The Home Hill district was opened to farming when land was allocated by ballot.
The first ballot was carried out on the 8th and 9th of December 1911. The upriver ballot was held in June 1912 and the mill was
established in 1913. Sales of land in Home Hill for housing and business started in 1913.
There is some debate over whether we should celebrate the centenary of the first ballot or the start of the town.
It was decided to settle the debate by celebrating the anniversary of each of the major
episodes that led to the development of Home Hill.
As dates of events are finalised, they will be added here and on the
Events Calendar page (see menu on left).
Souvenirs available for purchase - List and order form
click here
(Burdekin Shire Council website)
Events so far
Launch of the Centenary Celebrations was 28th May in Eighth Avenue, Home Hill.
Harvest Festival, 5th November 2011. The Centenary was the theme for the procession in the main street and the Mardi Gras in
Watson’s Green (over the road from the Memorial Hall).
The Historical Society 5th Nov 2011 - Launch of First Book and Exhibition "John Drysdale’s Dream: Home Hill the First Fifty Years".
Second book and exhibition planned for next year (more info below).
John Drysdale’s Dream: Home Hill The First Fifty Years by Laura Scott.
This is an historical review of the life and the lifeblood (sugar farming and milling) of Home Hill and District.
It follows the establishment and growth from the early years of Inkerman Station in the 1860’s and the passing
of the Closer Settlement Act, to the Inkerman Repurchase Estate and the first land ballots in December 1911.
This first fifty years of development encompasses the tough, hard-working optimists who won blocks to farm,
the business owners who came and built a town, and how their commitment to the future shaped the character
of the community that we know.
The cost of the "Drysdale" book (130 pages) is:
$20.00 each, purchased from Home Hill News.
$33.00 each, posted to anywhere in Queensland.
$36.00 each, posted to anywhere in Australia outside Qld.
Cheques payable to Lower Burdekin Historical Society Inc.
See contacts page for address.
Saturday, 10th December 2011. Saturday's events are over - now a new part of Home Hill's history.
What a great day for the decendants of the pioneer's, for residents of Home Hill, and anyone interested
in history: to learn more about how Home Hill came to be: the trials, tribulations, hardships, gains and victories.
This was the program -
Family Fun Day - Saturday, 10th December 2011.
Smoko tent with damper and billy tea.
Lower Burdekin Historical Society and Burdekin Family History displays.
Historical and machinery displays.
Program -
| 9.30am | Picnic games and band playing in rotunda |
| 10am | Welcome by Mayor |
| 10.05am | Presentation of winners of Colouring In Competition. |
| 10.10am | Pioneer Avenue plaque dedications (in 10 minutes intervals) |
| Menkins, Mann, Delaney, Linton, Wallace, Ford, Swindley, Ferguson, Wall |
| 11.30am | Karen Healy’s dancers |
| 11.35am | Home Hill Choral Society ballot re-enactment |
| 12.10pm | Cutting of Cake (Happy Birthday played by band) |
| 12.15pm | Band plays |
| 12.30pm | Singalong with the Home Hill Choral Society |
| 12.50pm | Pioneer Avenue plaque dedications (in 10 minutes intervals) |
| Little, Mihailides, Oats, Warren, Marriott, Ross, Marshall, Stockdale, Young |
| 2.15pm | Centenary Bus Tour, approx. 2 hours - |
| departs Arch Dunn Park.
Limited seats. Book at Home Hill Library. |
- Saturday evening, 10th December 2011, Memorial Hall, Home Hill. The dinner will have a 1911 theme including menu, decorations,
entertainment, and music to reflect the era. Come in 1911 costume, if possible, otherwise comfortable neat clothing.
Very few tickets left.
Tickets are $50 per person, on sale at the Home Hill Library, opening times are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 1pm to 5pm,
Wednesday from 10am to midday and 2pm to 5pm,
Saturday 9am to midday,
Home Hill Library phone 07 4782 1327.
