Bundaberg & District Historical Museum

05/09/2026

For Father & Sons of the Cran 'Clan', whose family tree is shown.
Robert Cran (1821-1894) was born at Towie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was son of John Cran, farmer, and his wife Jean, nee Petrie.
Robert and his wife Elspeth Winks migrated to Queensland in 1849, with their eldest son John, and went on to have eight more children.
Father & sons John (1848-1935), James (1850-1922) and Robert (1856-1940) famously established and supported the Sugar Industry in Maryborough and Bundaberg. They built the Millaquin Refinery in Bundaberg and created 'strong roots' in the area.

Extract from "Australian Sugar Journal", September 1975, p.282. 'Robert Cran of Maryborough and Bundaberg.'

"(sic) The ventures of Robert Cran made a valuable contribution to progress in his era."
article goes on to quote a reference in "The History of Bundaberg" "...to fully realise the topical industrial stimulus afforded and applied it is necessary also to take account of the labour employed, wages paid and capital invested by the numerous crushing mill owners whose energies and capital would have been otherwise directed but for the refinery."

02/09/2026

We are a not-for-profit Charity, run solely by volunteers. Our exhibits feature many artefacts kindly donated.

19/08/2026

Bundaberg & District Historical Museum is situated in the Botanic Gardens of Bundaberg, Sunday to Wednesday 9.30 - 2.30

16/08/2026

Further to our post - Flour Bag Cot Quilt returns home. It was a pleasure today to meet Irene who made the quilt for her 3 children. 2 of her children, Terrence and Faylene came to see the quilt with Irene. They are all pleased to know our museum is now the custodial of the quilt for ever more.

14/08/2026

Drop in Sunday-Wednesday 9.30-2.30, in the Botanical Gardens

12/08/2026

Check out the full details on the National Quilt Register: https://www.nationalquiltregister.org.au/quilts/flour-bag-cot-quilt/

For quilters and aspiring creators, come and get some ideas, with our displays of needlework, crafts and Marguerite Rule's World Quilt on display: https://www.nationalquiltregister.org.au/quilts/signature-world-quilt/

07/08/2026

How it works:
Email us with your subject of interest and we will contact you if we have information.
Our email address is: [email protected]

22/07/2026

22/07/2026

What Remains of the Main Street ?

11/07/2026

It was a pleasure to assist in the celebrations of Ulton turning 100.