76-604: Bundaberg ( / ˈ b ʌ n d ə b ɜːr ɡ / ) is a city in the Bundaberg Region , Wide Bay, Queensland , Australia, and is the tenth largest city in the state. It is a major centre of the Wide Bay–Burnett geographical region. The Bundaberg central business district is situated along the southern bank of the Burnett River , about 20 km (12 mi) from its mouth at Burnett Heads , and flows into
152-527: A river port and led to a new port at the mouth of the Burnett river. In the post-war era , Bundaberg continued to grow with its wealth tied to its sugar industry. In 2013, Bundaberg experienced record flooding from Cyclone Oswald , which was the worst disaster in the city's history. The economy of Bundaberg is based primarily on agriculture , forestry , fishing and tourism, with a gross regional product at about $ 5.6 billion as of 2023. Bundaberg also has
228-476: A 24-bed hospital with an operating theatre, chapel, and accommodation for the nurses and maids, officially opening on 28 July 1946. The nurses were initially all nuns, but they established a training school for other women to become nurses. The hospital expanded over the years with additional beds, operating theatres, X-ray, pathology and a dedicated children's ward. It was the first hospital in Queensland to use
304-642: A contaminated diphtheria vaccine . In 1941 the Sisters of Mercy purchased the house Brabourne (originally owned by prominent citizen Frederick Buss) and established St Mary's Hostel, for women and girls working in or visiting Bundaberg. After World War II , doctors were calling for modern hospital facilities in Bundaberg, so the Sisters converted the hostel into the Mater Private Hospital,
380-417: A lack of medical care all contributed to the high death rate. Penalties for the plantation owners whose neglect resulted in these fatalities were rare and did not exceed a £10 fine. Importing South Sea Islander labour was made illegal in 1904 and enforced repatriation of these workers out of Bundaberg and other locations in Queensland occurred from 1906 to 1908. The 1911 Queensland sugar strike occurred after
456-463: A large extent on the local sugar industry. Extensive sugar cane fields have been developed throughout the district. Value-adding operations, such as the milling and refinement of sugar, and its packaging and distribution, are located around the city. A local factory that manufactured sugar-cane harvesters was closed down after it was taken over by the US multinational corporation Case New Holland . Most of
532-472: A major achievement, with the 1911 strike lasting over seven weeks in Bundaberg where the town's economy was largely based on the sugar industry. The end result of the strike was a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the sugar industry in 1911–12, which had been initially requested by Harry Hall, a Bundaberg AWA organiser in 1908 with a petition signed by 1500 Bundaberg sugar workers. The Royal Commission, with ALF Secretary Albert Hinchcliffe as secretary, concluded
608-668: A major distillery and brewery industry that exports to international markets. The city is served by the Port of Bundaberg and the Bundaberg Airport . Bundaberg has a rich history and culture, along with its humid subtropical climate it is known for its weeping fig trees , dry stone walls , and historic plantations, including the Fairymead Plantation and the Sunnyside Sugar Plantation ,
684-452: A mayor representing the whole region. Those elected at the 2024 local government election were: The Bundaberg Region includes the following settlements: Inner Bundaberg area: Outer Bundaberg -Burnett area: Kolan area: North and West Burnett area: Isis area: Other Burnett area: – split with Gladstone Region The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. * The population of
760-523: A noteworthy non-stop flight from London to Turin in 1920. The following year in 1921 Hinkler flew from Sydney to Bundaberg, non-stop, in a record breaking flight of 8 and a half hours, in the process beating a telegram he had sent to his mother, to warn her of his arrival. The Bundaberg War Memorial commemorating those who died in the Anglo-Boer War and World War I was unveiled by Major-General Charles Brand on 30 July 1921. The Bundaberg digger
836-598: A population of 1,192, split from Barolin on 22 April 1881 to form the Municipality of Bundaberg under the Local Government Act 1878 . Areas to the south ( Woongarra ) and north ( Gooburrum ) of the Burnett River split from Kolan on 31 December 1885, and Barolin on 30 January 1886 respectively, while on 1 January 1887, the Isis Division further to the south split away from Burrum. Thus by 1887,
