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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