BUNDABERG POST OFFICE

155 A Bourbong Street, Bundaberg

Built during 1890-91, the Bundaberg Post Office belongs to the second generation of Australian post offices constructed between 1870 and 1929.

It was designed by Charles McLay under the supervision of Queensland Colonial Architect George Connolly. The style and grandeur of the Post Office, its dual frontage and landmark clock tower, reflect the Bundaberg region’s growing wealth and prosperity during this time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Post Offices in regional centres were significant as symbols of power and prosperity. They were administrative offices and sorting centres as well as public facilities for sending letters, parcels and telegrams. They enabled communication and social interaction, regulated the pace of business, and functioned as important landmarks.

In Bundaberg, the Post Office was the point from which road distances were measured. The steps were – and continue to be – a popular meeting place for people young and old. While the building has changed over the years through alterations and new additions, the Bundaberg Post Office still features the verandahs, loggia and clock towers characteristic of the style and era.

References

1. Lee, Robert (2003), Linking a Nation: Australia’s Transport and Communications 1788 – 1970. Chapter 7. Sydney: Australian Heritage Commission. Accessed August 23rd 2017 from http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/publications/linking-a-nation/chapter7

2. Bundaberg Post Office, Australian Heritage Database, Australian Department of the Environment and Energy. Accessed August 23rd 2017 from http://www.environment.gov.au

BUSS AND TURNER

115 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bourbong Street was a bustling thoroughfare lined with draperies, outfitters and department stores. One of earliest and most prominent of these was Buss and Turner.

First established in 1876 by brothers Frederick and George Buss in partnership with W.H. Williams, the business grew quickly from a small drapery into a complete department store selling crockery, soft furnishings, and the latest fashions in men’s and ladies’ wear. James E. Turner joined the firm in the late 1880s and it became known as Buss and Turner.

By the early 1900s Buss and Turner had earned a reputation as one of the most extensive emporiums in provincial Queensland, the size and grandeur of which was unsurpassed by any metropolitan establishment. Buss and Turner operated as a department store throughout the 1900s. It closed in late July 2000 after 124 years of business.

References

1. ‘The Fashion Archives’, Wide Bay-Burnett, Issue 8, December 2013. http://thefashionarchives.org/?page_id=486

2. BUSS AND TURNER. (1907, May 18). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.: 1866 – 1939), p. 23. Retrieved July 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22269070

3. BUNDABERG. (1886, February 25). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 – 1947), p. 3. Retrieved August 17, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146772594  

4. Rodney George, interview, July 2017.

BUSS PARK

194 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg

In the 1870s the area of land we now know as Buss Park was designated as a school reserve and a private school was erected by William Edwin Curtis.

After Mr Curtis moved to Brisbane, the area reverted to a bare and empty block known as Market Square. In fact, in late 1929 the Bundaberg Daily News and Mail wrote “the old Market Square is an eye-sore to the beauty of the city”.

In 1930 plans were made to develop the land into a public park replete with lawns and flowerbeds, tennis courts, a sundial, a fountain, and a rock wall to enclose the area. Assisted by a £500 donation from Mr Charles Horace Buss, work on the park commenced on the 10th of March 1930.

Named in honour of the Buss family, the park was officially opened by Chairman of the Parks Committee, Alderman J. Grimwood, on the 20th of December 1930. Following the death of aviator Bert Hinkler, a granite memorial was erected in 1936. In 1962 the stone wall was removed and the tennis courts gave way to the Civic Centre.

An interview with Tony Osborn, son of Reverend Arthur Osborn who advocated for the establishment of Buss Park. Tony describes how his father implored Mayor Horace Buss to beautify Buss Park.

References

1. Bull, Betty, Fiona Drews and Margaret van Hennekeler (13. History of Buss Park (2013), Bundaberg Regional Libraries. Accessed May 28, 2017 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39n5qdVEBTI987), Summer Memories Through Winter Eyes, Bundaberg: B. Bull and M. van Hennekeler.

