gympieregionallibraries

Centenary Celebrations

It looks like just about everyone in Gympie celebrated the town’s 100th birth in 1967. All year long the Gympie Times posted articles about the 100th celebrations. There were art shows and competitions, parades and dinners and of course period dress.

Mayor Ron Witham officiated at many events around Gympie during this time.

One video features the Mayor and other councillors and members of the community discussing the centenary celebrations. Click here to view (YouTube)

Gympie Town Hall, Centenary Celebrations, 1967

Another video features the Mayor and many residents at a celebration dinner.
Click here to view (YouTube).

Gympie Centenary Dinner, 1967

Originally a news broadcast on Wide Bay Television.
This film was originally produced by WBQ 8 and was reproduced as 7 Extract from the Archives project.
The project was supported by an innovation grant from the Library Board of Queensland.
© 2020 Seven Network and Gympie Regional Libraries

The Gympie Times ran many articles in October and published a souvenir edition on Monday 16 October, 1967.

Gympie is 100 to-day Gympie Times Monday 16 October 1967 page 1

We found some really interesting Gympie Times articles – from queens, to dress ups to art to processions.

Centenary Queen Contest, Gympie Times, Saturday 2 Sept 1967 page 1
Modern maids in period dress, Gympie Times Thursday 12 October 1967 page 1
Period costumes, special displays for centenary, Gympie Times Saturday 30 September 1967 page 1

An art competition was ran and won..

Cataloguing art exhibits, Gympie Times Thursday 14 September 1967 page 1
Won Gympie Times Art prize, GT Thursday 21 Sept 1967 page 1

The procession was a highlight of the centenary celebrations.

Crowds line route of procession, Gympie Times, Tuesday 17 October 1967, page 1
Diversity of floats, Gympie Times, Tuesday 17 October, 1967, page 4
Gympie Times, Tuesday 17 October 1967 page 5
What a day, Gympie Times, Tuesday 17 October 1967, page 1

We can’t go past without mentioning James Nash and that is grandson attended the Centenary dinner or a note about where he was born.

Nash’s Grandson at Civic dinner, Gympie Times, Tuesday 17 October, 1967, page 4
Where James Nash was born, Gympie Times, Tuesday 17 October, 1967, page 4

Gympie City Council posted a message to all residents.

A centenary message from the City Council, Gympie Times Monday 16 Oct 1967 page 6 – centenary souvenir edition

Businesses of the day also wished Gympie a Happy 100th birthday.

Read some of the Gympie Times articles at the time.

State High School reunion, Gympie Times, Tuesday 10 October 1967, page 2
At the historical society dinner, Gympie Times, Tuesday 10 October 1967, page 2
At Quota District Conference, Gympie Times, Tuesday 10 October 1967, page 2
PAE Wood won Gympie Centenary Cup, Gympie Times, Tuesday 10 October 1967, page 6
The Premier Mr Nicklin steadies the hand of Gympie’s oldest identity Mrs Rose Arnell, Gympie Times Thursday 19 October, 1967 page 1
Early land settlement in Gympie, Gympie Times Thursday 19 October, 1967 page 2
District pioneers, Gympie Times, Thursday 19 October 1967, page 4
Anti-climax to celebrations, Gympie Times, Saturday 21 October 1967, page 1

Back in 1965 preparations were underway for the cenenary celebrations.

What is planned for Gympie’s centenary Gympie Times, Saturday 9 October 1965, page 1

And finally, our Noosa Shire neighbours also rated a mention as having traditional links to Gympie.

Traditional links with neighbours, Gympie Times Monday 16 October 1967 page 7 – centenary souvenir edition