QLDMining
Gympie
Gold gave Queensland a much-needed boost.
1867James Nash’s gold discovery
WHAT STARTED IT
James Nash found payable gold in 1867, bringing a rush to the Mary River district. The discovery arrived during an economic downturn and created a new source of revenue and employment.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Mining shifted from surface finds to deep reefs. Farming, dairying and timber industries later helped the town outlast the decline of its first gold economy.
TURNING POINTS
1867The discovery starts the rush.
1868The name Gympie replaces Nashville.
1998Tourist trains begin running on the revived Mary Valley line, giving the former railway workshops and route a new visitor role.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A regional service city with agriculture, local industry and heritage attractions. Gold explains its beginnings, but a broader rural economy explains its survival.