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#1732772883641912-443: A population of 73,747 people. The district surveyor, John Thompson Charlton designed the city layout in 1868, which planned for uniform square blocks with wide main streets, and named it ‘Bundaberg’. An early influence on the development of Bundaberg came with the 1868 Land Act , which was a famous Queensland via media , that aimed to create a class of Australian yeoman . Large sugarcane plantations were established throughout
988-707: A significant rural area surrounding the city. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the City of Bundaberg with the Shires of Burnett , Isis and Kolan . The Bundaberg Regional Council, which administers the Region, has an estimated operating budget of A$ 89 million. In the 2021 census , the Bundaberg Region had a population of 99,215 people. Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the Bundaberg Region existed as four distinct local government areas: Local government in
1064-471: A special education program. Isis District State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 3 Ridgway Street ( 25°13′59″S 152°16′26″E / 25.2331°S 152.2739°E / -25.2331; 152.2739 ( Isis District State High School ) ). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 504 students with 48 teachers (46 full-time equivalent) and 33 non-teaching staff (22 full-time equivalent). It includes
1140-594: A special education program. St Joseph's School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 40 Churchill Street ( 25°14′09″S 152°16′52″E / 25.2359°S 152.2811°E / -25.2359; 152.2811 ( St Joseph's School ) ). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 75 students with 8 teachers (7 full-time equivalent) and 9 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent). Childers has many general local services , an art gallery (Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery- BRAG) and Information Centre. Cultural entertainment facilitated through
1216-404: A strong summer maximum and winter minimum. The average temperature in Bundaberg ranges between 11.3 C and 78.7 C. Extreme temperatures ranged from −0.7 °C (30.7 °F) on 16 July 1918 to 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) on 19 December 1901. Increasing population in Bundaberg is extending residential development into rural localities, such as Ashfield . Subtropical Bundaberg is dependent to
1292-414: Is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Mungomery Street ( 25°13′52″S 152°16′49″E / 25.2311°S 152.2803°E / -25.2311; 152.2803 ( Childers State School ) ). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 308 students with 24 teachers (22 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (14 full-time equivalent). It includes
1368-434: Is a site to be seen with local flora and fauna, its own cafe, marketplace, chapel, green house, training facilities, woodwork and indigenous nature section. Bundaberg Region The Bundaberg Region is a local government area in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland , Australia, about 360 kilometres (220 mi) north of Brisbane , the state capital. It is centred on the city of Bundaberg , and also contains
1444-485: Is about 385 kilometres (239 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane . It is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) inland from the Coral Sea coast and situated on the Burnett River . The name was coined by surveyor John Charlton Thompson and his assistant Alfred Dale Edwards. Bunda was derived from the name of one of the kinship groups of the local Taribelang people, and appended with the suffix "berg". Two sources of
1520-598: Is also significant: avocado, banana, bean, button squash, capsicum, chilli, citrus, cucumber, custard apple, egg fruit, honeydew melon, lychee, mango, passionfruit, potato, pumpkin, rockmelon, snow peas, stone fruit, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, zucchini. Macadamia nuts are also grown. Due to the year-round farm work available in Bundaberg, the city has a high number of working hostels for backpackers looking to extend their working holiday visa in Australia. The hostels provide backpackers with work on farms across
1596-543: Is at 40 Churchill Street. It is within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane . Childers Uniting Church is at 36 Macrossan Street ( 25°14′15″S 152°16′33″E / 25.2374°S 152.2757°E / -25.2374; 152.2757 ( Childers Uniting Church ) ). It is part of the Uniting Church in Australia . Grace Lutheran Church is at 226 Churchill Street. It
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#17327728836411672-426: Is no reference to "Bourbon" street. Robert Strathdee's farming selection in the vicinity of the watering holes was recorded on early survey maps as 'Boorbung'. A pioneer pastoralist of the region, Nicholas Tooth , wrote that "Bourbong" was derived from the local Aboriginal phrase "bier rabong", meaning "plenty dead". Tooth, who took up land in the area in the early 1860s, found that Aboriginal people resolutely avoided
