bundaberg

There are many versions of how Bundaberg’s main street was named - from Walker’s book to a series of letters written to the Bundaberg Mail in 1895 - each with a different explanation. Writers and historians have chosen which version they believe is correct, and confusion reigns to this day as to the ‘correct’ explanation of the meaning of Bourbong Street. John Young Walker (1890) - History of Bundaberg : Bourbon-street, the main thoroughfare, and the chief business resort have no connection with the ex-Royal family of France, or with that variety of sugar-cane; but is from ‘Boor-bung’ a chain of waterholes between the town and Rubyanna. (p.14) 20 Jan, 1895 - Letter to the Bundaberg Mail: A correspondent writes: - As an old resident of the Wide Bay and Burnett Districts, I was much pleased to find one of your contributors in a recent issue declaiming against the ‘g’ in our main street. To old-fashioned folk, the modern spelling has jarred on our nervous system severely. Someone of an imposing elevation of mind probably thought it did or ought to belong to the aboriginal dialect. As there is no such part of speech as ‘bour’ in the native dialect, the ‘bong’ meaning dead renders the title silly and unintelligible. The main street of Bundaberg was named Bourbon by the surveyor who laid the principal sections of the town out for a well-defined and perfectly understandable reason. The first cane planted at Rubyanna came from Bourbon, an island in the West Indies, and that plant bears its French imperial title even unto this day. Why is the name borne on every title deed in Bourbon-street was ever locally altered to a meaningless farcicality is beyond the ken of people who have endeavored the face the varied conditions of the colony for nearly half a century, long before we aspired to the proud distinction of being dubbed Queensland, which gave entry to those who, ignoring our past records, would box up a French imperial standard with an impossible aboriginal sentence? It is to be hoped that those who feel any pride in the town will in all cases drop the g in Bourbon-street - even as the Real Property. Neville Rackemann (1992) - Bundaberg - from Pioneers to Prosperity The naming of Bundaberg’s main streets was left to the surveyors. It was an assistant surveyor Edwards who preferred Aboriginal names. The main thoroughfare was named Bourbong Street. Many people, especially senior citizens, are under the impression that up until the late 1930s the spelling had always been ‘Bourbon’; this is incorrect… Up until 1940 the (use) of ‘Bourbong’ and ‘Bourbon’ was near enough to equal. From 1941 on, I found no reference to ‘Bourbon’ Street. Regardless of the spelling of Bundaberg’s main street, it is extremely doubtful whether it had anything to do with an old French royal family or a variety of sugarcane. In all probabilities, the name is derived from an aboriginal word boorbung, the name for a chain of waterholes in the Rubyanna area. This is borne out by the fact that Robert Strathdee’s selection in the vicinity of the lagoons was once recorded on a survey map as ‘Boorbung’. (p.48). Source: www.artsbundaberg.com.au/downloads/file/88/bourbong-street

Obsessed with flying since he was a little boy, Hinkler's record flight was completed in just over 15 days, smashing the previous England-Australia record of 28 days. His arrival in Darwin on 22 February caused a media sensation, with the Queenslander achieving celebrity status. The Brisbane Courier newspaper voiced the opinions of its readers when it proclaimed, "Well done, Mr Hinkler! Australia is proud of you". On 27 February, Hinkler made a triumphant return to his hometown of Bundaberg to an enthusiastic welcome by a large crowd. The Brisbane Courier reported in detail the excitement as Hinkler's plane came in view - "When seen first the machine was coming through a V-shaped break in the clouds, flying high and the crowd went mad with enthusiasm... The speck grew larger, and then the plane came through the clouds, making a great picture with the sun in the background. Then Hinkler stunted, soaring then spiral diving, while the thrilled crowd cheered themselves hoarse. He half circled the arena, then the wings dipped, and he coasted downward, with great glide, the wheels touching the earth well inside the area... The crowd immediately got out of hand and surged forward in mad enthusiasm. With difficulty, a space was made through the crowd for Mrs.. Hinkler and the members of the family to greet the aviator on the side of the machine. Bert leaned out of the cockpit and there was an affecting scene of reunion. Then the crowd took possession of the intrepid aviator, and carried him shoulder high to the high-decked lorry". (Brisbane Courier, 28 February 1928, p.13) Source: slq.qld.gov.au/blog/bert-hinklers-record-flight-1928-mont....

Bundaberg Court House was designed by George St Paul Connolly, acting Queensland Colonial Architect in the Queensland Department of Public Works. Connolly joined the Department in 1872 and worked on both public and private buildings, under the direction of Colonial Architect F.D.G. Stanley. The Bundaberg Court House followed the "T" shape design developed during the nineteenth century. The major consideration in the design and planning of the Bundaberg Court House was the allowance for the correct movement of people in the building and the separation of the different groups involved in the judicial process. The verandahs at the rear of the building allowed for specifically delineated entrances to the buildings. Jurors and barristers entered the courthouse by an alternative route to the public on their way to the public spaces. The judges had a private entrance and lobby via the rear verandah. The prisoners would be brought directly from the police cells to the courtroom through the side verandah door, from the nearby police reserve. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundaberg_Police_Station#:~:text=Bu....