Bundaberg, Queensland
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Bundaberg is a city in, and Local Government Area of, Queensland, Australia. It lies approximately 370 kilometres north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is situated on the Burnett River. The population of the city is around 50,000 people.
Bundaberg is dependent to a large extent on the sugar industry. Extensive sugar cane fields extend throughout the district, and all aspects of the sugar industy take place in close proximity to the city. One of the better known exports from the city is Bundaberg Rum, also made from sugar. Fruit and vegetable growing on a commercial scale are also prominent throughout the Bundaberg region, with tomatoes, zucchinis, capsicums, legumes and watermelons grown in abundant quantities on irrigated farms.
Tourism is a growing industry throughout Queensland, and Bundaberg, known as the 'Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef' is no exception. It is in close proximity to Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot Islands. The world famous Mon Repos beach loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) rookery is close by. The nearby town of Bargara is also growing as a retirement and residential destination.
Bundaberg has attracted much national media attention in 2005 due to the alleged incompetence of a surgical director, Jayant Patel, who has been implicated in the deaths of up to 87 patients.
Bundaberg is serviced by several Queensland Rail passenger trains each day and is approximately four hours north of Brisbane by rail. Many long-distance buses also pass through the city. Bundaberg is located on the Isis Highway (State Route 3) approximately 30km east of the Bruce Highway.
Among the well known inhabitants of Bundaberg have been:
- Bert Hinkler, pioneer aviator, who was born in the city in 1892. He was the first person to fly solo from England to Australia (1928), and also was the first person to fly solo across the South Atlantic (1931).
- Mal Meninga, Rugby League footballer
- Gladys Moncrieff, singer.
- Vance Palmer writer.
- Anthony Athanasiov, boxer, better known as the Bundy Brawler
- Prime Ministers Andrew Fisher and Frank Forde both represented Federal electorates that included Bundaberg, yet neither was from there.
The name of the local Aborignal group is called Gurang-Gurang (goo-rang goo-rang).