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KOOKABURRA QUEEN 1 partially sunk at moorings

 

The iconic Brisbane paddlewheelers KOOKABURRA QUEEN 1 and II were locally built in 1986 and 1988 in time for the Brisbane 1988 World Expo. Each vessel would accommodate over 300 guests and they operated for 3 decades serving locals and torurist. 

They survived the 2011 floods but KQII never recovered from an berthing accident in 2019. Then the 2022 floods resulted in the the operator Gold Coast Boats being forced into liquidation.

In Sep 2025 KQI was sold at auction for A$550,000 and since then has been at a mooring at Hemmant.

On 23 Feb it was reported as partially sunk at the mooring which is adjacent to Brisbane's major boat yards if anyone has the enthusiasm to save her.

 

Source: Captain Chris Mackey

 

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