Historical Gympie

In October 1867 James Nash discovered gold in a dry river bed at Gympie, and a dramatic gold rush commenced. The place of the find was called Nash’s Gully (near the site of the present Town Hall) and the place was called Nashville. In 1868 the name was changed to Gympie, an Aboriginal term for local trees. This spectacular find was credited with saving the Queensland Government from bankruptcy.

Gympie Goldfield Album

Heinrich (Henry) Muller photographed those early beginnings.  The original  photographs are at the State Library of Queensland.

Gympie Goldfield Album 1867, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

The early gold mining years  are captured in a Gympie goldfields postcard set. The positives are held by the Queensland State Archives.

Queensland State Archive, Series ID, S177