HISTORICAL SITES AND HERITAGE LOCATIONS CORDALBA

There is something for everyone at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens. Situated in North Bundaberg on Mount Perry Road, the gardens span 27 hectares of land and feature a magnificent lake which is home to 114 species of birds. Take a walk on the paths to discover the hidden Japanese Gardens and the spectacular temple in the Chinese Gardens. The Bundaberg Botanic Gardens also play home to the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, Hinkler House, Cafe 1928, The Bundaberg and District Historical Museum and the nearby Bundaberg Railway Museum (small costs for entry). On Sundays the Australian Sugarcane Railway offer steam train runs along the train track through the gardens (extra tours run on school holidays). For a very small fee you will enjoy two runs through the park. You can purchase duck food from Cafe 1928 to entice the birdlife closer for fantastic photo opportunities. Take a picnic rug and your own food as the Botanic Gardens are the perfect spot for a picnic or organise some food from Cafe 1928.

The relocated and restored Fairymead House overlooks the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens with the splendour of a bygone era. Built in 1890, this grand local homestead houses the Sugar History Museum, exploring the development of the local sugar industry from its earliest days. View the magnificent Indian bungalow architecture and discover the history of the Bundaberg sugar industry and the pioneer sugar families through a guided tour of the heritage listed homestead Fairymead House and Sugar History Museum. Fairymead House is available for hire as a wedding/function/conference venue. If you are looking for a venue with a difference Fairymead House is the ideal location for you. The majestic homestead offers an exclusive function venue for a maximum of 60 guests. Set amongst the lush tropical surrounds of the Botanic Gardens. Fairymead House is a fantastic venue for your special wedding photographs. Please contact their friendly staff for availability and pricing....

Situated almost underneath the Burnett Bridge, this small park and playground offers the kids somewhere to play while Dad drops in a line. You will find a children's pedal power air bike and a set of swings right next to a barbecue and the toilet block. Although there are limited play facilities, this is the perfect place to be able to drop in a line and entertain the kids at the same time. Lions Park, North Bundaberg is considered a dog "off-leash" area. The car park can get quite busy on weekends when the weather is perfect for boating....

Apple Tree Creek is a convenient stop on the way to either Bundaberg or Gin Gin, just outside of Childers. A family-friendly picnic ground with great facilities is on the left as you enter Apple Tree Creek from the south. Almost diagonally opposite is the Flying High Flora and Fauna Bird Habitat, on the corner of the Bruce Highway and Old Creek Road. It's the creation of John Woodall, an ex-farmer with a penchant for birds, who has created the largest walk-through free flight aviary in the country. Other highlights include The Pip Stop for homemade jams and preserves made from local produce. Check out the purpose-built Swiss-designed wood-fired pizza oven....

Cordalba is home to a fantastic Bed and Breakfast just off the highway which offers fresh sea perch fishing opportunities and local produce from their seasonal stall as well as a great range of accommodation. If you aren't the fishing type, then there is a fantastic, historic pub and locals reckon you should check out the Mango Tree Church on Hodges Road. Cordalba is surrounded by the Cordalba State Forest which is characterised by it's rugged hills of open eucalypt woodland, this park is an adventurer's retreat. You can spotlight for possums and gliders at night and go mountain biking or birdwatching during the day. There are mountain biking trails which are frequented that can be accessed by taking the turn-off to Cordalba via Claytons Road and then turn left onto Promisedland Road. The turn-off to Promisedland mountain bike trail network is approximately three kilometres along this road. Cordalba is a town in central Queensland, Australia that was founded in 1896....

Apple Tree Creek is a convenient stop on the way to either Bundaberg or Gin Gin, just outside of Childers. A family-friendly picnic ground with great facilities is on the left as you enter Apple Tree Creek from the south. Almost diagonally opposite is the Flying High Flora and Fauna Bird Habitat, on the corner of the Bruce Highway and Old Creek Road. It's the creation of John Woodall, an ex-farmer with a penchant for birds, who has created the largest walk-through free flight aviary in the country. Other highlights include The Pip Stop for homemade jams and preserves made from local produce. Check out the purpose-built Swiss-designed wood-fired pizza oven....

Bundaberg's first railway station, built in 1881 as an outlet for the Mt Perry railway bringing copper from the mines, is now preserved as a proper museum. Located some 500 metres from its original site, the museum houses a wide variety of railway items past and present. The museum is a haven for train buffs. It include photos, uniforms and catering items from dining rooms to the Tilt Train. Books, including office records, engine driver's manuals, timetables and rule books. Tools of various types: locomotive spanners, heavy jacks and track work tools, Interlocked signal cabin recovered from Lowmead station, the last CTC panel from Bundaberg, and modern day transponders, A 1921 guard's van (originally a sleeping car) and a butter car insulated with cow's hair which stays cool even without the ice blocks. Static displays outside include a diamond crossing for cane trams to cross the government lines and various couplings, buffers, drawhooks and air hoses used on older rolling stock. ...

There is something for everyone at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens. Situated in North Bundaberg on Mount Perry Road, the gardens span 27 hectares of land and feature a magnificent lake which is home to 114 species of birds. Take a walk on the paths to discover the hidden Japanese Gardens and the spectacular temple in the Chinese Gardens. The Bundaberg Botanic Gardens also play home to the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, Hinkler House, Cafe 1928, The Bundaberg and District Historical Museum and the nearby Bundaberg Railway Museum (small costs for entry). On Sundays the Australian Sugarcane Railway offer steam train runs along the two kilometre train track through the gardens (available for a very small fee). You can purchase duck food from Cafe 1928 to entice the birdlife closer for fantastic photo opportunities. Take a picnic rug and your own food as the Botanic Gardens are the perfect spot for a picnic or organise some food from Cafe 1928. ...

Australia's participation in WWI had an immense impact on the population. Almost one in five men who went to fight, died. That was certainly the experience in the Wide Bay's tiny farming community of Apple Tree Creek. When war broke out, 50 farmers were registered in the post office directory. There was also a school, hotel and store. From that community, 77 men volunteered, a substantial proportion of a generation. Apple Tree Creek chose the Queensland favourite tribute, the soldier statue, to honour its war heroes. The AL Petrie-produced memorial was unveiled on 20 March 1921. Marble plaques on each side of the plinth on which the soldier stands record the soldiers' names providing a lasting record of the community's involvement. The names of the 15 who died are inscribed on the front panel. Apple Tree Creek's war memorial, within the community sports ground, has undergone significant restoration. Vandals destroyed the original soldier statue in the mid-1970s. A replica was unveiled in its place in 1999. ...