MUNDUBBERA

MUNDUBBERA IS APPROXIMATELY 50KM FROM GAYNDAH ALONG THE BURNETT HIGHWAY (A3). MUNDUBBERA HERITAGE AND VISITOR CENTRE Bicentennial Park, Mundubbera Durong Road 1300 696 272 admin@northburnett.qld.gov.au

THE HIGHWAY CROSSES THE BURNETT RIVER IN GAYNDAH – HEAD TOWARDS MUNDUBBERA THROUGH CITRUS ORCHARDS AND FARMLANDS. ON ROUTE THE HIGHWAY CLIMBS THE HILLS TO THE FERTILE BINJOUR PLATEAU. MUNDUBBERA IS A SHORT DRIVE OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE RURAL GETAWAY DRIVE ROUTE FROM NEW SOUTH WALES FEEDS INTO MUNDUBBERA AT THE MEETING PLACE OF THE BURNETT, AUBURN AND BOYNE RIVERS. The name of the town comes from the name of a pastoral property established in 1848 by H.P. Bouverie. It is believed to be an Aboriginal word, possibly from the Kabi language, meaning ‘sharp ridges’ or ‘climbing steps cut in a tree’. It has also been suggested it may mean ‘meeting place of the waters’, referring to the confluence of the Burnett, Auburn and Boyne rivers just upstream from Mundubbera.

European settlement took place in the late 1840s and a town reserve was established on 26 November 1861. Closer settlement, involving migrants from Germany, Britain and the Netherlands, did not take place until the early 1900s and the town was established in its existing site prior to World War I.

The Mundubbera Museum echoes of times gone by. Open on request the museum houses historical machinery and buildings as well as many local collections.

TOWN OF MUNDUBBERA

To Apex Ski Area

Art Gallery RSL Hall

Mundubbera Small Bores

Black stump mural, Jaycee Park

Mundubbera River Walk

Sightseeing

BICENTENNIAL PARK Located on the banks of the Burnett River where the ‘Arthur Dagg Walk’ winds down the riverbank for a closer look at the riverside flora and fauna. View the series of metal sculptures that represent the natural and human heritage of the area. Enjoy the sensory garden which contains plants with distinctive scents and textures and is designed to be enjoyed by all people including the visually impaired. The park is home to a steam train and a tree grown from seed gathered from the Lone Pine at Gallipoli. Set amongst the attractive gardens are sheltered picnic areas, barbeques and playground equipment.

JAYCEE PARK Located 2km from town on the Burnett Highway (A3), Jaycee Park is home to the fabulous Black Stump. Driver Reviver operates here during holiday periods. A sheltered picnic table, electric barbeque and toilet amenities are provided. A plaque of the history and botany of the Knobby Tree is also located in the park. Approximately 4.5km south of the park is the much-photographed Footstep or Knobby Tree which dates back to early settlement.

Eat North Burnett

Mundubbera is home to the largest covered blueberry farm in the Southern Hemisphere! It is also one of the largest producers of table grapes in Queensland and is famous for producing an amazing variety of fruit. Blueberries, pecans, mangoes, avocados, lychees, peaches, nectarines, watermelons, rockmelons and of course citrus – oranges and mandarins. Between April and September, the town’s population swells with an influx of interstate and international pickers.

Mundubbera Ra i lway P r eci nct

Knobby Tree THE MUNDUBBERA HERITAGE RAILWAY PRECINCT is located at the former Railway Station in Bauer Street. Open daily, take a walk through the old goods shed and platform. You’ll find an old crane, historical displays and a special collection of photographs from the early days of the line’s construction through to closure in 2013.

MUNDUBBERA ART GALLERY Opened in 2008, the gallery comprises two galleries and foyer. Exhibitions of local and regional artists are held regularly. Open 7 days, please call to confirm hours – 1300 696 272.

MEETING PLACE OF THE WATERS MURAL Located in Strathdee Street this eyecatching circular mural was painted by Rain Hart in 1997. The mural features the meeting of the Boyne, Auburn and Burnett Rivers and the native fauna and flora of the area.

