Come on a Journey

Take a stroll down memory lane and step into the story of Beaudesert

Come on a Journey - Beaudesert 150 Years at The Centre Beaudesert,  from 3 August to 5 October 2024, tells the town's story through residents' recollections, evocative images, newspaper articles, and objects to mark its sesquicentenary.

Beaudesert has often been regarded a crossroad or gateway to somewhere else. Yet, this is a special place in the Scenic Rim with a rich history and some fascinating stories.

The community came together to dance the opening waltz at the celebration of the new Civic Centre on 18 May 1962. Now known as The Centre, and host to this exhibition, it continues to be a hub of community activity and enjoyment for everyone.  However, the Civic Centre and new Council Administration building were a topic of debate for many years and nearly didn't happen.

Community spirit was also in abundance at the Jaycees Pole Sit in 1966.  You might have been just a kid at this quirky event, enjoying the music or the pony rides while the serious work was being done six metres in the air, raising funds for the Wongaburra Garden Settlement. A second Pole Sit in 1976 helped kick start the new 50-metre swimming pool in Beaudesert.

Community gatherings weren't always a time for celebration though. Disastrous fires are a recurring newspaper headline in Beaudesert's history and brought out the very best in community spirit from the volunteer fire service or 'bucket brigade'.

The landmark Grand Hotel, sadly burnt to the ground in 1963.  Built in 1906 entirely of timber from the owner's Kerry property, it had 25 rooms, including bathrooms, two parlours, 14 bedrooms and a magnificent staircase leading to the upper levels. Following the addition of a huge ballroom in 1939, it became one of the town's most popular meeting places.

Enrights Store too was destroyed by fire in 1995, however, the store was not new to tragedy.  Opening as a small general store in Beaudesert in 1884, Enrights became one of the largest country stores in Australia and operated as a bank on Saturdays, making it a target for thieves.

The store was renowned for selling a wide variety of goods including dynamite which, in the 1960s, was used by thieves to blow Enrights' safe and steal cash which was never recovered.

This exhibition will spark many memories and the Postcards to Beaudesert community wall invites everyone to be part of this display by adding their own recollections to the stories.