Coastal town hires its own film crew to capture life in 2026

Schoolchildren in the small Queensland coastal town of Agnes Water are starring in a documentary designed to capture contemporary life in their community. The film aims to create a visual time capsule of Agnes Water and the nearby historical town of Seventeen Seventy, located about 500 kilometers north of Brisbane.

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Agnes is a small place and knowing that people are coming to film Agnes, even though it's really small, is really cool.

Filmmakers are on location to document the essence of the community, with student leaders from the local state school expressing excitement about the project. Eleven-year-old school captain Phoebe Glasson noted the significance of having their small town recognized through film. "Agnes is a small place and knowing that people are coming to film Agnes, even though it's really small, is really cool," she said.

The area, home to fewer than 3,000 residents, has seen a population increase since the COVID-19 pandemic, with beautiful beaches acting as a major draw. Nieve Maluga, also 11, described Agnes as a place where "it almost feels like we're all a big family." Byron Mulligan from the Heart of Agnes Community Association explained that the documentary was created to help unite people amidst some social division caused by population growth and the pandemic.

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it almost feels like we're all a big family.

While the students are enjoying the experience, some admitted to hoping the publicity won't change their town's character. Twelve-year-old Logan Aitken expressed his fondness for the town's relaxed pace, stating, "It's very, very cruisy. I really like it here, I like how it's not busy." Siena Loader, 11, added that it's important to showcase the community's perspective, noting, "It's very different being a tourist here to being an actual local."

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It's very special to have newer residents and older residents come out and share what's important to them about Agnes and Seventeen Seventy.

Mulligan clarified that the documentary's intent is not to attract tourists but to serve as an "induction kind of document" for both new and old residents, reflecting what is important to them about Agnes and Seventeen Seventy. Leigh Tankey, head of curriculum at Agnes Water State School, views it as a "great opportunity to show how special" the town is.

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It's very, very cruisy. I really like it here, I like how it's not busy.