Gympie Ultimate Steam Festival - 2011

The Gympie & District Historical Society, the Mary Valley Heritage Railway Museum and the Woodworks Museum have again combined to present the second festival.

The Valley Rattler steaminging through the Mary Valley.

Friday 22nd July 2011 – Sunday 24th July 2011

The program covers 3 days

Friday 22nd July 9.30 to 4pm - Special Group Day
Saturday 23rd July 9am to 9pm - A full day of activities including an evening steam theme meal.
Sunday 24th 9am to 3pm - Another day of steamy activities

Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum

The Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum situated at the southern gateway to the city within the lake Alford parklands will feature its unique 105 year old Cornish Boiler, believed to be the only such boiler operating in Australia. The steam produced will power the 1899 Walker Winding Engine, the circa 1905 Thompson Air compresor and the Hindley powered 110V Dc generator, all on the original footings of the No 2 South Great Eastern Mine which was the second richest mine in the field between 1887 and 1017. All this will be supplemented by the widest possible variety of operating steam powered exhibits.

With the theme being variety, an invitation is extended to all enthusiasts who would like to participate.

Contact Ralph on 0408 616 709, P.O. Box 626 Gympie 4570 or via goldmuseum@spiderweb.com.au for further details.  Vist the Museum website at www.gympiegoldmuseum.com.au.

The Mary Valley Heritage Railway - The Valley Rattler

The Mary Valley Heritage Railway operate the C17 steam loco powered Mary Valley Rattler through the pictureque Mary Valley. The railway has been operating for over 10 years and also features rail motors. On Friday of the festival two special Red Rocket Express Railmotor scenic tours will be departing from the Old Gympie Railway Station in the morning and afternoon. The normal Saturday and Sunday schedule will operate.
Contact  or tel 07 4582 2750, P.O. Box385 Gympie 4570 or via rattler@mvhr.org.au or visit The Valley Rattler Website at www.thevalleyrattler.com

Gympie Woodworks Museum

The Woodworks Museum is operated by Private Forestry Service Qld and features a steam sawmill and some 2000 exhibits telling the story of the locally important timber industry.
Contact 07 5483 7691, Corner of Bruce Highway and Fraser Rd Gympie 4570 or via info@woodworksmuseum.com.au, pfsq@bigpond.com or vist the Gympie Woodworks Museum website at www.woodworksmuseum.com.au

Visitors can experience a full range of heritage steam working across a range of industries with three days of exceptional value and entertainment.

The map below shows the location of the three venues.

Gympie Ultimate Steam Venue Map.

Heritage Steam Attractions

 

 

 

 

 

  

Gympie Gold Mining Museum

Mining Museum

During the Steam Festival between 10am and 3pm each day, the Gympie Gold Mine and Historical Museum will be lighting the 20,000 litre Cornish Boiler to generate the steam to operate a 110 year old Walker Winding Engine as well as operating the Thompson steam powered 12 tool 2 stage air compressor and other steam equipment. Click to read more...

Gympie Woodworks Museum

Woodworks Museum

Woodworks The Forestry and Timber Museum in Gympie provides a fascinating insight into the role of timber in Queensland and the Gympie region’s colonial beginnings. Discover how the pioneers worked the timber and how the industry evolved over the decades up to the 1950’s – from axes and adzes, to chainsaws and saw mills. Click to read more...

 

   

The Valley Rattler

Valley Rattler

The Valley Rattler heritage steam train will run over the Gympie Ultimate Steam Festival. The train features a C17 class locomotive and original wooden carriages, with volunteer locals manning the train, as you gently make your way through Mary Valley scenery, starting from the historic Old Gympie Station.Click to read more...

Click here for information on the Mary Ann replica Steam Locomotive.

The Mary Ann

The Mary Ann is a faithful replica of the first steam locomotive built in Queensland in 1873, serving on timber lines in Cooloola National Park. Based in Maryborough, and operated by Volunteers, the replica is on its second visit to Gympie and will be running tours from Old Gympie Station during the festival. Click to read more...