2. Nolan, Janette (1978), Bundaberg History & People, St Lucia: University of Queensland Press. 

CHRIST CHURCH

59 Woongarra Street, Bundaberg

In the 1890s Reverend William Morris began a building fund to finance the construction of a new Anglican church. Architect J.H. Buckeridge prepared the plans for the building at around this time, but it was another 30 years before the construction of Christ Church began.

 In 1920 the foundation stone was laid and a building committee appointed prominent Bundaberg architect Frederick Herbert Faircloth to oversee the building of the Church. Construction progressed slowly, hampered by depleting funds and numerous lay-off periods, but on February 20th 1927, Christ Church was officially opened by Archbishop Gerald Sharp. Almost 40 years had elapsed from The completed Christ Church displays the characteristic features of the English Gothic style: pointed arched arcades and architraves, narrow lancet windows, buttresses and a vaulted ceiling.

 In 1929, several pieces of masonry from Westminster Abbey and York Minster were incorporated into the Church. The lynch gate was erected and dedicated in 1935.

References

1. Christ Church, Bundaberg (2014), a report by Bundaberg Regional Council, accessed August 21st 2017 from http://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/files/Christ_Church_Bundaberg.pdf

2. Rackemann, N. (1992), Bundaberg: From Pioneers to Prosperity, Bundaberg: Bundaberg City Council.

3. Osborn, A. (2014), Pioneers, Parishioners and Priests: of the Anglican Church Bundaberg. Bundaberg.

FORMER CUSTOMS HOUSE

1 Barolin Street, Bundaberg

This building was originally Bundaberg’s Customs House.

In the 19th century, customs houses were built in all major Australian ports. Bundaberg was declared a port in 1871, primarily to serve the sugar and mining industries in the region, though it was also the port of entry for new settlers to the area.

 In the 19th century, customs houses were built in all major Australian ports. Bundaberg was declared a port in 1871, primarily to serve the sugar and mining industries in the region, though it was also the point of entry for new settlers to the area. Designed by Queensland Works Department Architect John Smith Murdoch, the H.M. Customs House in Bundaberg was constructed in 1902 to process all imports, exports and immigrations. The Commonwealth Bank acquired the building in 1921 and some changes were made to the architecture to meet the requirements of the bank. In 1980, the building was refitted and updated to become Bundaberg’s first free public library.

 After the library was relocated in the early 1990s, the building became the Bundaberg Arts Centre under the auspices of the Bundaberg City Council. In early 2009, the Bundaberg Regional Council endorsed the re-development of the Arts Centre into a regional art gallery and cultural hub, establishing the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) as we know it today.

References

1. HM Customs House (former), report by Bundaberg Regional Council (2013), accessed August 28th 2017 from http://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/files/HM_Customs_House_former.pdf  

2. History of BRAG, Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, accessed August 28th 2017 from http://www.bundabergregionalgalleries.com.au/about/history-of-brag-charts/history-brag/  3. Customs House Bundaberg, ca. 1903, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/167832576

FORMER QLD NATIONAL BANK

Corner Quay Street & 2 Targo Street, Bundaberg

The Queensland National Bank, now known as “Qunaba House”, was designed by prominent Queensland architect F.D.G. Stanley and built in 1887.

Stanley designed a great many commercial buildings and churches throughout Queensland and in Bundaberg, including the Grand Hotel on Bourbong Street and the Holy Rosary Church on Woongarra Street.

 The Queensland National Bank was the third bank to erect premises in Bundaberg and it played a significant role in the development of the region’s sugar industry. Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Queensland National Bank was more intimately involved in the commercial aspects of the sugar industry than was usual for banking institutions. The bank, as mortgagee, assumed ownership of the Millaquin Sugar Mill in 1896, along with the Doolbi and Yengari juice mills. An early and significant acquisition made by the bank was the Mon Repos plantation and mill, which was renamed Qunaba after the first two letters in the bank’s title.

