The Gunbower community is celebrating two special milestones this weekend — 150 years of the township and 100 years of the Soldiers Memorial Hall.
With a jam-packed schedule, festivities kick off on Thursday with two high tea events in the hall (tickets are essential). The hall will also showcase a wedding and deb ball dress display, with dresses on show from across the ages, which will run until Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday, the town is throwing open its doors from 9am, and from the CFA shed up one end of town to the church up the other, visitors can take a stroll down memory lane while taking in a vintage car and tractor display.
A coffee van will be operating from the hall from 8.30am on Saturday while pizzas will hit the oven from 4.30pm, ready for the bush dance, which kicks off at 6.30pm. The bush dance is a free event, with supper provided and entertainment from Billabong Bushies, featuring local Audrey Dickins.
On Sunday there will be a sporting history morning tea and classic car display at the Gunbower Recreational Reserve from 10am.
At 3pm there will also be a special tree-planting event.
A recipe book celebrating 150 years of Gunbower cooking will be on sale for $20 along with a book written by Gunbower local Glenys Mahler, 50 years of Gunbower 1974-2024, also for sale for $20.
Subcommittee member and event organiser Letitia Edwards from Gunbower Butter Factory Boutique Accommodation said the celebration was the result of all the local committees joining forces.
“We have come up with a great way to showcase all the great things about Gunbower and it is going to be an amazing celebration,” Letitia said.
“We have had a great response to all our events and the afternoon high tea event is already sold out.”
Letitia said people had responded to the event from across the country and around the world.
“It is amazing how far people from Gunbower have spread their wings, and there are a lot of people travelling back to join us in our celebrations,” she said.
“There will be something for everyone to enjoy.”
Marg L’Huillier has spent all of her 80 years in the town and she is extremely proud of the supportive and proactive community she lives in.
Marg has, among many other committee and community roles, been secretary of the hall committee for the past 43 years. She is currently a member of the Gunbower Development Group.
“I knew the hall was celebrating its centenary this year and then someone mentioned it was also 150 years of the township so we decided it was a good idea to celebrate everything all at once, so we set up a subcommittee and away we went,” Marg said.
Like many small rural towns, Gunbower might have lost business and services but it has also gained boutique accommodation at the newly renovated Butter Factory, a coffee shop and an art gallery.
The football, cricket, tennis and race clubs all remain strong and well supported by a dedicated group of locals.
“Gunbower is a great place to live and we are looking forward to this weekend to share our little town with the wider community,” Letitia said.