Buss Park is located in Bundaberg Central, Bundaberg,

Bundaberg Region The Bundaberg Region is a local government area in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, the state capital. It is centred on the city of Bundaberg, and also contains a significant rural area surro ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, Australia. It borders the Anglican Christ Church and the

Bundaberg Regional Council The Bundaberg Region is a local government area in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, the state capital. It is centred on the city of Bundaberg, and also contains a significant rural area surroundi ...

offices and contains several memorials. The centrepiece of the landscaped gardens is the granite cenotaph to pioneer aviator

Bert Hinkler Herbert John Louis Hinkler (8 December 1892 – 7 January 1933), better known as Bert Hinkler, was a pioneer Australian aviator (dubbed "Australian Lone Eagle") and inventor. He designed and built early aircraft before being the first person ...

. As at December 2017, the Bundaberg Region Heritage Register is yet to be finalised but Buss Park has been recommended for inclusion by the final report of the Bundaberg Region Heritage Study.

Etymology

The park was named, when it opened, in 1930 after Frederic Buss, an early pioneer, who gave a generous donation to beautify the city in 1888.

Namesake

Frederic William Buss, (1845-1926) migrated to Queensland in 1863 from Kent in England, establishing Buss & Turner department store in 1888 on Bourbon Street, Bundaberg. Buss's business empire expanded into commercial real estate and eventually he was to become an influential figure in the local sugar industry, including production refining and distilling in his portfolio of interests. Although he was active in local politics, taking his place in both the chamber of commerce and the municipal council, Buss declined to take a seat in the Queensland Parliament, instead concentrating on local affairs. In 1888 Buss donated £500 towards the beautification of Bundaberg culminating in the heritage-listed Weeping figs that lined the main street of the town.

History

The site originally opened as a school reserve in 1875. After the school relocated the site was known as 'market reserve' which deteriorated over time. In the 1920s the reserve was known as an eyesore, so by the 1930s the council redeveloped the site into a park.

Hinkler Memorial

In 1936 the Governor-General of Australia Lord Gowrie unveiled a Grecian style cenotaph commemorating Bundaberg born aviator

. The memorial weighs 40 tonne and was built at an approximate value of £1500. The inscription on the front reads: The rear of the memorial reads:

References

External links