instant Scratch-Its ticket bought in Morayfield.

The winning $10 Crosswords Connect Instant Scratch-Its ticket was purchased from Nextra Morayfield Village News, Shop 5, Morayfield Shopping Centre, 171 Morayfield Road, Morayfield.

The local winner said she was still coming to terms with the result when the prize was confirmed.

“It’s so exciting. I’m still in shock,” she said.

“I couldn’t tell if I was reading it right. I was checking it and double checking it and quadruple checking it.”

Crossword ticket becomes major win

The Caboolture woman said she had been playing Instant Scratch-Its tickets for a little while, with the crossword-style games becoming her regular choice.

“I’ve been playing Instant Scratch-Its tickets for a little while now. It’s a little ritual I have, and I usually always choose the Crosswords games,” she said.

“I’ve never won something like this ever. I think the most I’ve won is about $150.”

Land and holiday plans

With the six-figure prize now coming her way, the winner said she was already thinking about how she might use the money.

“I’d really like to buy some land,” she said.

She also has a holiday coming up and said the prize would allow her to spend a little more while away.

“I also have a holiday coming up so I’ll be able to splurge a little more while I’m there,” she said.

For the Caboolture winner, the surprise came from a crossword ticket bought in Morayfield — one she said she checked several times before believing the result.

Published 21-July-2026