Mundubbera
Template:Austlocalgovtarea Mundubbera (Postcode:4626) is a town and Local Government Area in Queensland, Australia, approximately 200 kilometres inland of Bundaberg on the Burnett River.
Mundubbera is the self proclaimed "Citrus capital of Australia".
History
Mundubbera means either Footsteps in the trees or Meeting Place of the waters in the local Aboriginal language.[1] The latter name refers to the confluence of the Burnett, Auburn and Boyne rivers just upstream from Mundubbera.
European settlement took place in the late 1840s. Closer settlement, involving migrants from Germany, Britain and the Netherlands, did not take place until the early 1900s and the town was establised in its existing site prior to World War I. The railway arrived in 1914.
Henry Zipf planted the first citrus orchards in 1933 and established Mundubbera as a major producer of export citrus.[2]
The recent (2006) drought and the after effects of the 2004 Citrus canker outbreak in Emerald, Queensland[3] has had a dampening effect of the citrus industry in the area.
Industry
Industry in Mundubbera is entirely based around agriculture and forestry. The major agricultural activities in Mundubbera are cattle grazing and, in the irrigated areas, fruit growing. Fruit grown in the Mundubbera area includes citrus, mangoes, avocadoes and stone fruit. In addition, Mundubbera is Queesnlands largest producer of table grapes.
During the fruit picking seasons Mundubbera can double in size as many itinerant workers and backpackers from around the world come to the town looking for work on the orchards. Seasonal workers are accomodated in two large caravan parks in Mundubbera itself or in many on-site parks.
Supporting the fruit industry are businesses such as a fruit juice processor and several packing sheds. Bugs for Bugs, an integrated pest management business, raises insects that act as a biological control for common fruit pests, allowing less chemical insecticide use.[4]
With large areas of State forest in the shire, Mundubbera also has a large timber industry with mills in Mundubbera town and at Allies Creek, 80 kilometres to the south west.
Other industries include piggeries and dairying.[5]
Commercial activity is limited, and consists mainly of small businesses supporting local residents and farmers. The town has two hotels, two motels and an IGA supermarket, plus the usual small town services such as a butcher, baker, newagency and post office.
Transport
The town is about one kilometre south of the intersection of the Burnett Highway and the Mundubbera-Durong road. The Burnett Highway links Mundubbera with Gayndah and Goomeri to the east; and Eidsvold, Monto and Biloela to the north. The Mundubbera-Durong links Monto to Dalby and Toowoomba. This road is single lane bitumen in parts
Public transport is limited. Currently (2005) the only public transport servicing Mundubbera is a bus service operating once a week on Thursdays to Bundaberg and back again. Another bus travels every Wednesday and Friday to Maryborough.
An active rail link from Mundubbera to Maryborough and the coast is maintained but the line no longer has a passenger service.
Education
Mundubbera is home to a P-10 school. High school students wishing to complete Years 11-12 must eith er travel to Gayndah, 45 kilometres to the east, or attend boarding schools.[6]
Mundubbera also hosts a small school cluster to the rural schools of Boynewood SS, Binjour Plateau SS, Riverleigh SS and Monogorilby SS.[7]
Events & Attractions
The nearby Auburn River National Park is a good location to find Queensland Lungfish or Ceratodus, a rare living fossil found only in the Burnett and Mary Rivers. This park is popular with bush walkers and rock climbers. It features cascades, great swimming spots, caves, balancing rocks and superb scenery.
The town lookout on the entrance to town on the Burnett Highway is home to a Black stump, to symbolise Mundubbera's location on the edge of the Outback.
The green and inviting Bicentennial Park, on the Burnett River is a welcome sight for weary travellers and locals alike.
The Meeting Place of the Waters 360 degrees mural on the pumping station on Strathdee St. is a visual tribute to the rivers that make Mundubbera the place it is today.
Mundubbera hosts a popular seven-a-side cricket tournament in February each year.[8] The Mundubbera Fish stocking association hosts a popular fishing competition. The Ellendale Open, a pro-am golf tournament is held each year at the Mundubbera Golf Club[9]
Mundubbera is the home of the Big Mandarin.
Trivia
Former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss was born in Mundubbera.
Australian Test Cricketer Martin Love was born and raised in Mundubbera.
External link
References
- ^ Mundubbera Shire Council Official Website. Accessed 1 October 2006
- ^ Walkabout site. Accessed 1 October 2006
- ^ Queensland Depertment of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Accessed 1 October 2006.
- ^ Bugs for Bugs website. Accessed 1 October 2006
- ^ Queensland Department of State Development. Accessed 2 October 2006.
- ^ Mundubbera deserves better A campaign for Year 11 and 12 at the Mundubbera School. Accessed 1 October 2006.
- ^ Mundubbera Small Schools Cluster Website. Accessed 1 October 2006
- ^ ABC Wide Bay Website. Accessed 1 October 2006.
- ^ PGA Australia website Accessed 2 October 2006
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