Port History

The Bundaberg Harbour Board Bull was introduced to Parliament on 3rd December 1895. The new Board was formally constituted in February 1896 and met for the first time on 24th March 1896. The name was altered to the Bundaberg Port Authority, effective from 1st July 1987.

The City of Bundaberg was established to serve as a vital link to the surrounding agricultural district, when navigators proved that the Burnett River offered the best commercial means of transport to and from the area. Timber, maize and copper quickly gave way to sugar as the district's principal export. As you may know Bundaberg is the home town of the famous Bundaberg Sugar and Bundaberg Rum.

Bundaberg businessmen realised the importance of having a viable trading port and they spearheaded the push for legislation to place control of regional ports in local hands. The Bundaberg Harbour Board was formed out of the state government controlling legislation and the Board quickly established itself as responsible, lean and efficient, undertaking important capital works and regularly meeting its financial commitments.

The Board was free of debt when the 1942 flood closed the river with massive siltation. Almost overnight the port was transformed from prosperity to despair. Board members continued their dedication to the port, taking no fees as they fought continuously to secure a sound future. Eventually they won government endorsement of a major development to move the port from the Town Reach of the Burnett River to the river mouth at Burnett Heads where the new port was built in 1958 to handle the much larger bulk ships then being introduced to the coastal and export trade.