ABC Wednesday, G for Gympie

We left the Netherlands for Australia on 17th December. Early in the morning of 18 December we arrived in Brisbane were we stayed one day. The next day we went to  stay  in Gympie where the mother of my daughter's partner lives. She was such a hospitable lady and so kind to harbour six people and a two-year old toddler. We stayed till after Christmas, which was for me strange because I am used to wet and cold Christmases. Being in Gympie I was curious to know a bit more about its history. Here is what I found:

Wikipedia:
Gympie's name derives from the Kabi (the language of a tribe of Indigenous Australians that historically lived in the region) word "gimpi-gimpi" (which means "stinging tree"), which referred to Dendrocnide moroides. The tree has large, round leaves that have similar properties to stinging nettles. The town was previously named Nashville, after James Nash, who discovered gold in the area in 1867. The name was later changed to Gympie in 1868.

History

Lower Mary Street, c.1925

Originally settled for grazing purposes, the area became prominent when James Nash reported the discovery of 'payable' alluvial gold on 16 October 1867. At the time Queensland was suffering from a severe economic depression and the discovery probably saved the colony from bankruptcy. A memorial fountain was built in Gympie's Park in honour of Nash's discovery.This event is still celebrated today during the Gympie Gold Rush Festival, with 10 days of cultural events held in October. Gold mining still plays a role in the area's fortunes, along with agriculture (dairy predominantly), timber and tourism. The rapid development of the new settlement was so quick that the streets were laid out in an irregular fashion rather than the grid pattern common to most Queensland towns^.

A railway from Maryborough was completed in 1881. The North Coast railway linked Gympie to Brisbane in 1891^. A fire brigade was in operation in 1900. Gympie was officially declared a town in 1903. In 1953 a powdered milk factory began operations in the town.

The surroundings are very idyllic  and peaceful. I was delighted to see so many birds and other animals, like a possum and even kangaroos.

Christmas was very nice with lots of presents (prezzies) and delicious food. I took some photos of the garden.

Please enlarge these photos.
 Rainbow Lorikeets eating a slice of bread with honey.

A boomer and his wife! In the neighbour's garden.

 With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with G.