I had the good fortune of moving to QLD mid 1980's. It was no where near the developed condition of the other states were and deserved its reputation as a big country town.
If you want to reminisce I would say lament the the loss of free water, cheap power, public access beach fronts, caravan parks, absent police force, etc. But the place shutdown after work, infrastructure was appalling, the lottery financed hospitals were a throw back to Florence Nightingale, cronyism was rampant, corruption was obvious.