More information on the Gala Dinner please phone The Burdekin Shire Council’s Economic and Community Development section 07 4783 9832.
Program -
| 5.30pm | doors open (was 5.45pm) |
| 6.10pm | MC - welcome, housekeeping and introduction of dignitaries |
| (Governor enters) |
| 6.15pm | Mayor’s welcome |
| 6.20pm | Karen Healy’s dancers |
| 6.25pm | Address or Brief history by Governor |
| 6.45pm | Dinner |
| 8.10pm | Home Hill Choral Society ballot re-enactment |
| 8.50pm | Supper |
| 9.20pm | Bush Ballad - Bill Lucas - |
| Johnson’s Antidote by Bango Paterson |
| 9.40pm | Singalong with the Home Hill Choral Society |
| 10.00pm | Mayor to close - formalities are over |
| 10.15pm | Photos - descendants of first balloters |
| midnight | Bar closes |
Coming events -
The Burdekin Family History Group is producing a Centenary Booklet to remember the men and women who went off to war
from the Home Hill district. To produce the booklet, the Burdekin Family History Group is searching for a photo to place
beside each entry and is calling on relatives or friends of these service men and women to assist with information and
pictures.
More info »
25th April 2012, Book launch - "Home Hill Remmembers WW1 & Boer War"
Production of a Centenary Cookbook - A book of recipes in use in 1911, obtained from decendants of the early settlers - Grandma's or Great-Grandma's favourite
recipe. Can you help? See Centenary Contacts page. We’d like to hear from you.
May/June 2012 - Launch of Centenary Cookbook.
Some PROPOSED future events and PROPOSED dates for 2012 -
Back to Home Hill Week proposed for May 12th to 20th 2012.
Possible events -
| Sat 12th | Old Time Dance (for families) in Watson’s Green |
| Sun 13th | Centenary Monument unveiling at Comfort Stop |
| | Monument unveiling at original cemetery |
| | new Cemetery Entrance opening /unveiling |
| | Cemetery Booklet launch |
| | Cemetery Walk |
| Mon 14th | Bus Tours |
| Tue 15th | Guided Heritage Trail Walk |
| Wed 16th | Official opening of refurbished Lions Diarama |
| Thu 17th | Open day, Silver Link Interpretive Centre & |
| Powerhouse Museum. |
| Fri 18th | Fete in Watson’s Green showcasing Home Hill businesses |
| Sat 19th | Burdekin Growers Race Day (confirmed date) |
June - Anniversary of first Up River Land Ballot
June - Canecutting Championships - (hand cutting)
July 7th - Sucrogen, Inkerman Mill open day.
Nov 6th - Centenary Cookbook promotion as part of Home Hill public holiday agricultural event
Nov 10th - Home Hill Harvest Festival, parade and mardi gras
The Historical Society 10th November 2012 - Second Book and Exhibition - "Second 50 Years".
The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce will publish a book on the businesses of Home Hill. The book is being researched and written by Mrs Marie Finn.
2013 -
Centenary - completion of Inkerman Mill (first crush not until 1914)
Jan 28th - Centenary of auction of first town blocks blocks
Sep 1st - Centenary of Ayr to Home Hill, Inkerman Bridge rail line. More info - select "Read all about it!"
on the menu above left, then select "Qld Rail Line, Bobawaba to Home Hill"
Oct - Centenary celebrations - Home Hill State Primary School
Other Ideas
Plaques be placed in Eighth Avenue to identify the original owners of buildings.
97.1 Sweet FM (our own radio station) to be encouraged to have a regular history program, and the local paper
insert a history column.
All organisations in Home Hill - PAST and current be requested to contribute information regarding their history and achievements for publication
in a centennial book.
Anyone or any organisation wishing to contribute to the celebrations is invited to the next meeting (date above).
A competition was conducted for the design of a logo for the Centenary. This is the winning entry.
