I moved here in 1990
Maroochydore was a lot less crowded in those days.
you would have only passed through as there is nothing to stop for except the national parks, and Kenilworth 10kms just up the road.
I hope you let the Marlin go
Ps we did a public viewing night for Halley's Comet at Corbould park horse race track, with what seemed like a thousand people, people still turning up near midnight.