1748-453: Is off Rankin Road ( 25°13′16″S 152°17′04″E / 25.2211°S 152.2845°E / -25.2211; 152.2845 ( Noakes Lookout ) ). At 128 metres (420 ft) above sea level, it is one of the highest points in the area, providing 360 degree panoramic views. However, as at 2013, regrowth of bushland surrounding the lookout has obscured the views and, as the lookout
1824-534: Is part of the Lutheran Church of Australia . The Childers Apostolic Church of Queensland is at 13 Nelson Street. It is part of the Apostolic Church of Queensland . Childers Wesleyan Methodist Church is at 6 Broadhurst Street ( 25°14′10″S 152°16′27″E / 25.2362°S 152.2743°E / -25.2362; 152.2743 ( Childers Wesleyan Methodist Church ) ). It
1900-620: Is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia . Childers Gospel Chapel is at 34 Churchill Street. It is part of the Christian Community Churches of Australia . Childers holds a Multicultural Festival once a year on the final weekend in July. The town also hosts an agricultural show; which in the past was held in early August, but is now hosted in late May or early June. Noakes Lookout
1976-527: The 2021 census , Bundaberg's urban area has a population of 73,747 people. Bundaberg has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Bundaberg has a warm humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa) with hot, wet summers and very mild, dry winters. Mean maximum temperatures are high for most of the year, from 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) in July to 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) in January. Annual rainfall averages around 997.0 millimetres (39.25 in), with
2052-476: The 2021 census , the locality of Childers had a population of 1,682 people. Childers has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Childers is renowned for its heritage character and is classified a National Trust town. The historic colonial buildings of the main street (Bruce Highway) are set amongst large, shady leopard trees. The sugar cane industry features prominently in Childers and has sustained
2128-470: The Bundaberg Region , Queensland , Australia. In the 2021 census , the locality of Childers had a population of 1,682 people. Childers is in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland , Australia, situated on the Bruce Highway and lies 325 kilometres (202 mi) north of the state capital Brisbane and 52 kilometres (32 mi) south-west of Bundaberg . The Isis Highway runs south from
2204-657: The Bundaberg Rum distillery and attractions at Bundaberg Botanic Gardens , such as the 2 ft narrow gauge Australian Sugar Cane Railway , are also popular with tourists. The Mystery Craters , 35 unexplained water-filled holes in the ground, discovered in 1971 at South Kolan , are also a tourist attraction. Opened in 2002 by the former member for Hinkler Paul Neville , the Tom Quinn Community Centre gardens (a multiple "Bundy in Bloom" winner)
2280-507: The Clarence River and had a notable history of conflict with Aboriginal people. Sheep stations imposed on native bushland disrupt native food production, typically resulting in widespread hunger and illness amongst native peoples. Conflict continued at Tirroan when two of their shepherds were killed by Aboriginal people in 1849. Forster and Blaxland led a punitive expedition causing multiple Aboriginal deaths. Further conflict occurred
2356-475: The Coral Sea . The city is sited on a rich coastal plain , supporting one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions. The area of Bundaberg is the home of the Taribelang-Bunda , Goreng Goreng , Gurang, and Bailai peoples. Popular nicknames for Bundaberg include "Bundy", "Rum City", and "The 'Berg". The demonym of Bundaberg is Bundabergian. In the 2021 census , Bundaberg's urban area has
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2432-589: The Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, the City of Bundaberg merged with the Shires of Burnett , Isis and Kolan to form the Bundaberg Region. Although the Commission recommended the council be undivided with ten councillors and a mayor, the gazetted form was that of 10 divisions each electing a single councillor, plus
2508-790: The National Native Title Tribunal , pursuant to the Native Title Act 1993 , on 28 November 2017. It was determined that "native title exists in the entire determination area" of Bundaberg, Gladstone , and the North Burnett . As such, the Bundaberg Regional Council has reflected this recognition in their "First Nations Strategy 2022-2026", and endeavours to celebrate and embrace the region's "local connections to First Nation Peoples and other cultures". The first British man to visit
2584-786: The Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides . The Young Brothers owned the Lochiel and the May vessels, the Cran family and Frederic Buss were the major investors in the Helena while the Ariel was co-owned by a number of local planters. While some of the recruitment was voluntary, violence and deception toward Islanders often took place. For example, the crew of the Helena fought a battle with
2660-541: The "bier rabong" vicinity. He later found the skeletal remains there of around twenty Aboriginal people who were apparently massacred in a raid by the Native Police . The Traditional owner Aboriginal groups in the region are the Taribelang , Gooreng Gooreng , Gurang , and Bailai peoples. They are the original inhabitants of the region. A determination of Native Title was made for all four cultural groups by
2736-510: The "dole capital of Australia". Tourism is an important industry in Queensland, and Bundaberg is known as the 'Southern Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef '. The city lies near the southern end of the reef in proximity to Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands . The nearby town of Bargara is an increasingly popular holiday and retirement destination. Nearby beaches are popular with both locals and tourists. Moore Park Beach , to
2812-704: The 1850s. Circa 1888–1889, an Anglican church was erected in Childers. The present Christ Church Anglican was opened and dedicated on 9 May 1901. The Childers Uniting Church was originally constructed as the Methodist Church in Horton in 1886. Due to the decline of the Horton township the church was subsequently moved to Childers. It became the Childers Uniting Church in June 1977 following
2888-424: The 1880s, with industries of sugar mills, refineries, and rum distilleries that delivered prosperity to Bundaberg. These plantations used South Sea Islanders as indentured labourers , many of whom were blackbirded , a practice considered of form of slavery . The trade was outlawed in 1904, with most South Sea Islanders deported by 1906. Major floods in 1942 and 1954 damaged the river, ending Bundaberg's role as
2964-528: The 1996 area of Bundaberg in 1991 was 41,219. The Bundaberg Regional Council operate public libraries in Bundaberg Central , Childers , Gin Gin , and Woodgate Beach . 24°49′57.65″S 152°27′35.69″E / 24.8326806°S 152.4599139°E / -24.8326806; 152.4599139 Childers, Queensland Download coordinates as: Childers is a rural town and locality in
3040-865: The AWA demands had been justified. The union victory was a watershed in organised labour in Queensland and Australia. St Joseph's School opened in June 1876. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902 , Barolin Division became the Shire of Barolin and the Borough of Bundaberg became the Town of Bundaberg on 31 March 1903. On 22 November 1913, Bundaberg was proclaimed a City. In 1912 Bundaberg pioneering aviator Bert Hinkler built and successfully flew his own glider on Mon Repos beach. He also completed
3116-616: The Barolin Plains, a lightly timbered grassland that stretched along the coastal fringe. Neither of these areas were suitable for sheep farming but the British soon found that raising cattle was possible. In the early 1860s the first cattle stations in the area were established; Branyan on the south side of the Burnett River and Tantitha on the north side. Timber companies, such as that owned by William Pettigrew , started
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3192-534: The Bingera leasehold in the rainforest scrubland downstream from Tirroan. Three towns in the Bundaberg region, Tirroan , South Bingera and Gin Gin , commemorate these massive initial leaseholds. Before colonisation, much of the land around the lower reaches of the Burnett River consisted of either the Woongarra Scrub, a subtropical rainforest that stood where most of the Bundaberg canefields now grow, or
3268-650: The Bruce Highway in Childers. The Childers area is traditionally inhabited by the Dundabarra/burra group (red soil tribe) who are large collective group of the Kabi Kabi nations in the northernmost area of the Wide Bay Burnett . Their descendants still live in the region. Europeans first arrived in the area in the 1850s. Pastoralists established properties soon after to raise cattle on
3344-479: The Bundaberg area be rationalised. The Local Government (Bundaberg and Burnett) Regulation 1993 was gazetted on 17 December 1993, and on 30 March 1994, the Shires of Gooburrum and Woongarra were abolished, with most transferred into a new Shire of Burnett . A portion of Woongarra was transferred to the City, more than doubling its area and increasing its population by 8,200 in 1991 census terms. On 15 March 2008, under
