Gin Gin is located in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia.
The name "Gin Gin" may have
originated from either an Aboriginal word meaning 'thick scrub' or from a pastoral property in Western Australia.
Gureng Gureng Aboriginal People
Gin Gin is part of the traditional lands of the Gureng Gureng people. The town's name is believed to derive from local Aboriginal terms, potentially 'kwin kwin' or 'chin chin' (thick scrub/vine scrub) or 'gwin gwin' (red soil).
The word 'gurang' translates to 'nought', 'no' or 'nothing.' Many tribal names mean 'man' or 'person', but some names are based on 'no man.'
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| Traditional Aboriginal body painting uses natural materials such as ochre, charcoal, and clay. |
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The native tribes of South-East Australiaby Howitt, A. W. (Alfred William), 1830-1908
Moieties help define social roles and responsibilities among members. Individuals from the same moiety are typically forbidden to marry each other, reinforcing social bonds and obligations. Moieties are integral to the cultural identity and practices of Aboriginal groups, influencing various aspects of life, including ceremonies and resource management. |
1840s
Gregory Blaxland (the younger) and William Forster established Tirroan pastoral run in the future Gin. Gin district in 1848.
The Gin Gin Homestead, built in 1848-9, is the oldest standing building in the Bundaberg region.
Hunter-gatherer societies are nomadic or semi-nomadic with structured gender division of labor, which require very large land areas for few people, a lifestyle which is very different from sedentary
agricultural societies, which rely mainly on cultivating crops and raising domesticated animals, These differences led to tension and violence.
In 1849, two shepherds were speared by Aboriginal people which led to punitive action by pastoralists. Organized by Gregory Blaxland and his nephew William Forster, and over 50 station hands and squatters, following the killing of the Pegg brothers (shepherds) on Gin Gin station.
1850s
In 1850, Gregory Blaxland was killed.
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| MURDER BY THE BLACKS IN MORETON BAY -It is our melancholy task to record the murder of Mr Gregory Blaxlqnd by the aboriginal natives of the Burnett district. The only particulars at present known have been communicated in a letter to a gentleman in Brisbane. It appears that the body of the deceased was discovered by his servants within two hundred yards of his hea'd station; spear wonnds and other marks of violence showing clearly that the unfortunate gentl6man had met his death from the hands of the blacks. Captain O'Connell, Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district, hold an investigation, and came to the conclusion that the deceased had been treacherously murdered by the natives. Only a few numbers back we alluded to the probability oi some such terrible catastrophe resulting from the continued absence of the Native Police.Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1847 - 1851), Thursday 26 September 1850 |
About 1851, Arthur and Alfred Henry Brown bought Tirroan from William Forster and renamed the run Gin Gin. The Brown Brothers previously owned a pastoral property called Gin Gin in Western
Australia.
1860s
Copper discovered to the west of the district, such as Mount Perry and New Moonta, in the late 1860s and early 1870s.
Later the Gin Gin run was purchased by Sir Thomas McIlwraith, who was Premier of Queensland three times between 1879 and 1893.
1870sA telegraph station was established in what became the town of Gin Gin in 1874.
Gin Gin Post Office opened on 15 March 1875.
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| Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 - 1947), Tuesday 2 March 1875 |
The township of Gin Gin was gazetted in 1877, consisting of an area of some three thousand acres on the Gin Gin run.
1880s
Gin Gin Provisional School opened on 26 June 1882.
Gin Gin was located on the Bundaberg-Mount Perry railway, finished in 1884.
James Alpin Macpherson, known as The Wild Scotchman, was a Scottish–born Australian bushranger active in Queensland and New South Wales in the 1860s. He was captured in the Gin Gin area on 30 March 1866.
Land was offered for selection for the establishment of small farms on 17 April 1887
1890s
 Queens Hotel in Gin Gin, Queensland, 1895, SLQLD |
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| Pugh's Queensland almanac, directory and law calendar. 1862-1866 (1897) |
1900s
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| Pupils at Gin Gin School, QLD, about 1900, SLQLD |
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| Township of Gin Gin, Qld - very early 1900s, Kaye |
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| Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 2 June 1906 |
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| Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Friday 8 February 1907 |
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| Queensland Country Life (Qld. : 1900 - 1905; 1907; 1909 - 1910; 1935 - 1965), Monday 1 March 1909 |
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| Gin Gin Post Office, QLD, Bundaberg Mail and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1892 - 1917), Thursday 23 September 1909 |
The Gaeta goldfield is north-west of Gin Gin, on the Mount Perry line some 25 miles, 850 feet above sea level, near the head waters of the Burnett, Kolan, and Boyne rivers.
