Bundaberg 1930 - 45

Bert Hinkler

On January 7, 1933, famous aviator, Bert Hinkler departed from England to fly to Australia. His plane went missing over the Appenine Mountains, but the crash site was not found until April 27, between Florence and Arezzo. In 1934, a memorial to Bert Hinkler was erected at Buss Park.

The War Years, 1939 - 1945

The population of Bundaberg and district had reached 13,000. During 1938, local sugar production was valued at 1,675,709 pounds, which included the output of the Bundaberg, Isis and Gin Gin mills. The approximate weekly wages bill for the Bundaberg City Council in 1939 was 300 pounds, plus 1200 pounds for sewerage workers.

As war was announced, members of the Militia Forces in Bundaberg, attached to the 47th Battalion, left for Enoggera Barracks. Under wartime economy measures, the Bundaberg Newspaper Co. reduced it's use of newsprint by 25%, and in 1941 petrol rationing was introduced, with 5,260 ration tickets being issued by the Post Office over a two day period.

In 1941, after a year of fundraising, Bundaberg became the first Queensland City to support the purchase of a Spitfire. 7,000 pounds (minus expenses), was cabled to Winston Churchill, and a Spitfire was named the City of Bundaberg. Bundaberg Volunteer Defence Corps was formed in 1942, with a membership of 700 men who were either too young or old to enlist. In 1942, 3 airmen were missing, presumed dead after their aircraft crashed into the sea off the coast of Bargara. Approximately 110 Bundaberg servicemen lost their lives in World War II, with around 80 servicemen reported killed in action from surrounding districts.

The 1942 Floods

The 1942 floods were the highest officially recorded floods in Bundaberg's history, damages being estimated at 100,000 pounds, with 2 deaths and the forced evacuation of 2,000 townspeople. Feb 17, 1942, the waters had risen so high, both Harriet and Tomato Islands were submerged, and the wharves were under water.