3420-545: The Bundaberg area began on 11 November 1879 with the creation of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 . These included the Barolin , Burrum and Kolan divisions. The first eight years saw several areas break away and become self-governing due to increases in local population. The first was Bundaberg itself, which with an area of 4.1 square kilometres (1.6 sq mi) and
3496-441: The Bundaberg area. However, the hostels and farms have received huge criticism in the press and on social media due to the treatment some backpackers have faced. The Courier-Mail have reported claims of poor living conditions, underpayment and allegations of sexual abuse which they say has led to backpackers warning others about working hostels in Bundaberg. Because of its high rate of unemployment, Bundaberg has been referred to as
3572-455: The Burnett River inundated hundreds of homes. Two years later, in January 2013, Bundaberg experienced its worst flooding in recorded history as a result of Cyclone Oswald . Floodwaters from the Burnett River peaked at 9.53 metres. Over 4,000 properties and 600 businesses had been affected by floodwaters, which moved in excess of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). Two defence force Blackhawk helicopters were brought in from Townsville as part of
3648-639: The Childers Cultural Centre- a town hall hired through the Bundaberg Regional Council. Bundaberg Regional Libraries operate a public library at 49 Churchill Street. The Childers branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 1 Crescent Street. Christ Church Anglican Church is at 11 Mcilwraith Street. It is within the Anglican Archdiocese of Brisbane . Sacred Heart Catholic Church
3724-573: The Municipality of Bundaberg and the Barolin, Gooburrum, Isis, Kolan and Woongarra Divisions covered the entire territory of what is now the Bundaberg Region. On 31 March 1903, after the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902 , the Municipality became a Town while the Divisions became Shires. On 22 November 1913, Bundaberg was proclaimed a City. On 21 December 1917, the Shire of Barolin
3800-724: The Zeiss ophthalmic microscope, the first regional hospital in Queensland to have a lymphoedema clinic, and to use facial recognition technology for endoscopic sinus surgery . In the 1960s the township was completely flooded by the Burnett river. In 1967 Bundaberg celebrated its centenary by producing a coin and opening The Bundaberg and District Historical Museum in the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens in Bundaberg North . In December 2010, Bundaberg suffered its worst floods in 60 years, when floodwaters from
3876-535: The amalgamation of the Methodist Church into the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977. Childers Provisional School opened on 28 January 1889. In 1891, it became Childers State School. A secondary department was added in January 1913 and operated until Isis District State High School was established in 1961. A pre-school was added in 1976. Isis Central Mill Provisional School opened on 23 January 1899. On 1 January 1909, it became Isis Central Mill State School. It closed on 11 December 1987. St Joseph's Catholic School
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#17327728836413952-658: The area was James Davis in the 1830s. He was an escaped convict from the Moreton Bay Penal settlement who lived with the Kabi people to the south of the region. He resided mostly around the Mary River and was referred to as Durrumboi . The Burnett River was surveyed by John Charles Burnett , after whom it was named during his exploration mission of the Wide Bay and Burnett regions in 1847. British occupation of
4028-506: The city's north, has 20 kilometres (12 mi) of golden sandy beach. Beaches on the southern side of the Burnett River are (from north to south) the Oaks Beach, Mon Repos, Nielson Park, Bargara Beach, Kellys Beach, Innes Park and Elliott Heads . Cania Gorge National Park , Deepwater National Park , Eurimbula National Park and Kinkuna National Park , located in the Bundaberg region are popular with campers and bush-lovers. Tours of
4104-500: The city. Bundaberg is a popular tourism destination, the city's hinterland includes the historic towns of Childers and Gin Gin , Lake Monduran , Cania Gorge National Park and the Promisedland mountain bike trails. Bundaberg's coastal areas include Bargara and Mon Repos , Deepwater National Park , and the southernmost reaches of the Great Barrier Reef alongside the islands of Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot . The city
4180-470: The corresponding adjective is Bundabergian . Bourbong Street is the main street of the city. and there is some controversy in regards to its spelling and meaning. Bourbong was alternatively spelled Bourbon or Boorbong, which was a local Aboriginal title given to a large waterhole in the area. The main street was historically also gazetted in the Bundaberg Mail as "Bourbon" street, but by 1941 there
