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Centenary of the Opening of Soldiers Road Celebration
On 4th June 2021, the Bunya Mountains community gathered at the base of Soldiers Road on the Bunya Mountains-Dalby Road for the purposes of celebrating the Centenary of the opening of the road by unveiling and dedicating a new memorial Plaque. This road is called Soldiers Road because WW1 returned soldiers became road builders and constructed the first road up the Bunya Mountains between 1919 and 1921, giving access to motor vehicles for the first time. With that first section completed (to within 1 kilometre of Munro's Camp), the road was officially opened on 28th May 1921.
In the past, the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association recognized the phenomenal road building efforts of the returned WW1 diggers, and set out to find a way to honour and remember those achievements.
Whilst the locals all knew this road as the Soldiers Road, there were no signs to establish that fact. The Natural History Association, with the help of the Council, had a sign erected at the foot of the road. A large stone was then erected with a brass plaque attached by Mr Phil Humphrys of the Natural History Association, telling the story of the amazing work delivered by those soldiers. Unfortunately, this memorial to the soldier road builders was not respected by some members of the public, and sadly the brass Plaque was levered from the rock and stolen a few years ago.
To assist with the Centennial celebrations, Western Downs Regional Council, replaced the Plaque. Cr Kay McGuire, Western Downs Regional Council addressed the gathering. The guest of honour at the celebrations was Mr Phil Humphrys, who some 30 years after unveiling the first plaque, unveiled the new Plaque.
The Plaque was dedicated by Lutheran Bishop Emeritus, Rev Noel Noack.
