QLD town planned 150th birthday but learns it was in 2015

A small town in south-west Queensland was busy with preparations for its 150th anniversary when a spanner was thrown in the works.

When conducting external research on precisely which date in 2018 the anniversary would fall, it was discovered that the gazettal of Charleville was in 1865, not 1868 as they had originally been informed.

‘We were working towards the 150th in 2018 and then to hear that it had already gone, that wasn’t very good I can tell you,’ said Murweh Shire Mayor Annie Liston.

Charleville residents were excited about planning the small township’s 150th anniversary party

 The small town of 3,000 people in Queensland actually turned 150 almost three years ago

 Murweh Shire Mayor Annie Liston (pictured) is disappointed that they missed the anniversary

The Department of Natural Resources delivered the blow to the Murweh Shire Council on Tuesday, with Council CEO Neil Polglase admitting, ‘It clearly states that the town was actually gazetted on the 11th of January, 1865.’

Residents are very disappointed, with one saying that ‘these sorts of birthdays are important to celebrate’ and another saying that even she didn’t know the date was wrong and she was a lifelong local.

But Charleville is determined to celebrate regardless; resident Laurie Parker said that there has been speculation that the railway will celebrate 130 years in 2018.

Local historian George Balsillie has confirmed to ABC the railway celebrated its centenary in 1988. 

Councillor Polglase added that the town is aiming to throw the celebration in conjunction with another well-celebrated occasion in Charleville.

It has been suggested that the town celebrate 130 years since the railways station was built

It has been suggested that the town celebrate 130 years since the railways station was built

Council CEO Neil Polglase also suggested combining the happy event with National Bilby Day

Council CEO Neil Polglase also suggested combining the happy event with National Bilby Day

‘There’s plenty of excitement in the town and I think if we can coincide it with the National Bilby Day [on September 9], which has been a great event over the last couple of years, and we want to build on that,’ he said.

Local MP Ann Leahy threw her weight behind the combined celebration, praising the people who worked hard to unearth the historical information. 

Mr Balsillie, who remembers the celebration that marked 100 years of the railway in 1988, said that the joyous occasion made ‘quite a bit of money’ for the town.

Ms Leahy hopes to relive this success, believing that ‘a combined celebration could encourage people to come back to the community’.



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