Hinkler Hall of Aviation and Fairymead House continued to attract visitors from near and far in 2024, with over 21,296 people passing through the doors of the popular tourism venues.
Located in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, the facilities offered engaging public programs and exhibitions throughout the year, while also undertaking significant work behind the scenes to ensure the careful preservation and interpretation of its collections.
40 years of Hinkler House
2024 marked 40 years since Bert Hinkler’s English home was spared from demolition and relocated to Bert’s hometown in Bundaberg by a group of dedicated locals.
A community campaign led by Lex Rowland, Stan Lohse and Merv Purkiss raised $60,000 to fund the ambitious project, which saw volunteers dismantle the home brick-by-brick for it to be shipped to Australia and rebuilt in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.
Hundreds of volunteer hours went into rebuilding the home and transforming it into a lasting monument to the deeds of Hinkler, as detailed on The Hinkler House Memorial Museum and Research Association Inc website.
Their efforts helped preserve the legacy of Bert’s aviation achievements and provided an enduring tourism attraction for the region.
Exhibitions
Hinkler Hall of Aviation successfully installed two exhibitions in 2024, with the continuation of the popular ‘Bert: Out of the archives’ series curated in-house, and the travelling exhibition ‘Bimblebox 153 Birds’.
With over 5,000 items forming the Hinkler Hall of Aviation Memorabilia Trust Collection, the ‘Bert: Out of the archives’ exhibitions provide an opportunity to showcase many never-before-seen items to the public.
The exhibition was well received by the community and visitors, with an additional 963 visitors viewing it in the Lex Rowland gallery.
‘Bimblebox 153 Birds’, curated by artist Jill Sampson, was chosen for display at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation due to the link between Bert Hinkler’s fascination with birds and his aircraft.
Ibis inspired Bert Hinkler’s early flight endeavours and was featured in three of the artworks included in the exhibition.
The exhibition drew an additional 878 visitors who attended the exhibition in the gallery.
Crowd-pleasing events
The popular Fairymead House High Tea was a huge success for Mother’s Day, with all tickets selling out overnight.
Guests were treated to a complimentary glass of bubbles upon arrival and a delicious selection of high tea delicacies, accompanied by the soothing sounds of local vocalist Abigail Williams.
To celebrate Seniors Month in October, Fairymead House hosted four sellout guided tours with morning tea on the verandah overlooking the picturesque Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.
For many senior community members who may have never visited Fairymead House, the event gave them the opportunity to view the amazing architecture of the building and hear the story of the local sugarcane industry while enjoying a get-together with friends.
Upgrading exhibits
Bundaberg Regional Council was successful in obtaining grants for both the Hinkler Hall of Aviation and Fairymead House in 2024.
These grants assist in upgrading the exhibits and maintaining the condition of the collection items while also ensuring the facilities continue to offer a first class visitor experience.
The most significant of these grants was the Building Bush Tourism grant which will enable upgrades to several interactive exhibits in Hinkler Hall of Aviation.
Two First World War military uniforms on display in Fairymead House underwent conservation work by a textile conservator and a new display cabinet was acquired for the museum with the help of a Department of Veteran Affairs grant.
The Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program supports essential local projects commemorating the service of veterans and preserving Australia’s military history.
The war uniforms were originally worn by Henry Sheddan Barring Young and were donated to the museum by the Young family.
They form part of a military display in the Margaret Room together with a pair of binoculars and photographs of the war medals Henry received during his war service.
Preserving the collection
Hinkler Hall of Aviation successfully obtained a Community Heritage Grant through the National Libraries Australia to complete a preservation needs assessment on the collection.
The assessment, undertaken by a conservation specialist, is an important process that provides conservation advice to assist in preserving and protecting the items in the collection for future generations.
With so much happening year round, why not plan a visit to Hinkler Hall of Aviation and Fairymead House soon.
