History Of Bundaberg

Bundaberg is the tenth-largest city of the state of Queensland and is located at the banks of the Burnett River, about 20 km from Burnett’s Head, which flows into the Coral Sea. Bundaberg, also called ‘Bundy’ or ‘Rum City’ by the locals, is on a rich, coastal plan and supports most of the agricultural areas of the country. The name, Bundaberg, is a fusion of the old Saxon term ‘berg’, which means town, and the Aboriginal tribal name ‘Bunda’, which translates to ‘the town of the Bunda tribe’.

Bundaberg is 365 km from Brisbane and accessed through the highway on the Burnett River. The town has seen a thrum of tourism over the years, as the famous City Heritage Walk takes locals and visitors on a tour through Bourbong, Woongara, and Quay streets, and from Marybourough to Targo Street, to show twelve historical buildings in the town.

Timber and Sugar Industries

Though Bundaberg was founded in 1867 by timber getters and developed as a port town because of it, it changed with the Sugar and Coffee Regulations of 1864, as sugar proved to be an important asset in the town’s development during the 1870s. Though the first sawmill was constructed and supplied the locals with what they needed, it closed in 1903 after flood damage.

Years prior, in 1882, the earliest sugar mill was established in the town and run on the backs of locals. However, that changed with the 1911 Queensland sugar strike, which resulted in a worker’s union and gained better working conditions for them.

The School of Arts

Located on Bourbong Street, this historic building has been standing since 1889 and was created by Anton Hettrich, a long-time School of Arts Committee member and a teacher at the school. The building is rectangular and in the classical revival style. It is hidden from view using parapets and balustrades; however, the most striking feature of this historic building is the two-story-high arcaded veranda, which is visible at the same level as the street. It was once an art school but it is now a city center while being the oldest building in Bundaberg.

 ‘A Special Town to Me’

Originally performed by the Walkervale State School students in 1981, the song ‘A Special Town to Me’, is a song about Bundaberg, and was recorded on 45 RPM Vinyl in the year 1982 and was presented in the same year to Kolan Shire Council. This recording has made its way to the heritage and history of Bundaberg and is placed in the library to preserve local history.

Conclusion

Bundaberg is the home to loggerheads and green sea turtles that return home every year so that their species continues to live on. It is also the homeland to distillers and farmers who take advantage of the fertile volcanic soil to produce some of the best and freshest produce in Queensland. For those interested in nature and history, it has also been the home to manta rays and humpback whales, so this beautiful region located on the cusp of the South Great Barrier Reef is an excellent retreat.