Owanyilla

Children at Owanyilla with a canoe made from corrigated iron. Source: Erbacher Collection Library Images

Owanyilla is described as a "hamlet extending from the bank of the Mary to Gympie Road half way between Maryborough and Tiaro" (Kirby, 2011). According to the Maryborough Chronicle for two years the place was inhabited by the native police under Lieutenants Freudenthal and Price. It began to develop as a village due to the Gympie gold rush in 1867. A hotel was built by Sir Nicholls and this was succeeded by Mr Skene and Mr Muir (Maryborough Chronicle). There was a brewery perched above the river that produced Owanyilla Ale. Although Tiaro developed more quickly, there was a push to get services and recognition of Owanyilla as a village. The area was originally going to be called Coopers Plains. In 1868 a post office was set up at the Owanyilla Hotel/Inn and was later moved to the Owanyilla Railway Station in 1881 (Kirby, 2011). The timber, sugar and dairy industries were mainstays of the area with steamers at Owanyilla Wharf enabling transport. Wool, maize and cotton were also farmed. Other industry followed including a Blacksmith, a Butcher and a store. Sugar Mills including the Antigua Mill were established, and a Juice mill was established on Ferney. More information about Ferney can be found here

Antigua Sugar Mill on upper Mary River, Maryborough, ca.1874 Source: Fraser Coast Libraries Image Collection

A need for a school was found and a temporary school was held in a chapel (Kirby, 2011) In 1879 Owanyilla State School was established. Once Upon a Time in Owanyilla by Cythia Kirby details the history of this once thriving rural area and is found in the Libraries Local History Collection in Maryborough.

Did you know Owanyilla was once a small settlement?
Do you know where the name comes from?

References:
Kirby, C (2011) Once Upon a Time in Owanyilla
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser 17th August, 1875 retrieved from Trove on the 23rd of January, 2020.

Tags #sugar #dairy #owanyilla #localhistory #goldrush #aldridge #antigua #ferney #rimber

Hervey Bay and the Burrum Shire Council

The Burrum Shire Council

H.J. Whitby's publication The Burrum Shire Council - 1917 to 1976 states that the first new settlers to Hervey Bay were Boyle Martin and his family. He was looking for timber to supply the Dundathu sawmill. He was told a suitable landing place was a creek which is now where Beach Road joins the Esplanade at Pialba. After establishing a home, his first job was to cut and transport timber. The tides were used to float the timber up to Dundathu.

The area first settled by Boyle Martin is claimed to have been called Polson Point. Whitby (pg 9) claims "Mr Polson was at one time Manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Maryborough. Whilst holidaying at Pialba in 1969 he became ill and died. He was buried on the foreshore in the vicinity of Beach Road. His remains were later transferred to the Polson Cemetery in 1887". It was renamed in 1861 after Captain Charles Vernon, commander of HMS Cordelia which had conveyed Governor Bowen to Queensland in 1859.

With the development of Burrum Coalfields and with the amalgamation of Pialba, Antigua, Howard, Tinana and Granville on the 15th of February, 1917 the Shire of Burrum was formed.

Read more in the booklet The Burrum Shire Council found in the local history section of our Libraries.

The Butchulla People are the Traditional Custodians/Owners of the Land, and their continued connection to the land on which we walk, work and live is acknowledged. Fraser Coast Libraries acknowledges and pays respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.

References:
Whitby, H.J The Burrum Shire Council 1917 - 1976 Maryborough printing Co.

Tags #Dundathu #HerveyBay #Pialba #BurrumShire #PointVernon #Timber