The early days of Christmas on Gympie

Australian Christmas traditions have evolved over many years after our early settlers brought the traditions of their cultures with them. For Gympie, this means a vast array of the people who came seeking the gold and the many who then settled here thereafter laying the foundations of our community. If one looks at our now established Christmas traditions the contribution of many cultures are evident. The one factor that those early citizens tried to ignore was the climate. Coming from places where Christmas was celebrated in the depths of winter, it can be supposed that a yearning for home influenced their customs.

The first report of Christmas celebrations on Gympie appears in the Gympie Times and Mary Valley Gazette on Wednesday, 26 December 1869. This article is a virtual treasure trove of, if slightly biased, information for those seeking the experience of Christmas past.

“Christmas, 1869, has paid us the visit we have so long been expecting and preparing for, and has followed in the wake of eighteen hundred and sixty-eight of its kind. Sentimentalism is not likely to be highly appreciated by a hardworking matter of fact community like ours, and so we won’t attempt it. Struggling to enjoy themselves under the crushing heat of a Queensland summer, the residents of Gympie have pluck enough, after observing Christmas Day quietly, to pursue pleasure eagerly into the wrestling arena, the scorched and dried up cricket field and the more comfortable and soothing picnic party.:”

The article then goes on to praise the energy and health of the British race who resist the effects of the severe climate enjoying cricket and wrestling and wagering on the outcomes of these events. (The British race is the only one mentioned.)

“Christmas Eve was celebrated without any boisterousness, the feelings of our citizens appearing to find vent in largo purchases of temporal pleasures in the shape of rounds of beef, groceries for the Christmas dinner and wines, to dilute the same. We confess to great admiration of the creditable display made by the butchers foremost among most among whom were Messrs Elworthv and Mellor and J W Hartley.” 

The festivities then continued into Boxing Day with a variety of activities and tournaments. These included performances from the Dramatic Society and the Town Band. A billiard competition was held at the Freemason’s Hotel but by far the standout event was the annual Race Meeting which attracted many visitors to town.

“Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette Saturday, 28 December 1872.
The Gympie Christmas Races commenced on Thursday. Considering the season of the year, the weather was very favourable, being not nearly so hot as might have been expected. There was a very fair attendance of spectators and the
booths appeared to be very well patronised. As usual, one or two free fights took place, but on the whole the day passed without any serious disturbance. We are glad to say that no accident occurred; in the Hurry Scurry Race a boy fell from his horse but was brought in not much the worse for his mishap. The horse kept up his pace, and, as far as he was concerned won the race.”

In 1902, it had been a difficult year for the town. A drought had plagued farmers for more than a year and the business of the town suffered accordingly. The newspaper praised the resilience of Australians for their ability to make the best of things. Reading the article below is easy to picture the scene in Mary Street.

“From the Town Hall to the top of Commissioner’s Hill was a blaze of coloured light and the foot walks and roadways were thronged with a multitude of good natured, happy people, young, old and middle-aged, all apparently intent upon forgetting the cares of life and keeping up the annual festival to the best of their ability. For the children, it was their night out, without a doubt, and the street resounded with their laughter, and the indescribable noises of the innumerable tin horns, trumpets, squeakers etc. which indulgent parents had purchased for them. The toy shops were busy centres, so busy indeed that the wonder is how those behind the counters managed to attend to all their customers. The shops were for the most part illuminated outside and in. The art of window dressing is certainly not a lost one as far as Gympie is concerned and those responsible for the arrangement of toques, bonnets, and other articles of feminine adornment in the windows of the various large establishments must have felt gratified to see so much of the youth and beauty of Gympie gathered around gazing with admiration.”

By 1908, Christmas celebrations were more extravagant. The fact that many people now had embraced the concept of the annual holiday did impact on the town during the Christmas season.

“Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette Tuesday 29, December 1908.
Christmas on Gympie.
Despite the fact that there was the usual exodus of holiday makers from the field, Christmas week on Gympie was a busy and profitable one with the various tradespeople. Compared with 1907, the takings generally, were considerably, in excess this year and business men describe the trade done as much freer than for some years past. To residents the numerous Christmas dividends afforded more than the usual opportunity to spend. On Wednesday and Thursday nights the various business houses of the city were open and several shops displayed the festive spirit of the season by decorative greenery and gas illuminations.

On Christmas Eve several parties of musicians discoursed seasonable music throughout the town; youth gave itself over to the jollity of the occasion and everywhere could be heard exchanged the compliments of the season. It was a worthy and self-sacrificing idea that inspired the local Presbyterian Choir to arrange a round of carol singing on Christmas Eve for the benefit of the Hospital and by their kindly efforts collected a sum of £6 ls 6d.”

For those who bemoan the loss of the true Christmas, these articles indicate the similarities between celebrations of over 100 hundred years ago and now. So if you are walking in Mary Street for “Christmas on Mary”, admiring the Christmas lights and decorations on the houses of our town or attending carol singing events you are following in the footsteps of out pioneers and upholding the traditions they brought with them.

This story appeared previously in Gympie Today on 22/12/2021 and was written by Wendy Flikweert.

Sources:  Trove; GFHS Record Collection;