September 25, 2013
The history of the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg will be on display at the award-winning Ration Shed Museum during the South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show long weekend.
The Museum will be holding a special half price Open Day between 10:00am and 2:00pm on Saturday morning, October 5 in conjunction with the nearby Yurri Muntha Cafe.
Visitors will be able to browse the Museum’s extensive displays, which catalogue Cherbourg’s history from the establishment of the original settlement in 1899 through to its declaration as an independent Aboriginal Shire Council in 1991.
Then they can also view (and purchase, if they wish) authentic Aboriginal art in the Museum’s gallery, or buy a range of DVDs, clothing and other unique souvenir products in the Museum’s Gift Shop.
Alternately, they can adjourn to the nearby Yurri Muntha Cafe for morning tea, lunch or refreshments while they inspect an equally unique and completely authentic range of bush sauces, jams and condiments.
The Ration Shed Museum complex is very large and it serves as the central “memory” of Cherbourg, preserving artifacts and original documents and cataloging family, clan and community histories.
In recent years as its fame has spread, it’s also become the cultural hub of the town and is now the focal point for many community celebrations throughout the year, such as NAIDOC Week.
Work on the project began in the early 2000s when three of Cherbourg’s remaining historic buildings – the Ration Shed, the Superintendent’s Cottage and the former Boy’s Dormitory – were moved to the site, then joined together and restored.
These days the Ration Shed plays host to regular tours and educational programs from schools, institutions and groups of visitors year round.
Admission to the Open Day is $5 for adults and children, and a tour guide will be on hand through the course of the day to provide periodic tours of the complex.
Visitors who’d prefer to be driven to the Museum can book a seat on a special bus tour which will be running from Kingaroy to Cherbourg on Saturday morning.
The bus package will include transport to the Museum and a fully escorted tour, followed by lunch at the Yurri Muntha Cafe and then return transport to Kingaroy in the afternoon.
- You can find out more about the Ration Shed Museum on their website
- You can find out more about the Yurri Muntha Cafe on this page of our website
- You can find out more about the Ration Shed Museum-Yurri Muntha Cafe bus tour by phoning Sheree on (0417) 726-702
