The Hidden Cultural Hub of the South Burnett
In the digital age, we can walk the streets of a capital city from the comfort of our own homes. With a few clicks, we can identify the restaurants, retail outlets, and hotels, discover what time they are open, and familiarise ourselves with the services they offer.
But when it comes to small towns, the information available online is commonly left in the dark.
Google Street View, established in 2007, provides users with the ability to “virtually explore the world”. The 360 degree images are supplied through two sources- Google Street Cars, and user contributed content.
According to their website, the Street Cars have been travelling through Queensland since March this year, passing through major cities including Brisbane, Townsville, Toowoomba and Cairns.
However, there are many towns in regional Queensland that have been left off the trail.
Wondai has not been updated on Google Street View in over 10 years. The Bunya Highway, a 173km stretch of road running straight through the centre of the town, is the only road featured on the platform.
It houses the majority of the town’s well-known businesses such as Dan’s Diner, Wondai Bakery and Wondai collectables.
You wouldn’t be able to tell just by looking at Google Maps, but the town has gone through significant changes over the last decade...
Google has failed to keep up, leaving Wondai to evolve on its own.
But the future looks exciting. Here are some reasons why...
Wondai Hotel and Cellar
Wondai Hotel and Cellar is situated on Haly Street, adjacent to the Bunya Highway. The hotel was built in the early 1900s, but the exterior has barely been altered.
The most significant changes to the hotel have occurred within its walls.
“On the outside, the general character of the building is essentially the same,” says Dave Bjorklund, the hotel’s current owner.
Dave took ownership of the Wondai Hotel and Cellar a year and a half ago. His drawcard for the hotel hangs in the dining room - a parody of Jules Joseph Lefebvre’s famous portrait, Chloe.
“Whoever buys this hotel gets Chloe… I paid $1 for the building, the land, the licence, all the stock… but she [Chloe] cost me $300,000,” he says.
Dave has spent the last year and a half decorating the hotel to suit the building’s aesthetic. The bar area is fitted out with old lounges, eccentric statues, and an electricity powered fireplace.
Dave Bjorklund poses with his favourite statue featured in the hotel, Jerry the Giraffe.
Dave Bjorklund poses with his favourite statue featured in the hotel, Jerry the Giraffe.
“We have gone totally family friendly. We don’t have pool tables, we don’t have a dart board, pokies or anything like that,” says Dave.
“Honestly, I don’t like pokie machines or pool tables, I think they are anti-social.”
But what could arguably be the most monumental change the hotel has gone through is the sense of community Dave has created.
Throughout the year, Dave holds themed events, encouraging both patrons and staff to dress to the occasion. In the past, he has thrown a Christmas in July themed night, pyjama parties, and Oktoberfest celebrations.
“It gives people a really good experience… I find with dress up nights, people tend to let go a little bit and have a good time, and that’s a really good thing,” Dave explains.
“I think what we do is cater for a certain demographic of the population. We are family friendly. It’s good when a family can come out and their kids can be here in a safe environment.”
But like any small town, promoting these events to those who don’t live in the area can be difficult. Besides word of mouth, the hotel uses social media sites such as Facebook and Snapchat to endorse these events.
“During an event, we will take photos as we go and upload them to Facebook. People can see we are having an event [in real time]. If they don’t turn up to that event, it will encourage them to go to the next one.”
Wondai Regional Art Gallery
Across the street from the hotel sits the Wondai Regional Art Gallery, housed in a building that dates back to 1903. The establishment has become a well-known representation of the arts within the South Burnett Region, holding 11 exhibitions every year and an opening on the first Friday of every month. It is solely operated by 20 volunteers, and led by one very passionate president.
“For the last 20 years, we have changed the gallery over every four weeks. I realised that I couldn’t do it all myself, which is easier, but it doesn’t teach anybody,” says Elaine Madil - president for the last 16 years.
Elaine has no artistic background. She refers to herself as an ‘organiser’, but says that her involvement with the gallery has allowed her to grow a strong appreciation for art of all forms. She is committed to all aspects of the gallery, from organising exhibitions, to seeking funding and sponsors, and encouraging members of the public to attend opening nights.
“They asked me last month at the meeting to write down everything I did. Not that I thought they were trying to take my jobs away, but that wasn't easy,” says Elaine.
Three years ago Elaine suffered a stroke that left her with limited mobility, but it made no impact on the time and effort she contributes to the gallery. The changes she has facilitated since then have been monumental.
“I had the choice of lying in bed and being put in a nursing home, or getting on with it and doing what I could,” she says.
“We have extended three times now. From the outside, you wouldn’t even know that the expansions have been made.”
Elaine is right. At first glance, the building appears unchanged, looking just as it did back in 1903. Inside, the main gallery has been extended, and a workshop and studio built out the back.
The gallery’s biggest renovation to date was only completed three weeks ago- a $60,000 expansion of their kitchen and storage space. Elaine says that collecting the funding for this project was difficult. They needed $30,000 to receive the grant, but only had half that amount.
“My treasurer and I went up to the council and said ‘if we give you $3,000 upfront, can we borrow the rest, over 5 years at $200 a month, with no interest?’” says Elaine.
In addition to future renovations of the space, Elaine has been finalising the exhibition line up for the next three years. The entire gallery is booked out until 2022, and they’re ending 2019 on a very successful note.
The gallery recently had its October Art Competition, with 183 entrants across a range of categories.
Wondai Heritage Museum
The Wondai heritage museum is the town’s hidden gem. Visitors get a glimpse into Wondai’s rich history by walking through three separate exhibitions- the formal museum, the relocated Wondai Hospital, and the Oddfellows Hall.
The museum contains thousands of local artefacts, including historical photos of the town, equipment from the decommissioned hospital, and the original Wondai telephone switchboard.
The original Wondai Telephone Switchboard is an important piece of the town's history
The original Wondai Telephone Switchboard is an important piece of the town's history
“A lot of it is local history from this area and we are getting to the stage where we don’t have room to put things,” says Joan, a volunteer at the museum.
According to the volunteers, the museum is a popular attraction for tourists passing through the town, although it isn’t common for them to get young visitors.
“We recently had some scouts come and visit, about 10 or so,” says volunteer Norm.
“The people who come in are usually interested in the town’s history,” says Greg, another volunteer.
Each of the four volunteers have a deep connection to the town, despite some of them only having resided there for a few months.
Joan has worked at the museum for almost one year. She travels an hour and a half to Wondai every morning for work, but says the commute is worth it.
“[This museum] is amazing because it tells you the history of this area,” she says.
“History was always in me. The only time I might have gone to school was when we were having history lessons that day.”
Greg’s passion for history stemmed from his previous career as a librarian. He and his wife Lisa came to Wondai three years ago to escape the fast-paced Gold Coast lifestyle.
“I love to read... It just fascinates me that stories like this resonate on and on and on, as times go by,” he says.
“There’s so many stories here. It’s not just the big stories, it’s the little stories too. It’s all belonged to somebody. Somebody has cherished it, or owned it in some way, shape or form.”
Greg discusses a 1920's original copy of Winnie the Pooh, which is located in the gallery under lock and key.
Greg discusses a 1920's original copy of Winnie the Pooh, which is located in the gallery under lock and key.
“It's really good this little town. People don't realise how much this little town has got to offer."
Wondai has quietly been evolving into the cultural hub of the South Burnett, only visible to those who reside there and those who venture beyond the Bunya Highway.
But for a small town that is lacking in online exposure, it definitely has a lot to offer.
- An attempt was made to contact Google for comment. No response was received. -
