June 25, 2015
Memories of the South Burnett’s forgotten town, Wengenville, have been captured forever in a book launched at the Bunya Mountains on Saturday.
The book was collated and edited by Nanango historian Liz Caffery from information gathered by the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association for the 2013 “Back To Wengenville” day.
Wengenville is a timber town that formerly existed at the foot of the mountains. It was centred around a sawmill that operated from 1922 to 1961.
The town was once big enough to have its own hall, school, shops and a main street of houses.
There are many South Burnett residents who grew up there, attended school and remember dances at the hall.
But all that ended when the mill closed. The town quickly died and the buildings were hauled away.
Today all that is left is a cattle paddock, a private residence and some signs erected by South Burnett Regional Council in 2013 at the “Back To Wengenville” reunion.
The 120-page book was officially launched at the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association’s museum, “Cedarvale”, at Dandabah by South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann.
Mayor Kratzmann emphasised the importance of recording local history like this.
“If you forget your history, you forget who you are and from there there’s not much point in being on the planet,” he said.
Mrs Caffery said she had been impressed by the “spirit” of Wengenville as she was compiling the book.
“What a community it must have been,” she said. “An intricate network of families and friendships.”
The book is available from the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association. Cost is $25 (plus postage) but only 250 copies have been printed.
For more information, contact John or Sandy Learmont on 0409-625-865 or by email
Related articles:
- Book To Record History Of A Lost Town
- Timber Tramway Lives Again
- Memories Live On At Wengenville
- Residents Ready For Return
- Rediscover A Lost World
- Back To Wengenville Day
- Do You Remember Wengenville?
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Thank you to the organisers of a wonderful day at the Bunya Mts for the launching of the Wengenville Book. I spent all my school days at Wengenville school. I have a very dear friend of 64 years (Denise Hancock, nee Trousdell) from those days. Really enjoyed catching up with everyone. My father Albert (Harry) Trace worked at the mill.
It was a lovely day on Sunday at the Bunyas and it was great to see so many people there to support the launch of the book. Congratulations to the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association for all of their hard work.
Thank you for this wonderful news story. It was a privilege to be part of the compilation and production of the Wengenville book. The number of people who attended the book launch was additional testimony to the amazing community spirit that must have once thrived in this little timber town. I also wish to acknowledge the vision and energy of John and Sandy Learmont and members of the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association who organised the Back to Wengenville Day in 2013 and who gathered the stories and photographs which can be viewed in the book. Well done!
I well recall some of the closing days associated with the sawmill and other activities. There were many wonderful stories relating to the pioneering days and, in particular, the special way sawmill operators sent logs hurtling down the mountainside. As editor of the South Burnett Times and ABC correspondent, I often had conversations with telephonists associated with the Wengenville district. The area was one of the last to close under the manual exchange network.
Congratulations to the Bunya Mountains Natural History Assn for the publication of Wengenville book – great reading! I have fond childhood memories of the stories of our grandfather Hugh Connolly’s connection with the construction of the tramway on the Bunya Mountains in the 1920s, logging and bullock teams. As we drove from Toowoomba up the mountain on Sunday we were in awe of the spirit of the pioneers from those days and how they coped with such difficult conditions. I attended Wengenville school with my younger sisiter, Maree, before going to boarding school in Nanango. I am so pleased we were able to attend the launch, catch up with past school friends and teacher. The weather was lovely and sunny and so was the atmosphere. The Bunya Mountains hold a special place in my childhood heart.
Just a short note to tell you how much my wife and I enjoyed our day out at Cedarvale and the launch of “Wengenville – The Little Timber Town in the Foothills of The Bunya Mountains – Gone But Not Forgotten”.
The weather could not have been better, the company was just wonderful, and the efforts of all members of the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association Inc., was bloody amazing. We both thank each and every one of you for the blood, sweat, tears, damper, tea and coffee – we are so blessed to have been able to make the trip from Canberra and be on the mountain that day. Please extend our personal thanks to each and every member for a sterling effort that was clearly appreciated by everyone that we spoke with.
It was good to meet, and have a chat with Elizabeth Caffery. She has done an remarkable job in compiling all the material and photographs – the entire production is just simply superb.
All in all, a magnificent day that started off well with beaut weather and just got better and better by the minute. I will never forget the memories of Wengenville, the Cullen families and all you good folks who have bought it back to vivid life once again for all of us to enjoy and appreciate.
Every success to all the members, volunteers and workers for facilitating such a day.