4256-475: The evacuation operation, which ultimately used an additional 14 aircraft. On 6 April 2018, Prince Charles visited Bundaberg Rum Distillery He stated, “I'm thrilled that this Distillery's proving to be the one that produces some of the most famous and special of all rums around the world." In 2018, the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the population of Bundaberg's significant urban area
4332-517: The fertile lands. Back then, sugar was (as it is now) the key crop grown in the Isis . The town was established in 1885. The Isis railway line to Childers opened in 1887 and was pivotal in the early development of the area. Childers Post Office opened on 14 November 1887. The town is reportedly named after Hugh Childers , British statesman , who was the Auditor-General of Victoria in
4408-427: The following year when Blaxland was clubbed to death. Forster and a number of other squatters conducted another reprisal, resulting in a large massacre of Aboriginal people in scrubland toward the coastal part of Tirroan. In the early 1850s, Forster sold the property to Alfred Henry Brown who changed the name of the pastoral lease to Gin Gin. At the same time, Native Police officer, Richard Purvis Marshall , took up
4484-523: The land in the region began in 1848 when pastoral squatters Gregory Blaxland Jnr and William Forster established a sheep station . Blaxland was a son of the Blue Mountains explorer, Gregory Blaxland , and Forster was later to become a Premier of New South Wales . They selected a very large area of land which encompassed most of the western part of the modern day Bundaberg Region along the Burnett River . They named this pastoral lease Tirroan. Blaxland and Forster had previously set up sheep stations near
4560-468: The latter of which is the site of a mass grave . Other sites of South Sea Islander cultural significance include Sir Anthony's Rest atop the Bundaberg Hummock and the South Sea Islander Church . Major cultural institutions include the Hinkler Hall of Aviation and the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery. The city's culinary culture is highlighted by its annual ' Banquet on the Bridge ', and an iconic rum and gin culture with Bundaberg Rum originating in
4636-515: The lives of 15 tourists. The Palace Building reopened in 2002, and includes a memorial to those lost in the blaze, a Regional Art Gallery and an Information Centre. The Childers Library opened in 2000 with a major refurbishment in 2014. In the 2016 census , the locality of Childers had a population of 1,584 people. 80.1% of people were born in Australia and 87.0% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 23.0%, Anglican 21.2% and Catholic 17.8%. In
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#17327728836414712-436: The locals of Ambrym while taking Islanders from there. These labourers had to work for three years and were only paid at the end of this time period. Instead of cash, they usually received substandard goods and trinkets of minimal value as payment. Excessive mortality of the Islanders while serving their term of labour in the Bundaberg region was frequent. Overwork, poor housing, inadequate food, contaminated water supplies and
4788-407: The logging of the Woongarra Scrub in 1867. In 1868, Samuel Johnston erected a sawmill in Waterview , on the north bank of the Burnett River . The Waterview sawmill became a prominent supplier of timber until its closure in 1903 after being damaged by flood. In 1867, timber-getters and farmers, John and Gavin Steuart, established the Woondooma property which consisted of a few houses and a wharf on
4864-400: The northern banks of the Burnett River where Bundaberg North now stands. An official survey of the area was undertaken in 1869 by John Charlton Thompson , assisted by James Ellwood and Alfred Dale Edwards, and the town of Bundaberg was gazetted across the river on the higher, southern banks. The first Bundaberg land sale was held in Maryborough on 11 May 1870 where hotelier John Foley bought
4940-408: The original lots. Most of the early settlers exploited the timber and grew maize on their selections but as a result of the incentives of the Sugar and Coffee Regulations of 1864, sugar became a major component in Bundaberg's development from the 1870s. Experimental sugar cane cultivation in the district was first grown at John Charlton Thompson's Rubyanna property in 1870 and the first sugar mill
5016-399: The phasing out of South Sea Islander labour , with workers claiming that many plantation owners had substituted black indentured labourers (sometimes referred to as slaves) with white ones. Workers sought better accommodation, wages and conditions, including an eight-hour day and a minimum weekly wage of 30 shillings, including food. The mobilisation of unionists from Bundaberg to Mossman was
