Heritage Walks

1 Post Office (Clock Tower)
2 Linden Clinic
3 Holy Rosary Church
4 Robert Cullen Pharmacy
5 Dental Surgery
6 Senior Citizens Community Centre
7 Blockbuster Video
8 Christ Church, Church of England
9 St. Andrews Uniting Church
10 Buss Park and Hinkler Memorial
11 & 12 Council Chambers and Civic Centre
13 School of Arts
14 ANZAC Monument

15 Facade
16 Old National Australia Bank
17 Old Police Station
18 Old Department of Works
19 Railway Bridge
20 Burnett Traffic Bridge
21 Bundaberg Arts Centre
22 RSL
23 Old Bank Building
24 QUNABA House
25 Grand Hotel
26 Balcony
27 Black's Building
28 Buss & Turner Building

1. Post Office (Clock Tower) : This substantial brick and cement building was opened in 1890 and has served the Bundaberg community since that time as the Central Post Office. The building dominates the skyline in many early photographs of Bundaberg and the exterior of the building has remained virtually unchanged since its construction. [TOP]

2. Linden Clinic : Built in 1913 as a home for Doctor Egmont Schmidt whose father had emigrated from Berlin, Germany. The home was named after Lindenstrasse, an avenue of striking linden trees, in Berlin. A time capsule containing money and newspapers of the period was placed in one of the walls when it was built. The building design shows a very distinctive European influence (in the Queen Anne style). The building has been used as a group medical practice since 1975. [TOP]

3. Holy Rosary Church : The first church in Bundaberg was opened on this site in October 1875. a new brick building facing Barolin Street was completed in 1888. It was reconstructed with transept and sanctuary in the shape of a cross in 1926. Large stained glass windows are a feature of this building. The design of the present building is an adaptation of a Roman temple, similar to early Christian churches built in southern Europe. Note the Roman Doric columns at the front entrance and a cross and statues above on the cornices. [TOP]

4. Robert Cullen Pharmacy (formerly Church of Christ) : This building was erected in 1926. It incorporates features found in larger churches in the nearby areas, including arches, tower and spire. All the bricks used in the construction of this building were hand made. The adjoining wooden building was the original chapel shifted from Targo Street for use as a Sunday School. [TOP]

5. Dental Surgery : This building was built as a dental surgery as early as 1910. It is not clear when the building was built but the architectural style of the building, including bay windows, was a feature of homes built in the early 1900's. Of great interest are the pressed metal walls (both inside and out) and the ceilings of the building. There are a variety of patterns on these pressed metal surfaces. [TOP]

6. Senior Citizens Community Centre : The Senior Citizens Community Centre is situated in what was formerly the Christian Brothers School for Boys (Primary and Secondary). It incorporates the older buildings that were the original school. The building, which was opened in 1919, is a fine example of wooden structures built at that period, with its weatherboard walls, tiled roof and wooden trellis railings. It was moved to its present location in 1988. [TOP]

7. Blockbuster Video (formerly the Old WintergardenTheatre) : Until 1968, this building was the Wintergarden movie theatre, which had been erected on the site and opened early in 1929. A few months later the first 'talking picture' to come to Bundaberg ? ?The Jazz Singer? (Al Jolson) ? was screened here. Part of the lavish stage structure can still be seen inside the building at the rear. [TOP]

8. Christ Church, Church of England : The first Anglican church was built in Quay Street in 1876. In 1899 the church was shifted to Woongarra Street near the present site. The present church was completed in 1927. The church was built in an English gothic style with the characteristic features of pointed arches, bell tower and 34 metre spire tower. The stone walls surrounding the grounds, the lichgate and the wayside cross are in keeping with old English custom. [TOP]

9. St. Andrews Uniting Church : Formerly the Presbyterian Church, the first church was built in 1882. The present building was dedicated in 1932. The building was designed in the form of a cross with a 22 metre carillon tower. The carillon bells are rung by means of a keyboard. The building is characterised by pointed gothic arches. The shield at the top of the bell tower depicts the white cross of Saint Andrew on a blue background. This is also Scotland's national flag. [TOP]

10. Buss Park and Hinkler Memorial : Originally a school reserve, a state public school was opened here in 1875. After the school was relocated to Crofton Street, the area became a 'market reserve' for public use. The City Council named it Buss Park in the early 1930's and redesigned it as a garden display. The Hinkler Memorial, a grey granite construction, in the form of a Grecian altar is the focal part of Buss Park. The memorial was unveiled in 1936 in memory of aviator Bert Hinkler, who died in 1933. The granite weighs 40.7 tonnes and came from the Gracemere quarries near Rockhampton, Queensland. [TOP]

11 & 12. Council Chambers and Civic Centre : The Civic Centre, which includes the Bundaberg City Council chambers, was officially opened in March 1962. Many of the materials used in the construction were made in Bundaberg, including the distinctive honeycomb sun grille blocks on the main frontage. Also locally made were the joinery, steel frames of doors and windows and structural steel. In 2000, the Council chambers have undergone significant interior refurbishment. The coat of arms, which is displayed on the front of the building, was adopted in 1913 when Bundaberg was proclaimed a city. The colours are red and dark blue. The quartering of the coat of arms is: Top left quarter- Stalks of sugar cane representing the cane growing industry; Top right quarter - Plough representing general agriculture; Bottom left quarter - Represents mining interests; Bottom right quarter- Represents shipping interests. [TOP]