Meeting Place of the Waters mural

Auburn River National Park

Auburn River National Park is 40km south-west of Mundubbera – travel 13km south of Mundubbera along the Mundubbera Durong Road to the Hawkwood Road intersection. Turn west along the Hawkwood Road for about 20km until you reach the Auburn River National Park turnoff. Drive another 7km along a dirt road to the park. Conventional vehicle access is possible with 4WDs recommended in wet weather. Stay on the road as soils are treacherous when wet.

The 405-hectare park features caves and rock pools with bush walking, swimming and rock climbing. When the river runs, it cascades over salmon coloured boulders as it winds through the park.

PHOTOS Auburn River National Park

BELOW Dinosaur Eggs, Auburn River National Park Facilities on the northern bank of the Auburn River include picnic tables, gas barbeque and public toilets. A basic camping area is provided – camping permits are required and fees paid through www.parks.des.qld.gov.au/ experiences/camping/camping_ bookings.html.

Walking trails begin from the picnic and camping area. Track classifications are based on Australian standards.

Gorge Lookout, 600m return (allow 15 minutes) – Class 3. Impressive views across the river bed. Leave from the end of the car park and walk a short distance to the ‘unexpected’ Auburn River Gorge. Look for the ‘Giants Chair’ from the lookout or the peregrine falcon’s nest – look for the collection of sticks and debris with white tell-tale marks underneath. This is a naturally occurring lookout – there are no handrails so please supervise children at all times, especially near cliff tops.

Riverbed and Rockpools, 1.5km return (allow about an hour) – Class 5. This is a strenuous walk and should only be attempted by fit walkers. Leaving the picnic and camping ground area this rough track winds down the side of the gorge to the river bed, taking you through dry rainforest, eucalypt forest and creek vegetation. Notice the swollen trunks of the bottle trees along the way. Take time to observe the immediate area to ensure that you will be able to find the trail on your return. Take care when walking on wet rocks as they can be slippery.

Apex Park Ski Area, Mundubbera

Fishing & Boating

JONES WEIR AND APEX PARK The Jones Weir is on the Burnett River at Mundubbera, right in town off Seligmann Avenue. The weir is stocked with Australian Bass and Yellow Belly, and Catfish, Eel and Spangled Perch are also present. The Apex Ski area, 4km from the weir along Coonambula Road, is a popular year-round recreation facility. Boating, fishing and water skiing all take place on the weir.

Facilities include boat ramp, jetty, barbeque area and public toilets. Camping is not allowed; there are caravan parks in town. It is a scenic site for bird watching and fishing. Platypus and Ceratodus (Lungfish) may be spotted.

An interview with

FRED AND LORIS DOESSEL, MUNDUBBERA

Tell us a bit about yourself Wilfred (Fred) Doessel is a semi-retired lucerne farmer from

Riverleigh near Mundubbera, having lived there since he was about four. When on the farm he had little time to be involved in community groups but now, hobby farming next to Mundubbera Golf Club, he has developed his passion for historical machinery by becoming very involved with the local museum, being committee president and general maintenance and development ‘officer’.

His wife Loris came to town as a bank officer, married a lucerne farmer, created a family and worked as an administration officer at Mundubbera School before semi-retiring to continue community volunteering, including secretary and gardens ‘officer’ at the museum.

Tell us a little about the Mundubbera Museum and what makes it special? Over the past few years, the museum facility has been developed to house the historical pig and calf yards building, a new citrus display shed, a community garden shade house and shelter area, and easy access toilet.

It’s also just across the road from the Golf Course – so lots of great views and convenient to go for a game! You have some unusual helpers at the museum, who does your mowing? Three sheep are part of the gardening crew at the museum, keeping the grass down and fertilising in an environmentally friendly way. Unfortunately they have little respect for formal gardens and for this reason there have been some recent changes to garden beds. Beryl, a longtime museum volunteer, enjoys the company of the sheep but is sometimes disappointed by their garden plant pruning behaviour.

What do you love about Mundubbera? Relaxing atmosphere with lots of history, art and culture.

What is your must-see place in Mundubbera? Museum, art gallery and Bicentennial Park.

What is Mundubbera’s best kept secret? Bicentennial Park in Mundubbera is beautiful. There is the riverwalk, train, sculptures and gardens continuing the theme of our restful, friendly and cultural community.

Where is your favourite view of the region? A good drive through the region gives you the opportunity to see a wide range of natural and developed areas – bush, mountains, farms, rivers, dams and never forgetting the people too!