Top 15 Must-See Attractions in Gympie, Australia

In the Sunshine Coast hinterland, you will discover the town recognized for rescuing Queensland from financial turmoil in the 1860s.

The discovery of alluvial gold in 1867 sparked a gold rush that rapidly transformed Gympie into a thriving town within months.

As you explore Gympie, it is intriguing to recall that central Mary Street follows the path of an old mining trench, once lined with encampments. The Town Hall stands at the location where prospector James Nash discovered gold in 1867. Visitors will find numerous opportunities to engage with Gympie’s rich history via a heritage railway, museums displaying artefacts from earlier times, and the town’s historic streets.

These streets are adorned with hotels, churches, shops, and music halls that emerged during the gold rush 150 years ago.

1. Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum

This remarkable museum, filled with historic machinery and relocated buildings, provides all essential insights into the industries that supported Gympie in its foundational years.

One heritage building on the premises was owned by Andrew Fisher, who served as Prime Minister of Australia for three terms from 1908 to 1915, and it now showcases a collection of period furniture.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of interesting exhibits, including authentic gold mining tools, a steam engine, a 1923 ambulance, a vintage railway goods crane, a two-man chainsaw, and horse-drawn carts.

Additionally, the collection includes artefacts from WWI and WWII from the Fifth Light Horse Regiment, active from 1914-1919 and 1921-1943. Children will find the educational gold panning exhibit particularly engaging, teaching them how to identify gold within alluvial gravel.

2. Mary Valley Rattler

A branch of the North Coast Railway Line that has been operational since the 1910s is located in Gympie, making it one of Australia’s longest heritage railways.

Board a vintage carriage pulled by a C17 967 steam locomotive from 1950 at the historic, heritage-listed Gympie Railway Station. The 46-kilometre round trip navigates south along the banks of the Mary River and its tributaries, passing through quaint townships, crossing century-old bridges, and maneuvering along the scenic, winding route to Imbil.

Before or following your journey, it is worthwhile to stop at Gympie Station to appreciate its museum display, gift shop, and cafe.

3. Woodworks Museum & Interpretive Centre

After the Gold Rush, the timber industry became the primary employer in the Gympie region and continues to play a vital role today.

This museum, situated in the northern part of Gympie, was established by the Department of Forestry in 1984, highlighting the evolution of the timber industry over the decades.

Exciting exhibits include original tools used by pioneers for tree felling, a steam-driven sawmill from 1900, and a 1925 Republic winch truck.

A demonstration area allows visitors to witness manual tools in operation, while the museum also emphasizes the craft of woodcarving, which can be observed at the Woodworkers’ Workshop.

Handmade souvenirs are available for purchase at the museum’s shop.

4. Memorial Park

One of many heritage-listed sites in Gympie, this memorial park was established on a triangular plot south of Mary Street following WWI.

Inaugurated in 1921, Memorial Park was shortly thereafter visited by the future King Edward VIII, who unveiled the Gympie and Widgee War Memorial Gates, which lead to the lush green area.

The park features expansive lawns, a small play area, winding paved pathways, elegant rockery beds, and a diverse array of gum trees, pines, jacarandas, poinsettias, and palms.

It serves as a tribute to the 167 local men who perished in the war, with returning servicemen employed to develop the area.

At the heart of the park is a 1920 bandstand honoring a bandmaster, alongside a monument to James Nash, the individual who discovered gold in the region in 1867.

5. Lake Alford Recreation Park

Traveling toward Gympie on the Bruce Highway from the south, you will encounter one of the town’s greatest assets.

Adjacent to the gold mining museum lies Lake Alford, a winding pond surrounded by expansive lawns, vibrant flowerbeds, and tall, shady trees.

Ducks, swans, and a variety of other water and bush birds gather along the banks, and visitors may feed them with healthy snacks like birdseed rather than bread.

A monument honoring the gold miners whose discoveries elevated Queensland from economic hardship in the 1860s stands at the park’s entrance.

The park features an excellent playground designed for all abilities, alongside an off-leash dog area and barbecue facilities.

On the first, third, and fifth Sundays of each month, the Gympie Museum Markets are held at Lake Alford.

6. Mary Street

While visiting Gympie, you are likely to find yourself on Mary Street at some point.

This thoroughfare serves as the town’s primary shopping and dining area, featuring broad walkways and mature trees that provide ample shade.

Notably, Mary Street was established soon after the discovery of gold in 1867, serving as a location for tent rows tracing the digging banks.

In addition to being a vibrant area for exploring family-run shops and cafes, Mary Street also boasts numerous heritage buildings, as evidenced by the Neoclassical facades and cantilevered verandahs of former hotels.

Be sure to visit the Gympie Stock Exchange at No. 236, which dates back to 1882, and the Neoclassical Bank of New South Wales Building at No. 242, which has been in existence since 1891.

7. Historic Architecture

Commencing a tour of Gympie’s collection of 19th and early 20th-century architecture can start on Mary Street.

Indeed, the town features carefully restored buildings dating back to the Gold Rush era, enabling you to allocate an hour or two to see everything.

