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In 1878 concerned citizens decided to address this problem, and formed a Hospital Fund Committee with elected Trustees. Permission was given in May 1879 for a temporary hospital to be situated in Ward 2 of the Immigration Barracks in Finemore Park, opposite today’s Base Hospital. At the same time, according to the Bundaberg Daily News, “3 acres, 3 roods has been permanently reserved for a hospital site.” Plans went ahead to build a permanent Hospital, and in 1880 the tender to build was awarded to Mr Midson, with construction completed in February 1881. Known as the Cottage Hospital, it was a four-room timber cottage, with a kitchen and separate Kanaka ward. In 1898, almost twenty years after the foundation of the first Hospital, the question of a hospital to meet the a growing population was raised by the Hospital Committee. At the time, most surgical cases of any complexity were sent to Brisbane, and the Committee felt it was time to “raise the status of the institution so that a wide range of surgical cases could be undertaken.” This also meant a staff of trained nurses would need to be engaged, and Mr. J.C.Walker, then-Secretary of the Committee proposed that the hospital should be a training school for nurses as well. While an operating the theatre was erected in the existing building, the cost of rebuilding older parts of the Hospital lead to the idea of commissioning plans for a larger Hospital built in brick. Source: www.artsbundaberg.com.au/downloads/file/30/base-hospital-...

While two Bundaberg drink companies have stood the test of time – Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks – they are just part of the Region’s drink manufacturing history that spans back nearly 150 years. In the late 1800s it was easier to make products locally than transport them from somewhere else. Our thriving sugarcane industry and fertile soil meant everything needed for a top-shelf beverage was at the manufacturers’ fingertips. It was around this time Austrian native, Gustav Steindl, expanded his operations to Bundaberg, after running a brewery with his brother in Maryborough. In 1883 Steindl established City Brewery Bundaberg near Baldwin Swamp, which had easy access to the spring water once available there. After selling the rights to City Brewery, Steindl established Bundaberg Brewery. The brewery was flooded in 1893 and moved to higher ground on the corner of Princess and Tomlinson Street (formerly known as Brewery Street) to new, larger premises. An arched gateway with ‘Bundaberg Brewery’ displayed in wrought iron overhead welcomed guests, and the front fence had a top rail for farmers to hitch their horses. Steindl sold pasteurized lager, bitter ale, light ale and stout in bulk. Bottled brandy and other spirits were sold under the Seppelt label and cordial under the O.T label. His effort and talent were rewarded with four medals at an 1894 Commonwealth brewing competition. After the mid 1900s, drink companies flourished in Bundaberg. A generation of families in the 1940s fell in love with cordial label Salters. John Salter took over the Bundaberg cordial manufacturer ‘Castles’ in 1940 and operated under that name for many years. In 1956, he built a new purpose-built ‘Salters Cordial Works’ on the corner of Walla and Woondooma Streets. Upstairs was an 1800-square-foot syrup room. The factory capped its last bottle in 1982 but the iconic building remains part of the central Bundaberg streetscape. Source: www.crushmagazine.com.au/call-me-old-fashioned/

The first official meeting of the Bundaberg Bowling Club was held on 8 February 1905. Bowling green and clubhouse. The new club applied for and was granted leasehold land adjoining the Burnett Traffic Bridge on the beautiful riverbank. There is some confusion about the building of the bowling green. Some accounts mention Mr. John Rae, foreman of the Gooburrum Shire Council, other stories tell that Mr. James Cullen, Harbour Board foreman and first engineer on the dredge Ceratodus was responsible for the laying of the green. Whoever did the job, it was well done as our foundation green is still in use after one hundred years. The date for the building of a half green is not recorded. This half green was situated along Quay Street in the little park where the statue of Bert Hinkler now stands. The original clubhouse stood near the Traffic Bridge and was built by Mr. John Guthrie at a cost of 42 pounds. This clubhouse was probably also used as an equipment storage shed. It measured 8.5 m long by 3 m wide. (28 x 10 feet). Opening day. The big day for all the hard work that was put into the building of the Club and green was celebrated on l0 November 1906. The ceremony was performed by Hon. Angus Gibson, M.L.C. The first (official) bowl was rolled by Mr. T.W. Bouchard, then State Champion and President of the South Brisbane Bowls Club. The green had been in use since September 1906. The first green keeper was Bob McKinlay. He held the job for many years. Mr. McKinlay became a very widely renowned pipe major of Bundaberg's famous Caledonian Pipe Band. Friends in Bowls. No doubt friendship and good fellowship exists throughout the bowling world. It goes well beyond the boundary fence of the club. Maryborough has two bowls clubs over 100 years old. The rivalry between the two cities had to be tested on the bowling green. For many years the Bundaberg Bowls Club played the Maryborough Bowls Club for the ashes. No one is sure when it started, but these challenge matches were played from 1921 on. Players used to travel to Maryborough by rail motor. Who would be able to describe the return journey! The last time the two clubs met is about three years ago. Just for the record, it is Maryborough's turn to come to Bundaberg to face the music. Source: www.bundabergbowls.com.au/club-history