For Les Clarke, whose family has been integral to Caloundra for over 102 years, the town isn’t just a place – it’s part of his DNA. With deep knowledge of the region’s history and a strong voice on its current challenges, Les offers a unique perspective on how Caloundra has evolved.

But the Clarke family’s Australian story goes back even further, to 1873, when Les’s great-grandfather, John Palmer Clarke, and his wife, Jemina, made a bold and life-changing decision.

“They came from Buckinghamshire, England,” Les begins.

“They’d never even seen the ocean, yet they packed up everything they owned, grabbed their five kids, and boarded a ship bound for a land they knew nothing about.”

The family anchored their boat in Moreton Bay 152 years ago – beginning an Australian chapter that would eventually lead to their pioneering presence in Caloundra.

The Iceworks That Changed Everything

The Clarke family cemented their place in Caloundra’s history in 1924 when Les’s grandfather, Evan Jesse Clarke, built the town’s first Iceworks.

It was a game-changer.

“Fishing was limited to what you could catch and sell in a single day, but with the Iceworks, it became possible to support tourism and make a living from fishing,” Les explains.

“Back then, people used meat safes- those little cupboards hanging in trees with the breeze blowing through to keep food cool – food didn’t last long.”

The Iceworks revolutionised life in Caloundra.

“With ice, guesthouses could accommodate tourists for longer stays, and seafood could be sent by train from Landsborough to markets further afield,” Les says.

Building the Gradorean

Les’s pride in his grandfather extends beyond the Iceworks.

“He raised nine kids and somehow found the time to build the Gradorean,” Les says, referring to the boat his grandfather crafted with care.

Named after his daughters – Grace, Doris, and Jean – the Gradorean played a vital role in Caloundra’s tourism industry.

“The Gradorean used to meet the steamships and bring tourists to Caloundra for day trips,” Les recalls.

“Twice a week, all the way up to 1937 – even after the road went in 1934.”

Environmental Decline in the Passage

While Les cherishes the past, his focus today is firmly on the present – and the mounting environmental challenges facing Caloundra.

The health of the Pumicestone Passage is his greatest concern.

“The Pumicestone Passage is the worst I’ve ever seen,” Les says, frustration evident in his voice.

During a recent dive off Golden Beach, Les encountered what he describes as “dark, toxic clouds,” a stark indicator of declining water quality.

“During a dive at a mooring I saw a thick black and brown cloud hovering half a meter above the seabed,” he recalls.

“When I touched it, the cloud dispersed.”

Samples taken from the dive revealed contamination with E. coli.

“It’s bloody disgusting,” Les says, shaking his head. “And it’s bloody scary.”

“You look at the aerial photos now, and there’s a green sludge,” he says. “That never used to be there – that shouldn’t be there.”

Les believes urban runoff is a significant culprit.

Brake dust, oil, untreated sewage, and exhaust emissions wash into the waterways, accumulating on the seabed.

“The drains from Lighthouse Hill to the schools all run into the Passage,”

“And now, since the breakthrough – it doesn’t get flushed out.”

The Problem with Sand Dredging

Les is also critical of the state government’s approach to dredging the shipping channel to make Brisbane more accessible.

He believes the dredging, particularly at the Spitfire Channel, poses a significant and growing threat to the local environment.

State Government documentation reveals approved extractions by the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd have removed millions of cubic meters of sand for shipping channel expansions, port development, and even projects inside the region – such as the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion and the nourishment of Maroochydore beach.

Les says, despite the region’s urgent need for coastal replenishment, the sand being sold off or redirected to other areas, leaves local ecosystems vulnerable.

“This practice has not only stripped Moreton Bay of its natural defences but also likely contributed to catastrophic events like the Bribie Island breakthrough,” he said.

“The island, once a vital barrier protecting the Pumicestone Passage, suffered significant structural weakening before finally breaching – an outcome many believe was exacerbated by relentless dredging and sediment removal.”

He says this misuse of finite resources for short-term gains highlights the urgent need for sustainable dredging practices and a commitment to restoring local environments, rather than sacrificing them for external projects.

“I have heard that our new Queensland Government has promised to fix the passage and that there are millions of dollars promised.

“If that happens it’s a start – it’s better than doing nothing, which is what everybody else has done so far.”

 A Deep Connection to the Land

Despite these challenges, Les’s connection to Caloundra remains unshakable.

Living on his houseboat in the Pumicestone Passage, he feels deeply tied to the land and the water that have shaped his family’s story.

His reflections blend a deep respect for the past with an urgent call for action to secure Caloundra’s future.

“This place has given so much to my family,” Les says.

“We owe it to Caloundra to protect it – for future generations and for everything it’s already given us.”