At the roundabout where Mary Street meets Caledonian Hill stands the Town Hall (1890), constructed precisely where prospector James Nash discovered gold in 1867. Situated off the west end of Mary Street on Channon Street, the old Lands Office Building (1873) now houses the Australian Institute of Country Music.

A few doors along, visitors will find the Gympie Court House (1902). Nearby on Channon Street, you can also explore the Surface Hill Uniting Church (1890), the Freemason’s Hotel (1870s), the grand former Post Office building (1880), and the Masonic Hall (1901).

8. Gympie Regional Gallery

Hugo Du Rietz (1831-1908), the architect behind numerous historic buildings on Gympie’s streets, also designed the elegant heritage-listed School of Arts building (1905) located on Nash Street.

This location now accommodates the Gympie Regional Gallery, where visitors can explore national touring exhibitions as well as thoughtfully curated displays featuring local artists.

With three galleries on-site, the programming is dynamic, ensuring there will be new exhibitions to enjoy every few weeks.

Recently, the gallery has hosted excellent exhibitions showcasing lacework by Mary Elizabeth Barron, a retrospective on sculptor Sally Spencer, and various works on paper by Julie Bradley.

9. Gympie Aquatic Recreation Centre

Although the beautiful beaches of the Sunshine Coast are approximately an hour’s drive from Gympie, a more convenient alternative is available for those hot days.

The Gympie Aquatic Recreation Centre features a 50-metre outdoor Olympic pool, complemented by numerous family-friendly amenities, including seasonal slides, a splash zone, an outdoor barbecue area, and a kiosk/cafe with ample outdoor seating.

For fitness enthusiasts, a 25-metre heated pool is accessible year-round, along with a fully-equipped gym and health club.

10. Gympie Region Heritage Trail

For those keen to uncover the area’s comprehensive history, a trail exists that allows exploration of the region’s varied past across nearly 6,900 square kilometres.

This route features 34 stops, providing insights into the Mary Valley, Cooloola Coast, Kilkivan, Goomeri, and Gympie’s surroundings.

All stops are recognized on the state heritage register and reflect diverse industries, including gold mining, cattle farming, timber, dairy, sand mining, banana cultivation, and railway development.

Utilizing a smartphone, individuals can access the QR codes at each designated location, or alternatively, a printed brochure is available at the Gympie Visitor Information Centre (Destination Gympie Region).

11. Victory Heights Trail Network

The Victory Heights Trail Network, developed just three kilometres northeast of Gympie’s town centre, features a series of trails for bushwalking, jogging, and mountain biking.

The access point is located off Bath Terrace, with convenient parking, restroom facilities, and informational panels regarding the network.

The trails meander through 60 kilometres of mature eucalypt forest, providing ample shade.

For bushwalkers and trail runners, there are 2, 3, and 5-kilometre trails, plus a variety of shared trails totalling 17 kilometres. Mountain bikers have access to approximately 25 kilometres of marked trails, catering to a range of skill levels, including a two-kilometre track specifically for children.

Every Saturday at 07:00, a free parkrun takes place along the five-kilometre walking and running trail.

12. Woondum National Park

Woondum National Park, an enchanting natural area, is accessible within a 20-minute drive from Gympie.

At Woondum, Boulder and Woondum Creeks flow through a landscape filled with granite boulders and lush eucalypt forest.

An intriguing aspect of the park is that, until the late 1990s, much of this land was utilized for logging and banana plantations.

Today, thriving eucalypt forest has been reintroduced, and where the two creeks converge, visitors can find a series of cool rock pools perfect for paddling and swimming while hopping from boulder to boulder.

13. Deep Creek Fossicking Area

One method to connect with the earliest days of European settlement in Gympie is by engaging in alluvial gold panning.

Permitted with a license, this activity is available at Deep Creek, situated in the southern part of Gympie, nestled between Brisbane Road and the Bruce Highway.

It is important to note that Gympie’s waterways were thoroughly mined during the Gold Rush, with no surveys conducted to determine the alluvium’s depth or gold content.

However,150 years later, it is still possible to find gold due to re-concentration of deposits or perhaps oversight by early prospectors.

The most promising areas for finding gold are the creek bed and the banks on the inner bends.

14. Destination Gympie Region

A visit to Lake Alford is also an opportunity to stop by the visitor information centre for the region, easily spotted from the Bruce Highway.

Furthermore, this facility offers various services—whether it’s to obtain maps and brochures, receive firsthand advice, or access free Wi-Fi.

Destination Gympie Region also serves as the hub for acquiring gold fossicking licenses for Queensland, along with locally made souvenirs and products from Gympie Region producers.

15. Gympie Music Muster

Every August, a camping site at the nearby Amamoor State Village hosts a four-day country music festival.

The Gympie Music Muster attracts tens of thousands of attendees annually, largely supported by a dedicated group of volunteers from the local community.

Various subgenres of country music will be presented, including related genres such as bluegrass, folk, blues, bush ballads, and rock.

Since its inception in 1982, notable performers who have graced the stage at the Gympie Music Muster include Rodney Carrington, Keith Urban, Troy Cassar-Daley, and Gord Bamford.

Alongside major headline performances, attendees can enjoy informal guitar jams, poetry readings, acoustic sessions by the fire, boot-scooting workshops, and song-writing classes.