Entertainment
2 July, 2026
Gearing up for the Gillies party
A TASTE of what’s in store for the upcoming Gillies Centenary Celebrations was previewed at the Yungaburra Pub recently when a photoshoot captured some of the fabulous fashions of the 1920s.
The event, being held in Yungaburra over the weekend of 10-12 July, marks 100 years since the Gillies Range Road opened, creating an historic connection between the Tablelands and the coastal towns below.
Last week, another fun preparation event was held at the Little Eden Restaurant to help the community get into the spirit of the era.
The Style It Up! afternoon saw locals learning how to transform their hats, caps and other headpieces into flapper glamour, cloche hats, fedoras, vintage news caps and even steampunk.
Also previewed this week (30 June) was the Heritage Black & White Photography Exhibition which opened at the “SHE Day Spa” Teahouse (Burra Bakehouse building).
Organisers and the Atherton Camera Club have been busy over the past months collating images that capture the faces, lives, and stories of the local community across the years.
The Gillies Centenary Celebrations, which begin on Friday night and run to Sunday afternoon, is expected to be the biggest event held in Yungaburra.
One of the highlights of the jam-packed weekend is the vintage car display of 100 vehicles.
Organiser David Clifton said there were some real gems which will be on show.
“Herberton Historic Village has really got behind it,” he said. “They’ve lent us a 1924 Chrysler, which was originally sold at Ireland’s in Cairns in 1924.
“Another special was a white 1937 Chevrolet, which was once used as a bus up and down the range. And Heritage Funerals have added their support, they’ve given us a fully restored 1924 hearse for display.”
Other displays and activities include a show of heritage equipment, road-making gear, and farming tools, locally-built billycarts which will also be for sale, and a model of the famous gates at the top and bottom of the range – where motorists waited for their turn to travel up the once single-lane road – built by the Yungaburra Men’s Shed.
Children will have a park space dedicated to heritage games from Yo Yo’s and knucklebones to spinning tops and Hobby Horses.
Fashions on the Field and the “Drongiest, Daggiest, Dirtiest Hat” competition for men, will be a highlight, and the Gillies Range Musicians will play music to honour the many nationalities of the people who worked on the road and lived in the camps in and around the Tablelands.
Little Eden Restaurant will host an Oz Heritage Dinner and Mr Belson’s will be hosting a “Speak Easy” on Saturday night, and Sunday will conclude with a picnic in the Rotunda Park while Bold As Brass performs.
For anyone wanting to take part, register, or pick up some merchandise for the Gillies Centenary Celebration on 10-12 July, visit https://gillies100.yungaburra.com/
To keep up to date on activities, head to The Gillies Centenary Celebration Facebook page.
