The Hinkler Hall of Aviation had a big year in 2025, delivering major interactive upgrades while welcoming thousands of visitors through its doors.
The museum is located in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens and celebrates the life and achievements of aviation pioneer Bert Hinkler through a range of displays.
In October 2025, the completion of long-awaited upgrades to the hall’s interactive exhibits was a major milestone.
Funded through the 2023 Building Bush Tourism grant from Queensland’s Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, the upgrades have transformed the visitor experience.
Improvements were made to the Globe Theatre, Mon Repos diorama, Strip Map and Glide with Bert exhibit along with the addition of a new interactive display, “Make a Memory with Bert”.
Tourism, Airport and Information Technology portfolio spokesperson Cr Steve Cooper said the work had brought the hall into the modern era.
“These exhibits were well overdue for an upgrade and the response from visitors has been fantastic,” he said.
“The new technology makes the experience more engaging, more accessible and much easier to manage behind the scenes.”
Last year also delivered an important win for preserving Bert Hinkler’s legacy, with the facility receiving a 2025 Community Heritage Grant from the National Library of Australia.
The funding will support the conservation of 22 significant collection items, including panoramic photographs, strip maps and the iconic Mascot Scroll, with specialist treatment to occur in 2026.
In June the Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre relocated to the hall’s foyer, creating a welcoming tourism hub and strengthening the connection between visitors and the wider region.
More than 1,200 students visited the Hinkler Hall of Aviation through school bookings in 2025, with 14, 723 total visitors recorded for the year.
“Bert Hinkler was known for innovation and ambition,” Cr Cooper said.
“It’s fitting that the hall continues to evolve, inspire and welcome new generations of visitors.”
