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