MEMBERS of the community have a chance to learn about the early days of Airlie Beach by visiting the Cannonvale Library over the next two weeks.

The library will play host to a display of memorabilia, covering the years from 1930-1989.

The display was organised by local resident Dale Hell, who has organised two pioneers' reunions in the past two years and compiled an associated history book.

"It started off as a project of mine when I was going to all the funerals - we'd meet at wakes so the idea was, let's have a party and meet before we're gone," she explained, when asked about how it all began. After holding the first reunion, it became apparent to Ms Hell that there were many stories, photographs and artefacts from these formative Whitsunday years, at risk of being forever lost.

"So it's extremely important this [collection] happens for the next generation," she said.

The display in the library, which includes old newspaper clippings and plenty of pictures and information about the past, was officially opened on Monday afternoon by mayor Jennifer Whitney.

Cr Whitney said Ms Hell had spent a significant amount of time preserving these treasures of the past "and I think the community appreciates that".

Ms Hell said even the pioneers themselves had been impressed by the memorabilia collected and she encouraged as many people as possible to come to the Cannonvale Library "and learn a little bit about the Whitsundays past".

"With this they can have some idea of how it all started, why it started and the people who had the get-up-and-go to make it happen," she said.

"And it's also about the realisation this is not a new community any more - it's a growing community."