About gympie

The town that saved Queensland

If you are considering a career with Schuh Group in our Gympie office, it may be useful to learn a little more about Gympie’s rich history. Situated on the beautiful Mary River, Gympie has long been known for its welcoming country hospitality and its place as the heritage and cultural centre of the beautiful Cooloola region.

The town has a rich mining history, founded in 1867 after prospector James Nash discovered gold at the site now occupied by the town hall. At the time, Queensland was facing bankruptcy due to the drought and a dramatic fall in wool prices. Nash's discovery and the gold rush that subsequently followed resulted in Gympie being dubbed the 'Town that Saved Queensland'.

Today, Gympie is not only a popular place for travellers to visit, but it is a wonderful place to raise a family. Housing prices are incredibly affordable, and there are a growing number of private schools, health services and specialists and facilities. It is a town that has to a large degree, retained its country town feel, with many thriving small businesses.

Gympie is the home of the historic Mary Valley Rattler, plays host to the annual Heart of Gold Film Festival, and the enormously popular Country Music Muster. There are a range of heritage walks in the area and it's also a handy overnight stop for those heading to Fraser Island.

*Images courtesy of queensland.com

The Gympie Region boasts incredible diversity, with sub regions such as the picturesque Mary Valley with its rolling hills and national parks and the Township of Gympie with it’s many heritage listed buildings, coffee shops and friendly people. Heading west, you will find the agricultural townships of Kilkivan famous for the great Kilkivan Horse ride, where over 1000 horses and riders gathering for the annual event. Goomeri is a unique spot, known for its annual Pumpkin festival as well as its beautiful surrounding areas.

Tin Can Bay is probably most famous for its dolphin feeding and is also a haven for sailing and fishing. Its annual Seafood festival is a food lover’s must. The cosmopolitan little town of Rainbow Beach is renowned for its accommodation from 5 star through to camping. The unique and stunningly beautiful coloured sand beach is one of the few four wheel drivers can use and world class scuba diving, sky diving and paragliding is on offer for adventure seekers.

Fraser Island is a world heritage listed icon where travellers come from all over  to see the clear water lakes perched on the largest sand island in the world.

All of this, within the Gympie Region.

Gympie is 160 kilometres, or about two and a half hours' drive north of Brisbane. It is only 40 minutes to Noosa, and is the gateway to Fraser Island.