Bob bought the property and raised horses here. During his ownership, the property was home to an alternative community (which was named Crystal Waters). Some of the residents of that former community are still at Crystal Waters today. Over time Bob realised that he wanted to allow people to legally settle on the property and to have a design which took into account environmental needs, social interactions and the economic realities.

The Community Co-operative was registered as a Land Settlement Co-op in 1981 as the legal framework for the original community. This group did not have local government approval for rural residential occupation, nor did it have an overall development plan, and after some years virtually ceased.

In 1985 the remaining resident members initiated the planning and design process for legal settlement of the land as a community.  This was achieved when Crystal Waters Village recieved Local Government Approval in April 1986.

The History of the Mary Valley
The Conondale Ranges attracted Aborigines from far and wide, who came to feast on the nuts of the Bunya Pine (Aruacaria bidwillii) during Bunya season. No aboriginal relics have been found at Crystal Waters, but since the property was cleared in 1969 by heavy machinery, this operation is likely to have disturbed any evidence that had existed.

In the early 1850s prospectors panned for gold in the Conondales and through the Mary Valley. Loggers also took out licences on timber, particularly brushbox and red cedar, through the valley, and this industry remained a major contributor to the local economy for decades.

Once the land was partially cleared, and people were settling, sheep and cattle roamed the huge stations. During this time (the 1860s) Cobb & Co serviced the area on a regular basis, although it is said that the steep slopes of the range often caused them difficulties. Aherns Road is said to have been one of their major routes to Kenilworth during this time. However, the gold rush of the mid 1860s led to many people leaving the area for Gympie, and a faster route from Brisbane along the coast was created, which slowed the white settlement of the region.

The first white baby born in the area was John Ahern, and the road through the valley is named after the family. One of the family decendants became Premier of Queensland in the 1980s.

Dairy farming and timber were the backbone of the local economy from the 1860s and are still very important income earners in this area.