Magnetic Island Craft Shop

The 1921 Magnetic Island State School building in Picnic Bay is the place to go to find out more about the island’s history. It operates as a craft shop and museum. The island was first settled in 1877, by Harry Butler and his family who established a dairy, orchard and mixed farm in Picnic Bay. The first island school was established in 1913, after much lobbying from parents whose children had to board in Townsville to get a basic education. It was a very basic timber structure, which later became the play shed when this new building was completed in 1921. It was renamed the Picnic Bay State School after a school opened in Nelly Bay in 1924. Another school opened in Horseshoe Bay in 1949. During the 1960s, the Education Department decided to phase out the schools at Picnic and Horseshoe Bays, and expand and upgrade the facilities at Nellie Bay because of its central location on the island. Picnic Bay State School functioned until May 1970 and the building was left vacant. The Magnetic Island Craft Cooperative occupied the former school from 1980 and continues operation as a craft shop and small museum.