Workers on the banana plantation

The truck remains in Seary's Scrub today.

During the depression era in the 1930's, the lure of cheap land gave Tin can Bay a small permanent population. Pioneer powerhouse Viv Mason opened up the first shop in 1932 where Jew Street is today. This fast became a community hub of the town. Amongst many things Viv assisted in having the telegraph line extended to Tin Can Bay, established a post office and developed a transport run. He also brought a horse in from his parents' farm in Sandy Creek to plough up the paddock down from the shop to make a tennis court.

School house

A schoolhouse had been sourced from the Wolvi School and moved to Wallu to the school site where Tuncunba Gardens is today. Within a few years the school had outgrown the original schoolhouse as enrollments had grown to 36 children, so a new school building was brought in from Bell's Creek in 1937, the same year the school changed its name to Tin Can Bay. The old schoolhouse was sold at auction to the Powell family, moved to Bream St and used as a holiday home until it was demolished in 1964 by F. Langford to construct a new dwelling.

The Jetty

The Jetty proved very popular and by 1942 a reconstruction was completed to accommodate the growing number of moorings and people using the bathing facilities. It remained a popular place to learn to swim, fish or sail from, for decades however after 60 plus years of use, the structure was in need of major repairs. Unfortunately the public jetty was demolished in the late1990's and replaced by public moorings.

Viv Mason mail bus

Original mail bus (Buick), Viv Mason, wife Maud and son Barry

Schooling

With population growth there comes children and in the early 1930's local shop keeper Viv mason identified that there was a real need for a school. A Building Committee was formed to drive the project whose members were Joseph Rogers (chairman), Martin Scullet (treasurer), Thomas Impey and William Payne. Through hard work and persistence Wallu School was opened by headteacher Herbet Courton the 1st of February 1934 with 28 children enrolled. This was a great achievement considering the financial restrictions during the depression.

Bathing enclosure

In January 1932 the Lands Department gazetted a Reserve for Bathing Purposes in Snapper Creek and by August 1932 Widgee Shire Council had been given approval from the Maryborough Harbour Master to develop a bathing enclosure and jetty at the site. Fraser Island Turpentine timber was used in construction due to its strength and resistance to marine borers with a U-shaped design forming the bathing enclosure. The facility was officially opened on 7 April 1935 by the Tin Can Bay Progress Association.