13. School of Arts : This is the oldest public building still standing in the Bundaberg, having been built during 1888 ? 1889. Until 1979 it housed a library on the ground floor. From the early 1970's until 1988 the Bundaberg Historical Museum Society occupied the upper floor. The wide colonial verandahs, the iron lace balustrades and iron lace decorations on the roof are features of late Victorian architecture. [TOP]

14. ANZAC Monument : At the intersection of Barolin and Bourbong Streets is the Anzac Monument that was unveiled in 1921. The memorial features a 2.28 metre figure of a Australian World War I 'digger' on a polished red granite column. The top of the column is in the Ionic style. The marble figure was sculptured in Carrara, Italy. The base records the names of servicemen from Bundaberg who died in World War I. [TOP]

15. Facade : This Facade displays the contrast of the old and the new. The date 1870 was important to Bundaberg as the year that the first two stores opened in the town, one situated at north Bundaberg and one in Bundaberg central. The premises were occupied by one of Bundaberg's first daily newspapers - the Bundaberg and Mt Perry Mail - until 1925. ?The Mail? commenced production in 1876 in Bundaberg. In 1925 it amalgamated with the other daily paper ? ?The News?, to become what is now Bundaberg's ?News Mail?. From 1942 to 1970 Richardson's Furniture occupied the building. After that time it became a takeaway food store. [TOP]

16. Old National Australia Bank : Formerly the Bundaberg Branch of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, this colonial design building was built in 1891. The upper floor was used as the Manager's residence until recent years. The wide colonial verandahs cooled the residence in the summer months. The verandahs are embellished with cast iron lace balustrades ? a distinctive feature of buildings of that period. Other features of the building include shingled roof; louvered wooden window shutters; arches and moulded railings on the lower verandah. The small building located behind the bank was originally used as a stable for horses. [TOP]

17. Old Police Station : The old police station was built in 1882 as the Court House and was used for that purpose until 1958 when the Court House relocated to its current premises in the same block. The original police station was a two storey brick building that was demolished to make way for what is now the State Government Departments building. [TOP]

18. Old Department of Works : This building, located in Quay Street next to the Department of Main Roads building was opened February 1918. The building was used as the Bundaberg Technical College that had begun as an adjunct to the School of Arts, Bourbong Street from the beginning of 1890. when the Technical College facilities were moved from the Quay Street building to the High School complex in South Bundaberg, the two storey building was opened as the State Government Offices, including the Labour and Industry Department, Stock Inspector's Office and Land Office. Renovation and reconstruction in post World War II years culminated in a major reconstruction of the building and use by the Department of Public Works in 1983. [TOP]

19. Railway Bridge : The Railway Bridge was under construction in 1890 when a flood caused much damage. As a result the bridge height was raised by one metre. In 1891 the bridge was opened to all traffic. In 1893, flood caused further damage and additional supports were provided, especially at the northern end. [TOP]

20. Burnett Traffic Bridge : The Traffic Bridge was opened in 1900. Before then, ferry transport was provided across the Burnett River. This was a toll bridge ? one penny for pedestrians and three pence for vehicles. The toll was removed on January 1, 1913. [TOP]

21. Bundaberg Arts Centre (formerly the Public Library) : The Council Public Library building was originally the Customs House built in 1903. From 1921 until 1978 the Commonwealth Bank occupied these premises. In 1980, the Public Library was housed here. In recent times, the Arts Centre has housed its innovative collection of regional art work and exhibitions. Note the Coat of Arms centre top of the facade of building facing Quay Street. The original ornate architecture was modernised heavily in the 1950s - preserving a modernist facade. [TOP]

22. RSL : The first stage of this building was completed in 1939. Final extensions were completed in 1972. The Returned Servicemen's League (RSL) sub branch moved from Bourbong Street to the then Memorial Baths in 1936. In 1939 the RSL sold the Memorial Baths to the City Council. The Memorial Baths were built in 1923 and the site now houses the Olympic Pool that was opened in 1956. [TOP]

23. Old Bank Building : Now a restaurant, This building was built in 1910 and was formerly the Union Bank. The architectural style of the exterior of this building is unique to Bundaberg with Corinthian columns, arches and railings. Inside, pressed metal ceilings and woodwork are a feature - note the original low bank vault door off to the left. [TOP]

24. QUNABA House (formerly Queensland National Art Gallery) : Originally the Queensland National Bank branch built in 1887. This bank was the owner of the old QUNABA Mill - Queensland National Bank ? hence its name. The building displays wide verandahs and cast iron lace balustrades ? a feature of other buildings of its era. [TOP]

25. Grand Hotel : Believed to be the site of the first hotel in the main part of Bundaberg, established 1871. The present building was built in 1885 and although it was been completely renovated in recent years, some of the old colonial charm is retained. [TOP]

26. Balcony : This balcony, next to Black's Building, overlooking Bourbong Street dates to the time when a new fashion in architecture called ?Queen Anne? replaced the Victorian styles. The man differences in the verandah are the wooden columns and in place of the iron lacework there is wooden trellis. The decorative cornice above is more angular than others in the near vicinity that predate it. [TOP]

27. Black's Building : This building was constructed in 1906. John Black was a draper in North Bundaberg and moved to Bourbong Street. This building was built alongside the original store in 1906. The department store traded under Black's name until the mid 1970's. [TOP]

28. Buss & Turner Building : The original company, Buss and Williams opened its doors in 1876 in Quay Street. Changing to Buss and Co. a few years later, the company acquired premises in Bourbong Street comprising the existing menswear section and the site where Coles operated. The store became Buss and Turner in 1886. The major department store section was the site from 1901 of one of the State's biggest wholesale and retail merchants, Wyper Brothers Limited. Buss and Turner acquired the property in 1981. [TOP]