Origins Of Our Local Place Names

As with other shires, the Whitsunday Shire has its own particular place names.

Often, even locals are not certain of the origin of the majority of these names in their district.

In the Proserpine area, place names are wide in variety - derived from Greek and Roman mythology (such as Lethebrook and Mt Pluto) to names adopted/adapted from countries of origin (such as Breadalbane from Scotland and Preston, a village in England); from early explorers (such as Cannon Valley named after a surgeon on the survey ship HMS “Salamander” 1866) to settler families, many of which have descendants who still reside in the area (such as Abell Point).

A considerable number of our street names have been so called to honour/acknowledge a person’s contribution to the community.

One such “street” is Dobbins Lane, well known today for being the location of the popular retail business, Colour Me Crazy.

Dobbins Lane was named after Arthur John Dobbins, a successful businessman.

He was born in Longreach in 1896 and led an interesting life.

The first time he came to Proserpine was in 1917, taking up farming in the Conway area until 1919.

He left Proserpine to drive a hire car in Hughenden for twelve months before returning to work in the Preston area and later at the Proserpine Sugar Mill.

He accepted a job offered to him by Mr R.C. Traill who owned a Commission Agency but when that business was later bought by Briggs and Mazlin, Arthur decided to go to Mackay for six months.

Upon his return to the area in 1926, he set up his own business – Dobbo’s Garage – in a rented building opposite the post office.

Beginning with the local agency for Buick, Oldsmobile, and Chevrolet cars, he then branched out into David Brown tractors and sold real estate.

In 1948, Arthur became the Holden dealer and by 1952, he employed eighteen staff.

Arthur Dobbins had new buildings constructed in 1948 and 1954 and these enhanced Proserpine’s business area.

He also owned a cane farm in Cannonvale and was active in land development, mainly in Airlie Beach and Cannonvale.  

Arthur worked hard for the local community and was involved in many committees such as the Hospital Board, Chamber of Commerce, Tourist Association, Cannon Valley Progress Association and Ambulance Committee, of which he was made a life member in 1948.  

In 1950, he had a 3000-gallon tank erected on his land in Main Street and made this available to the fire brigade – a gesture of great assistance to the town following the fires which had destroyed several Main Street businesses in 1948.

During World War Two, he and his wife, Kath, were spotters and their work identifying planes flying overhead and notifying authorities was commended.

Arthur excelled at foot running, winning events at Hughenden, Longreach and Proserpine and he was also a keen footballer.

He was one of a trio of men (others being Merv Preece and Harry Robinson) who were instrumental in establishing a bowling club in the town in 1938.

Arthur Dobbins, one of Proserpine’s leading businessmen, died in Proserpine on November 30, 1976, aged 80 years.

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum and “A Slice of History” by Delys Jeppesen

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