File:Australia_bundaberg_aerial.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Bundaberg
Bundaberg ( ) is the major regional city in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the ninth largest city in the state. The Bundaberg central business district is situated along the southern bank of the Burnett River about from its mouth at Burnett Heads, where it flows into the Coral Sea. The city is sited on a rich coastal plain, supporting one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions. The area of Bundaberg is the home of the Taribelang-Bunda, Goreng Goreng, Gurang, and Bailai peoples. The common nickname for Bundaberg is "Bundy", although its hi
Weather now
cached 19h ago23°clear sky
45% 5.2 m/s OpenWeatherMap
7-day forecast
via Open-Meteo
Place details
- Locality
- Bundaberg
- Region
- Queensland
- Country
- Australia
- Population
- 73,747
Travel guide
Understand
250px|right|thumb|Aerial view of Bundaberg, showing the Burnett River and Bourbong St
Bundaberg is closely linked to the sugar cane industry. The area is surrounded by cane fields, and the small railway lines that carry the harvested cane to the mills. The closeness to the sugar cane mills is the reason for the siting of the rum, ginger beer, and sugar industries associated with Bundaberg.
The town is 10 km from the ocean beaches, such as Bargara and Mon Repos. It is built on both sides of the Burnett River, which is crossed by two road bridges and a railway bridge. Bourbong street is the oddly named main street (originally named Bourbon Street, but historically misspelled). Parts are also known as the Isis Highway.
The town of Bargara is essentially the beachside suburb of Bundaberg. It has many modern apartments, accommodation, and resorts with ocean views. Though close to Bundaberg, it has a very different feel to the town centre. It has a small shopping and restaurant strip, and an esplanade with barbecues and picnic tables.
Get around
Duffy's buses run mainly school buses, but there are some public routes. In particular buses run between Bargara and the Bundaberg town centre every hour or so on weekdays and every couple of hours on a Saturday.
You really need a car to get anywhere outside the city centre. A number of Backpacker hostels run shuttle minibuses for seasonal workers to local farms early in the morning and back again in the afternoon.
See
Turtles Return each year around December to to lay their eggs at night. In around February, and in December you can see the little hatchlings struggle their way into the ocean against the waves. The beach is part of a conservation area, and you must be accompanied by a ranger to see the turtles. Laying and hatching is at night.
Tropical Fish at the Basin, Bargara. Tropical fish can be seen at the Basin, and the southern end of The Esplanade. It is possible to take bread and feed them. There is no admission charge, bring your own snorkel and mask.
Do
Walk along Bourbong Street and look at some of the city's old buildings. Swim at Bargara beach See the view from The Hummock, take the Bargara road, and follow the signs. A 100-meter-tall hill on the outskirts of Bundaberg for a good view of the city and out to the ocean. On a clear day, you can see the tip of K'gari.
~37 min read
Article
51 sectionsContents
- Geography
- Etymology
- City name
- Bourbong Street
- History
- Early history
- Initial British colonisation
- Cattle and logging
- Town of Bundaberg
- Sugar
- Further progress
- Bundaberg in the 21st century
- Demographics
- Heritage listings
- Climate
- Suburbs of Bundaberg
- Media
- Economy
- Tourism
- Museums and galleries
- Memorials
- Culture
- Arts and entertainment
- Media
- Popular culture
- Sport
- Australian rules
- Basketball
- Chess
- Cricket
- Croquet
- Darts
- Golf
- Rowing
- Rugby league
- Rugby union
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Community groups
- Education
- Transport
- Health
- Military
- Sister cities
- People
- Notable residents
- Representatives
- See also
- Notes
- Further reading
- External links
Bundaberg ( ) is the major regional city in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the ninth largest city in the state. The Bundaberg central business district is situated along the southern bank of the Burnett River about from its mouth at Burnett Heads, where it flows into the Coral Sea. The city is sited on a rich coastal plain, supporting one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions. The area of Bundaberg is the home of the Taribelang-Bunda, Goreng Goreng, Gurang, and Bailai peoples. The common nickname for Bundaberg is "Bundy", although its history as a major sugar producing region means it is often referenced as the "Rum City" or "Sugar City". In the , the Bundaberg urban area had a population of 73,747 people.
The district surveyor, John Thompson Charlton designed the city layout in 1868, which planned for uniform square blocks with wide main streets, and named it ‘Bundaberg’. An early influence on the development of Bundaberg came with the 1868 Land Act, which was a famous Queensland via media, that aimed to create a class of Australian yeoman. Large sugarcane plantations were established throughout the 1880s, with industries of sugar mills, refineries, and rum distilleries that delivered prosperity to Bundaberg. These plantations used South Sea Islanders as indentured labourers, many of whom were blackbirded, a practice considered a form of slavery. The trade was outlawed in 1904, with most South Sea Islanders deported by 1906. Major floods in 1942 and 1954 damaged the river, ending Bundaberg's role as a river port and led to a new port at the mouth of the Burnett river. In the post-war era, Bundaberg continued to grow with its wealth tied to its sugar industry. In 2013, Bundaberg experienced record flooding from Cyclone Oswald, which was the worst disaster in the city's history.
Gallery (52)
On the map
3 mapped locations
Connections
Categories
1870 establishments in AustraliaAustralian Statistical Geography Standard 2016 ID different from WikidataAustralian Statistical Geography Standard 2016 ID same as WikidataAustralian Statistical Geography Standard 2021 ID different from WikidataBundabergBundaberg RegionPopulated places established in 1870Port cities and towns in Queensland