References

1. Queensland National Bank (former), report by Bundaberg Regional Council (2014), accessed August 24th 2017 from http://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/files/Queensland_National_Bank_former.pdf  

2. Beddoe, Joan (2008), Government Architects – Queensland, Pillars of a Nation, accessed August 24th 2017 from http://www.pillarsofanation.com.au/architects6.html 3. Queensland National Bank (2011), Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, accessed August 24th 2017 from http://leaders.slq.qld.gov.au/inductees/queensland-national-bank/

HOLY ROSARY CHURCH

22 Barolin Street, Bundaberg

The Holy Rosary Church exists on the site of the first Catholic Church in Bundaberg.

The original Church was a modest wooden structure opened in 1875; however, by the 1880s, it was clear this building was too small for the needs of the parish. Father Constantine Rossolini, Bundaberg’s first parish priest, determined that a larger Church was needed to cater for the growing population and to reflect the significance of the town and its Catholic community.

Plans were drawn by architect Mr F.D.G Stanley and the foundation stone was laid on the 10th of October 1886. The brick and plaster construction was erected by local contractor Mr E. Boyle and the beautiful Romanesque structure we have today was opened on the 13th of May 1888.

The highly revered Father Rossolini died in 1894 and was laid to rest in the grounds of the Church. A marble slab marking the resting place is located on the inner northern wall adjacent to the internal entrance of the northern transept.

References

1. Holy Rosary Catholic Church, report by Bundaberg Regional Council (2014), accessed August 18th 2017 from http://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/files/Holy_Rosary_Catholic_Church.pdf

2. King, Cathryn (2015), Holy Rosary Church. Bundaberg.

3. Rackemann, Neville (year), Bundaberg: From Pioneers to Prosperity. Bundaberg.

MONCRIEFF ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

177 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg

This site has been a location of theatre and entertainment since 1911.

The original open-air theatre, the Olympia Airdome, was directed by Carroll and Birch as part of a regional Queensland theatre and cinema circuit that later became known as Birch, Carroll and Coyle.

After 30 years as an Airdome, a roof was built and the building was converted into the fully enclosed Olympia Theatre.

In 1973 the theatre underwent further renovations: air-conditioning was installed and it was renamed the Crest Cinema. The Bundaberg City Council purchased the theatre from Birch, Carroll and Coyle in 1981.

The present Moncrieff Entertainment Centre was named in honour of soprano Gladys Lillian Moncrieff (1892-1976), an Australian legend who was born in Bundaberg and performed around Australia and overseas.

References

1. G Peter Burgis, ‘Moncrieff, Gladys Lillian (1892–1976)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/moncrieff-gladys-lillian-7621/text13319, published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 15 August 2017.

2. TROPICAL THEATRE. (1923, August 27). The Bundaberg Mail (Qld. : 1917 – 1925), p. 4. Retrieved August 15, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218243539

3. Cryle, D., Cosgrove B & Boyle, R (2000). ‘Birch, Carrol and Coyle and the regional picture palace: a case study’, Transformations, no1, pp 1-9, accessed 21 July 2017, from http://www.transformationsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Transformations01_Cryle-Cosgrove-Boyle.pdf

4. Australian Variety and Popular Culture Entertainment: Timeline 1900-1999, Australian Variety Theatre Archive, last updated 9 March 2017, accessed July 21 2017, from https://ozvta.com/avta-site-map/

THE TOWN WHARVES

1b Targo Street, Bundaberg

Bundaberg’s first wharf, Steuart’s Wharf, was located on the north bank of the Burnett River, near where the boat ramp is today.

In 1872 the Australasian Steam Navigation Company purchased this wharf from the Steuart brothers and they built a company store and a punt. Sadly, everything was washed away in the 1873 flood. It was rebuilt and residents were ferried from the north bank to the south bank.

As a major point of arrival, departure, import and export, the town wharves were always a hive of activity. A great many of Bundaberg’s early settlers arrived via ship, as did South Sea Islander workers and labourers from Ceylon. Outgoing vessels carried copper ore from Mt Perry, maize, sugar, and timber.

 The 1942 flood completely blocked the main channel and discussions took place regarding a new port. The first shipment left the new Bundaberg Port at Burnett Heads in 1958.

References

1. “J.Y. Walker, (1890), History of Bundaberg. Aiken 1890. 

2. John Kerr, (1996), Bundaberg, The Persistent Port. Bundaberg Port Authority