Situated on the Mary River, 160 kilometres north of Brisbane, Gympie Shire is the northern-most corner of South East Queensland, in between the Sunshine Coast and Maryborough. Originally settled for grazing, the area became prominent in 1867 when gold was discovered. Initially named Nashville after James Nash, who discovered gold in 1867, the name was changed to Gympie in 1868. It is derived from the local Kabi tribe’s language, describing a ‘stinging tree’ in the area, which has leaves similar to stinging nettles.

With a population of 18,602, gold mining still plays a role in Gympie’s economy. It has also expanded over the past century and a half, to include dairy farms, timber milling and tourism. With the town of Gympie being on the Mary River, the area regularly experiences floods, the most recent one being in 2011.

Gympie still receives its fair share of tourism, with natural attractions like Tin Can Bay, Mary Valley and dolphin feeding at Rainbow Beach attracting visitors throughout the year. The famous Gympie Muster regularly has a large turnout, as does the Gympie Gold Rush Festival and the Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival. Events are often held at Mothar Mountain Speedway and the Gympie Turf Club holds camel races on Melbourne Cup Day.