Birds, Rum, and Rain: Cane Country, Bundaberg, Queensland AU

Bundaberg Rum Limited Edition Blends in the distillery museum, Queensland Australia

Limited Edition Blends
Special edition rum blends in the retired ‘Bondstore’ that has been up-cycled into the Bundaberg Rum Museum.

They say that if you have too many lemons: make lemonade.

So, it follows that if you have too much sugar by-product, you should make rum.

That’s what happened in Bundaberg, a small city in coastal Queensland. Originally reliant on timber and maize, from the 1870s, sugar cane became the mainstay. With its humid subtropical climate and ready access to blackbirded indentured labour from the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides, plantations thrived and owners grew wealthy. Until importing South Sea Islander labour was made illegal in 1904, the biggest problem growers had was what to do with the heavy molasses waste byproduct.

In 1885 all the big sugar mill owners in the region met to discuss distilling. By 1888, the Bundaberg Distilling Company was up and running, producing its first bottles of rum in 1889. While the brand and the distillery have been owned by the British company Diageo since 2000, the name ‘Bundaberg’ is still synonymous with Australian rum.

After missing out on Bundaberg the last time I was in Queensland’s cane country (see: Maryborough Story Trails), I was determined to visit the eponymous rum factory on my most recent trip. So, I made a point of stopping in the city and taking a tour of the premises – including the ambitiously-named ‘Museum’ – and left town with a few precious bottles from the outlet store tucked safely in my car.

I didn’t have a long stay in the little city, so I didn’t get to visit their almost-equally famous gin distilleries. I did, however, enjoy the charming town centre, and the extensive botanic gardens. I was lucky to dodge most of the seasonal squalls.

Bring a sturdy umbrella, and join me for a walk.

A row of sugar cane, Bruce Highway, Queensland Australia.

In the Cane Fields
This is sugar cane country – and rainy season. The perennial grasses are tall and the skies are ominous. (iPhone12Pro)

Approaching the Burnett Bridge, Bundaberg Qld Australia

Approaching the Burnett Bridge
Built in 1900, the Burnett Bridge is a heritage-listed metal truss road bridge crossing the Burnett River, north of Bundaberg city centre.

On Burnett Bridge
Designed by British-born Queensland engineer A.B. Brady, the metal trusses catch the late afternoon light.

Paperbarks on the Waterway
Water makes all the difference in a city, and it was a real pleasure entering the 27 hectare (27 acre) Botanic Gardens and walking along the river. It is, however, a double-edged sword! Cyclones whip this coastline regularly, and in January 2013, Bundaberg was inundated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.

Paperbark Trunks
Melaleuca quinquenervia, commonly known as broad-leaved paperbarks, are one of my favourite trees.

Chinese Gardens
The winding pathways through the different areas of the gardens reveal little surprises at every turn.

Bird of Paradise – Strelitzia Reginae

Fairymead House Sugar Museum
This heritage-listed homestead was built in 1890. It now houses a museum showcasing the history of some of Bundaberg’s sugar pioneers.

Landscaped Pond
The beautiful water-features in the Japanese Gardens are thanks to the generosity of a former exchange student to the city (see: Bundaberg Lions Club).

Sculpted Waterfalls
The movement of the water as it cascades over rocks, and the lushness of the surrounding plants, make the Japanese Gardens feel cooler on a hot afternoon.

An Island of Ibis in the Lake
Another body of water in the gardens embodies an island that is inaccessible to visitors; …

Ibis and Cormorants in the Lake
… it reputedly attracts 114 species of birds.

Australian White Ibis – Threskiornis Moluccus
Maligned as “tip turkeys” or “bin chickens”, Australian White Ibis are amazingly adaptable birds.

Ibis in a Tree
They watched me, …

Egret in Flight
… as I watched egrets soaring in and out of their safe island.

Egrets in the Trees

Pacific Black Duck – Anas Superciliosa
I didn’t see all the 114 species the gardens boast, …

Purple Swamphen – Porphyrio Porphyrio
… but there were a few on and around the waters.

Lizard on a Log
A lizard in a dark patch was so still, I though it was a statue.

Queensland Bottle Tree – Brachychiton Rupestris

Gray Goose

Australian Pelican – Pelecanus Conspicillatus

Chinese Bridge

Selfie in the Mirror
Walking back to my room, I couldn’t resist a selfie in the mirror on the railway crossing.

Bundaberg Rum Distillery
The next morning at the appointed time I made my way to the old distillery. The iconic “Bundy Bottles” were originally recycled coffee and chicory essence bottles that the locals collected and sold to the distillery for one penny each.

Label-Making Stamps
The old bonded warehouse now houses museum pieces illustrating the 125-year history.

Selfie in the Old Phones

The Bundy Bear
The mascot bear was introduced in 1961 to imply that rum can ward off the coldest chills – chills one doesn’t usually associate with sub-tropical Queensland!