Bundaberg Regional Library Service
The Bundaberg Region is approximately 400 kilometres (4-5 hours drive) north of Brisbane and boasts a sub-tropical climate, close proximity to the coast, and picturesque hinterland. The new Bundaberg Regional Council was formed in March 2008, from the amalgamation of Bundaberg, Burnett, Isis and Kolan Shires. The region offers a large range of services, facilities and opportunities to approximately 90 000 residents across approximately 6 500 square kilometres.
Bundaberg was founded in 1867 by timbergetters John and Gavin Steuart. The town of Bundaberg itself was surveyed and named in 1870 after the ‘Bunda’, a local tribe of Aborigines, and the German word ‘berg’, meaning town. The original industries of timber and corn soon made way for the sugarcane for which Bundaberg is known. The Bundaberg region is also known for smallcrops (tomatoes, citrus, etc), cattle, and of course, rum. Complementing these agricultural industries are thriving business and tourism sectors.
The Bundaberg Regional Library Service has its main branch in Bundaberg, and smaller branches in Gin Gin, Childers, and Woodgate. All branches offer a range of services including Internet access, school holiday activities, storytelling, and loans of materials such as fiction, non-fiction, large print, magazines, DVDs and CDs.
A free public library service began in Bundaberg in 1980 when local farmer Stanley Ross Faulkner left a bequest of $175,000 to the Council for the purpose of setting up a public library. Prior to this, Bundaberg had been served by a subscription library since the 1870s. In 1994 a new larger purpose-built library on Woondooma Street was constructed.
Bundaberg Regional Library Service’s local history collection is held in Bundaberg branch and consists of:
-
General histories
-
Bundaberg newspapers on microfilm from 1890s onwards
-
Area histories from throughout the region
-
Histories of local groups and schools
-
Genealogical research materials such as births, deaths, marriages, obituaries, etc, compiled by the Bundaberg Genealogical Association Inc.
-
Photographs (Picture Bundaberg)
The aim of the Picture Bundaberg collection is preserve the visual history of our district, a vital service to present and future residents of the Bundaberg region. Many of the photographs in this collection have been donated by members of the public keen to help accurately and extensively create an historical record of the region. The images represent the people, industry, transport, architecture, landscapes, natural disasters, fashion and culture of the region over time.
Contact details:
Youth/Community Services Librarian (Local History Coordinator) or Reference/Internet Librarian
Bundaberg Regional Library Service
PO Box 885
(49 Woondooma Street)
Bundaberg Qld 4670
p: (07) 4153 9253
f: (07) 4151 0895
e: library@bundaberg.qld.gov.au
w: http://bundaberg.qld.gov.au/library
Last updated: 1st October 2009
Creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other
