From its construction in 1939 through to 2013 when the Bundaberg Show was relocated, thousands of Bundaberg residents and visitors passed through the Bailey Gate.
As the entrance to the old showgrounds, it became a familiar landmark to generations of residents who hold fond memories of show days and community events at the grounds.
Located on Burrum Street in Bundaberg West, the Bailey Gate is listed as a Local Heritage Place in Bundaberg Regional Council’s Planning Scheme and has been identified for preservation in future proposals to develop the site.
Bailey Gate construction and dedication
The Bailey Gate was constructed in 1939 and was named in honour of William Bailey, President of the Bundaberg Agricultural, Pastoral and Industrial Society (AP&IS) for 17 years from 1929 until his death in 1946.
William was among the first cane farmers in the Miara district, and he later entered into business as a storekeeper in Bundaberg, with premises on Bourbong Street and then Targo Street.
He was a frequent exhibitor at the show in the cane section, winning many prizes exhibiting as Bailey Bros.
The Bailey Gate is a one storey building with a pair of ticket offices with decorative grills opening to the front of the building, central timber doors to the front and rear, and turnstiles on a concrete floor within.
The front of the gate has a parapet on which stylised letters read “The Bailey Gate A.P & I.S Show Grounds”.
Bundaberg Daily News and Mail in August 1939 included William’s report of the show in which he said the new entry turnstiles “worked admirably”.
He thanked the gates committee for their supervision of the work and said he was proud to have the gate named after him.
Agricultural show beginnings
Agriculture has been an important industry to Bundaberg from the early days of the settlement.
Pastoral stations were established throughout the Wide Bay and Burnett in the late 1840s, initially stocked with sheep but progressively replaced with cattle.
Sugar cane was planted in the 1870s and the first commercial sugar mill, located at Millbank, began operating in 1872.
The sugar industry was thriving by the 1880s, with major mills such as Millaquin and Fairymead processing cane juice from cane plantations and farms located throughout the region.
The first annual exhibition of the Mulgrave Pastoral, Agricultural and Horticultural Association was held in the enclosed Immigration Barrack reserve and Armoury in Quay Street on 13 June 1878.
Soon after, Bundaberg’s first local government, the Bundaberg Divisional Board, was gazetted in 1880.
The first use of the site on Burrum Street as a showground was in 1882, with further land reserves gazetted for showground extension purposes.
The Bundaberg Show soon became an important venue for showcasing and facilitating the expansion of pastoral, agricultural and industrial production and innovation in the region.
Show relocation and future of Bailey Gates
The Bundaberg Show was relocated to the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct at Kendalls Road, Branyan, with the first show held at this location in 2013.
Bundaberg AP&IS, more commonly known as Bundaberg Show Society, continues to present the annual Bundaberg Show, marking their 132nd show this year.
Although the Bundaberg Show has been relocated, the Bailey Gate remains at the old showgrounds site on Burrum Street.
As a prime parcel of land close to Bundaberg CBD, Multiplex and Bundaberg Aquatic Centre, Bundaberg Regional Councill will offer the site for sale by tender in hopes of attracting much-needed hotel accommodation to the region.
As part of the tender process, interested developers are required to submit a masterplan that includes retaining the Bailey Gate within an appropriate public space.
