Introduction
Bundaberg, founded in 1867 by timber-getters John and Gavin Steuart and named in
the 1870's, is today a progressive city with a population around 71,000 people. The
name “Bundaberg” was derived from the Aboriginal word “Bunda” and “Berg” (the Saxon
word for “town”). The city itself, located in the Australian state of Queensland,
is situated approximately 385km north of the state capital of Brisbane. Sitting on
the Burnett River and 15km inland from the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef,
this picturesque historic town encompasses many great experiences, making it an ideal
holiday destination.
The history of Bundaberg can be divided into several main periods. The 1840's and
1850's were predominately filled with pioneers flocking northwards, searching for
suitable land for pasture. This resulted in the district having many squatter outstations.
It would not be until the 1860's that development, bought on by industry, would begin
to take place.
The 1860's (in spite of the Burnett River earlier being labelled unnavigable and
because of this the district “useless”) would see timber become the first real industry
of Bundaberg. The heavy Woongarra scrub had not been missed by the opportunistic
gaze of timber getters, which led to Samuel Johnston erecting a sawmill on the north
bank of the Burnett River. Co-founder of Bundaberg Gavin Steuart noted, “the first
thing to give the settlement a start was the advent of Mr. Sam Johnston with his
sawmill.”
However, it was not long before timber supplies soon started running low, leading
to some local pioneers turning to maize crops. In the 1870's, however, pests and
disease devastated this fledgling industry. These years saw many hardships, yet the
beginnings of a town and a district for agriculture had well and truly been laid.
The years between 1880 and 1920, though, are quite possibly the most significant
for the fledgling community and the years where we shall begin our historic journey
of Bundaberg Rum.
