Cracking good time had by all at Colonial Fair
The Gladstone Region was transported back to 19th century rural Australia this weekend as the Calliope River Historical Village came to life with olden day sounds of wood chopping, butter churning and whips cracking at the Q150 Colonial Fair.
Gladstone Regional Council’s Colonial Fair Chairman Craig Butler said a cracking good time was had by all at Sunday's fair, with about 7000 local historical enthusiasts estimated to have taken part in celebrating 150 years of Queensland's establishment.
"We were really pleased with the number of residents and visitors, young and old, who made the effort to take part in the fair, not only to foster a greater sense of regional spirit and pride, but to take time to reflect on our state's rich history, and the achievements and milestones which have gotten us to where we are today," he said.
"The fair was undoubtedly a roaring success and, on behalf of the Q150 Colonial Fair organising committee, I would like to thank everyone from the Calliope River Historical Village, Education Queensland Gladstone Region, the students who dedicated their time to performing on the day, the stall holders and service clubs who provided food and drink for everyone, and the behind-the-scenes volunteers and Council staff who worked collectively to make the fair an event to remember."
Visitors to the fair were both educated and entertained with colourful Victorian era themed demonstrations, exhibitions, static displays and the not-to-be missed original play Full Steam Ahead, by local playwright Noel Wootton, which packed 200 years of Gladstone Region history into 40 minutes and drew plenty of laughs from the crowd.
Cr Butler said fair crowd pleasers included the free horse-drawn Cobb & Co coach rides, the maypole dancing demonstrations, miniature train rides and the Historical Village itself which acted as a true rustic background for the once-in-a-lifetime event.
“Every aspect of the fair contributed to an overall sense of nostalgia on the day, you could really feel it in the air, from the olden day school lessons, to the hopscotch and gold panning, there was a sense of renewed appreciation for times gone by, which is what the organising committee had hoped to achieve, and something we could not have done without the participation of everyone involved,” Cr Butler said.
The Q150 Colonial Fair was made possible with the assistance of the Queensland State Government’s Q150 Community Funding Grants.
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| Pictured Above: Bevis Carmichael cards the wool at the spinning and weaving demonstration during the Q150 Colonial Fair at the Calliope River Historical Village on Sunday, July 19. | Pictured Above: Katharina Immoos demonstrates wool spinning during the Q150 Colonial Fair at the Calliope River Historical Village on Sunday, July 19. |
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| Pictured Above: Chanel College students (from left) Caylen Driessen, Alex Oglivie and Cynthia Foreman put on a fantastic Punch and Judy Show for the crowds at Sunday's Q150 Colonial Fair. | Pictured Above: Miniature train enthusiast Alan Suter places coal into the steam train during the Q150 Colonial Fair at the Calliope River Historical Village on Sunday, July 19. |
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| Pictured Above: Vintage car owner John Smith with his 1927 Falcon Knight during the Q150 Colonial Fair at the Calliope River Historical Village on Sunday, July 19. | Pictured Above: Ashley Mizen, grandfather John Keegan and Peta Mizen enjoy the Punch and Judy Show run by Chanel College at the Q150 Colonial Fair on Sunday, July 19. |
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| Pictured Above: Bunbury Players' Glenn Churchill (far back) and Tracey Smith (second from back) with Gladstone Region Councillors (second from right) Clyde Cameron and Rick Hansen (front) wait to take their place on stage during Council's Q150 Colonial Fair on Sunday at the Calliope River Historical Village. |
