The years 2014, 2015 and 2016 will be remembered in Goondiwindi as celebrating many important anniversaries for the development of the town.

Border Bridge

The original 1878 wooden bridge across the McIntyre River at McLean St was replaced in 1915 by the Border Bridge (Map 6 B5). The Queensland Government built this bridge, while the NSW built the Mungindi Bridge. Twenty-five years passed before the Queensland Government built the Story Bridge in Brisbane.

The Border Bridge has two 120 feet spans of 'hogbacked steel-lattice girders' and a 'roadway width of 20 feet' above the then highest known flood level.

For the bridge's 100th anniversary in 2015, in conjunction with the Easter on the MacIntyre festivities, the Border Rivers Chamber of Commerce (BRCC) and MacIntyre Animal & Pet Rescue (MAPR) organised an Easter breakfast on the bridge.

The Highway Bridge

This was featured on the Pocket book front cover in 1992. The highway bridge & roundabout also has its 25th anniversary in 2017.

Photo courtesy of Cr David McMahon, President of Goondiwindi Historical Society

To help celebrate this year, about 40 members of the Vintage Motoring Club visited Goondiwindi and Texas. The enthusiasts brought 28 Ford Model T cars to Goondiwindi, along with a collection of English MGs. (Cr McMahon likes the motoring groups, having invited the Ulysses motorcycle Club the previous year.)

Photo courtesy of Brooke Saxby of Border Rivers Chamber of Commerce

On Sunday, 7th June 2015, the Model-Ts raced the appropriately named 'Goondiwndi' steam train to Toobeah. As all were built in the 1908 to 1927 period, seventy kilometres per hour was a pretty good race speed.

Photo courtesy of Brooke Saxby of Border Rivers Chamber of Commerce

The craftsmanship of the old timber railway bridges is shown off to the visiting MG drivers with their ability to carry these heavy loads.

Vernon Redmond was the town engineer in 1956 when the town flooded three times. 'Enough is enough' he exclaimed to the then mayor, Dooley Piddington. The £58,000 price was an investment that has since saved the town four times. While the residents stumped up the rate-taxes to build the original 11 km, they have ever since benefited with lower insurance premiums.

That decision to build has paid for itself a thousand times over according to present Mayor, Cr Graeme Scheu. 'It's a Godsend,' he says of the bank.

'It is one of the greatest engineering constructions of its time,' Cr Scheu said. 'While the town recognised Vernon Redmond with the naming of Redmond Park (at Gilbert Ovals), I think this tribute will remind the younger generation exactly what Redmond's decision meant 58 years ago.'

The Goondiwindi Levee Bank

Over the years it has been extended to 27 km. The levee's 60th anniversary will be celebrated in 2016.

The 1991 Goondiwindi Pocket Book

And, in 1990, the first Pocket Book for Goondiwindi was compiled to be published in the year 1991.

While celebrating 25 years in the area this year, the 25th edition will be celebrated in 2016.

For a lot of historical and touring information, see the extensive tourist article under 'Tourist' in this Pocket Book.

Gerry Clarke B.PED