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| Wilson's store and Gin Gin Hotel in Gin Gin, Qld - circa 1910, Kaye |
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| NEW M.U. ODDFELLOWS' HALL, GINGIN, QLD. Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), Saturday 25 July 1914, |
WWI
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| GIN GIN, QLD. C.1915. PEOPLE FROM THE VILLAGE OF GIN GIN, NEAR BUNDABERG, WATCH A RECRUITMENT RALLY AT THE LOCAL SPORTS OR SHOW GROUND, SURROUNDED BY FLAGS, BANNERS AND DECORATED CARS. COMMUNITY GROUPS PRESENT INCLUDE RED CROSS AND FREEMASONS, AS WELL AS OLDER MEN OF THE MILITIA. AWM |
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| YOUNG GIN GIN PATRIOTS. Edward"Rohan and Maisie Edmonds, who collected £4/8/ at Mrs: and MissDuncan's concert nnddance (at which £53/0/ wa. collected) .at Gin Gin in aid of ' the Belgian and Wounded Soldiers' Funds.Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 14 August 1915 |
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| Gin Gin Cottage Hospital, QLD, no date, SLQLD |
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| 1. OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE GIN GIN -COTTAGE HOSPITAL. 2. COMMITTEE OF THE, GIN GIN COTTAGE HOSPITAL.Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934), Friday 22 January 1915 |
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| Queen's Hotel at Gin Gin, Qld - circa 1916, Kaye |
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| Servicemens' wedding at St Lukes Church, Charlotte Street Brisbane 13 December 1917, Description: The double wedding held on 13 December 1917, features two Aboriginal members of the 11th Light Horse Regiment outside St Luke’s Church of England, Charlotte Street, Brisbane. Wedding party members from left to right: Trooper James Lingwoodock, (Service number: 2433), an Aboriginal serviceman from Gin Gin, Qld, Mrs Daisy Lingwoodock (nee Roberts) from Normanton, Qld., an unidentified Bridesmaid, Trooper John Geary, (Service number: 2429), an Aboriginal serviceman from Tantitha via Bundaberg, Qld, |
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DISTRICT HEROES GIN GIN FAMILY'S SACRIFICE. THREE SONS KILLED. Few families are called on to make such a hcavy sacrifice as has been the Allen familv, Gin Gin. Mr. and Mrs. William Allen, of Oxhill, Gin Gin, have had three gallant sons killed while fighting thcir country's battle on the blood-soaked fields of France, 1. late Private James Edward Allen. 2. Late Private Josiah Allen. 3. Late earnest Allan. Bundaberg Mail (Qld. : 1917 - 1925), Saturday 26 October 1918 |
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| Women members of the Gin Gin Red Cross, QLD, 1918, SLQLD |
1920s
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| The War Memorial at Gin Gin. QLD. Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 3 January 1925 |
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| Lund's Garage, Gin Gin, ca. 1926, QLD, SLQLD (Adolf William Lund was advertising as a blacksmith and wheelwright prior to WW1. In 1916 he was the agent for Ford automobiles although still selling sulkies and buggies) |
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| OPENING OF GIN GIN BRIDGE, OCTOBER 2nd, 1926. Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1875 - 1929), Saturday 6 November 1926 |
1930s
The Allen family were early farmers and graziers in the region.
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William Allen, Gin Gin's "Grand Old Man," Bundaberg Daily News and Mail (Qld. : 1925 - 1940), Tuesday 19 January 1937 (William Allen migrated from England in 1862 and married Sarah Jane Childs in 1874. They had twelve children. The Allen family were early farmers and graziers in the region) |
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| A section of teh grand parade, Gin Gin Show, QLD, Queenslander Illustrated Weekly (Brisbane, Qld. : 1927 - 1939), Thursday 14 June 1934, |
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| Bundaberg Daily News and Mail (Qld. : 1925 - 1940), Thursday 15 March 1934 |
1940s and WWII
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| Bundaberg Daily News and Mail (Qld. : 1925 - 1940), Tuesday 18 June 1940 |
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| ROLL OF HONOUR PTE. COLIN LYNN. Private Colin Lynn, who was killed in action at Bougainville, New Giunea, was the youngest son of Mir. Fred Lynn, of Gin Gn,. Private Lynn, who was aged 10, Joined up at an early age. He was a native of Gin Gin and worked with his father as a carrier and forwarding agent up to the time of his enlistment.Bundaberg News-Mail (Qld. : 1942 - 1961), Thursday 25 January 1945, |
1950sIn 1956, Gin Gin State school expanded to offer secondary schooling.
1960sMore than 200 children received instruction at the Kolan Shire National Fitness Training Club during the past 12 months.
1970sGin Gin State High School was established on 1 February 1972.
1990sThe Gin Gin Library opened in 1992.
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| The Gin Gin Railway Station and Complex, QLD, 1992, Queensland State Archives |
Around Gin Gin
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| The Gin Gin Courthouse was built in 1935. Now part gallery, Gin Gin, QLD |
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| The Great Northern Hotel in Gin Gin, Queensland, was built around 1920, QLD |
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| Gin Gin Memorial & Community Hall, QLD, built 1952 |
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| Kolan Shire National Fitness Hall83A Mulgrave St. Gin Gin QLD (Google) |
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| Gin Gin railway station is a heritage-listed railway station at Mulgrave Street, Gin Gin, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1888 to c. 1928 |
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| Gin Gin Hotel, QLD, |
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| Gin Gin Historical Society Inc. Museum, QLD |
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| Art Deco building Gin Gin, QLD |
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| Gin Gin Station Homestead, QLD, At various times Gingin Station was owned by William Forster (Premier of NSW, 1859-1860), Sir Thomas McIlwraith (Premier of Qld, 1879-1883, 1888, and 1893), and Sir Arthur Palmer (Premier of Queensland, 1870-1874) |
Things To Do and Places To GoGin Gin Museum
The Wild Scotchman Festival used to be held in Gin Gin on the third week of March each year to commemorate the capture of the bushranger James MacPherson.
The Wild Scotchman Festival used to be held in Gin Gin on the third week of March each year to commemorate the capture of the bushranger James MacPherson.
Queens Hotel in Gin Gin, Queensland, 1895, SLQLD
