KILCOY The traveler comes across Kilcoy when traveling from Kingaroy to the Sunshine Coast or vice versa. Kilcoy is not on a north south highway, so planning to visit may well be a diversion from a pre-planned trip. Any diversion is well worth the effort. The visit to the Kilcoy. RSA will confirm that decision. The town’s heritage is being carefully managed and the main street is something the community can be proud of. Scottish migrants opened up the area in the early 1840s and cleared land to run beef and dairy cattle. The first settler was Sir Evan Mackenzie, who named his landholding 'Kilcoy' after his family estate in Scotland. Timber felling and milling was also important in the early development of Kilcoy, which was founded in the 1890s. The town itself was originally named 'Hopetown' or 'Hopetoun' but renamed 'Kilcoy' after mail for the town continuously became misplaced. Kilcoy also claims to be the home of the mythical Yowie, Australia's equivalent of Bigfoot or the Yeti, which is said to live in the hills around Kilcoy. There is a large wooden statue of the creature in town. (Not noted by us) The Kilcoy War Memorial and RSA should be subject to an investigative visit; including a check over the artifacts on display at the RSA, that is open most days. The Kilcoy Churches are early century structures. The two Hotels in Kilcoy are great old structures continuing to trade. An extended visit by the traveler is recommended.