5092-573: The raw sugar is exported. A bulk terminal for the export of sugar is located on the Burnett River east of Bundaberg. Recent years have seen the reduction of cane farms and in turn increase of Macadamia farms, whoms main market is China. Another of the city's exports is Bundaberg Rum , made from the sugar cane by-product molasses . Bundaberg is also home to beverage producer Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Vintage Soda , Craft Brewery Ballistic Brewing Company and Craft Distillery's Waterview Distillery and Kalki Moon . Commercial fruit and vegetable production
5168-418: The suffix have been proposed. It is a Saxon suffix which means "hill". It is also a German word which translates as "mountain", and refers to the Sloping Hummoch , the singular hill rising above the relatively flat region surrounding the Burnett River on which the city is situated. Colloquially, the city is widely known throughout Australia as "Bundy". Residents are referred to by the demonym Bundaberger , and
5244-536: The sugar industry in Bundaberg was reliant on South Sea Islander workers, who were often blackbirded and kept in a status close to slavery. The first significant shipload of Kanaka labour, as it was called, to arrive on the Burnett River came in January 1872 aboard the Petrel . Allegations of kidnapping and wounding immediately arose concerning the recruitment of the Islanders on this vessel. Influential Bundaberg plantation owners were able to purchase recruiting ships in order to obtain labour directly from areas such as
5320-476: The town over the years. Fruit and vegetable cropping is common on the lands around town. The local tourism organisation "Stay in Childers" is a not for profit incorporated association made up of local businesses. The Isis Town and Country is the town's local newspaper, available once a week on Thursday. Childers is also served by a monthly community newspaper, the Childers Chit Chat, and commercial FM radio stations Breeze 102.5 and Rebel 106.7. In addition,
5396-420: The town services the surrounding areas with its small hospital. Childers has its own courthouse. The town has several emergency service faculties including a police station, ambulance station and fire station housing Fire and Rescue Queensland Staff and Queensland Rural Fire Service volunteers. It also hosts a branch of the State Emergency Service and PCYC Emergency Services Cadets program. Childers State School
5472-696: Was 70,921 people. In the 2016 census , the city of Bundaberg had a population of 50,148 people. In the 2016 Census, there were 69,069 people in Bundaberg (Significant Urban Area). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 4.3% of the population. 81.2% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 3.2%, New Zealand 1.8%, Philippines 0.7%, South Africa 0.5% and Scotland 0.4%. 88.9% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 0.5%, Italian 0.4%, German 0.3%, Afrikaans 0.2% and Tagalog 0.2%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 26.3%, Catholic 18.7% and Anglican 18.6%. In
5548-461: Was abolished and its area split between the City of Bundaberg and the Shire of Woongarra . Bundaberg grew to 45.2 square kilometres (17.5 sq mi) and was united with what was then its entire suburban extent. On 21 November 1991, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission , created two years earlier, produced its second report, and recommended that local government boundaries in
5624-593: Was built by Richard Elliot Palmer at his Millbank plantation in 1872. Bundaberg rapidly became an important sugar production region after the construction of the Millaquin Sugar Refinery at East Bundaberg by Robert Cran and his sons in 1882. The Fairymead sugar processing plant owned by the Young Brothers (Arthur, Horace and Ernest Young) opened in 1884 which further augmented Bundaberg's sugar producing capacity. The initial 35 years of
5700-645: Was established on 24 January 1926 by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart . On 28 September 1941, Archbishop James Duhig laid the foundation stone for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The foundation stone of Grace Lutheran Church was laid by Pastor K Scholz on 16 April 1961. The town made international headlines in June 2000, when an arsonist set fire to the Palace Backpackers Hostel , claiming
5776-419: Was imported from Italy and is constructed of Italian marble. The completed memorial, at a cost of £1,650, was the third most costly to be erected in Queensland. It is a major regional memorial and one of the two most intact digger memorials that remain in their original settings of intersections. The Bundaberg tragedy of 1928 resulted in the deaths of 12 children in a 24-hour period after they were administered
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