The Gympie region has produced an abundant of various crops in its history. Some cropping districts have flourished whilst some years have suffered losses with disease and disasters such as the impacts of weather, floods or droughts. Here, we highlight the maize crops grown locally, with these amazing series of photos digitised by Queensland State Archives from the Queensland Agriculture Department.

Maize was grown for the grain, sent to market in bags rather than for the dinner plate as a fresh corn on the cob. It was grown in the Mary Valley district as well as other parts of the region such as Pie Creek and northside of Gympie from early pastoral settlement.

Read the news from 1878 on the maize crops: