Centenary of Soldiers RoadPrint Page 
Western Downs Regional Council will replace a memorial plaque to coincide with the centenary of the opening of The Soldiers Road to the Bunya Mountains.
“Soldiers Road” is the name known locally for the range climb section of the Dalby-Bunya Mountains Road. It was built by former soldiers hired by local councils after returning from the World War I battlefields.The work was completed in 1921.
In the early 1990s, the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association erected a small memorial and brass plaque so the work of these ex-soldiers would not be forgotten.
It read:
The Soldiers Road. In 1918, Dalby and Wambo Councils pooled their repatriation grants of 700 pounds and planned the first road up the Bunyas. Hector Munro surveyed the route and 32 returned soldiers commenced building the road using pick and shovel. Shire engineer Jack Bennie supervised much of the work. Place names from their wartime experiences were added. After two years and extra cost, it had reached the top and was opened on April 21, 1921 by J. Harry Coyne MLA. The road was later completed to Munros Camp by volunteer labour supplied by Dalby Bunya Mountains Club
However, the plaque was later stolen.
The Bunya Mountains Community Association Inc (BMCAI) said the WDRC had agreed to replace the plaque on the original rock where it had been fastened. Overgrown vegetation around the rock has been cleaned up in preparation for the re-installation. The BMCAI plans to hold a small gathering at the memorial to mark the centenary when the plaque is installed.
southburnett.com.au, 20 May 2021.
Location
| Address: | Bunya Mountains Road, Bunya Mountains, 4405 |
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| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -26.891621 Long: 151.61013 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Memorial |
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| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Community |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 28-May-1921 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 28-May-2021 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Friday 28th May, 2021 |
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The Centenary of Soldiers Road
In 1917, Dalby and Wambo Shire Councils and the Bunya Park Estate Company contributed a total of 1000 pounds to create a road to the top of Bunya Mountains.
Hector Munro, Surveyor, pegged out the route up the south western spur of the Mointains. Munro camped at the top of the Mountains, in the area still known as Munro`s Camp.
In 1919, with the funds available, 32 returned World War 1 diggers and now former soldiers, began the difficult task of carving the road through the forest to the top of the Mountains.
On May 28, 1921, the road now known as Soldiers Road was officially opened by the lands Minister, the Hon J Harry Coyne.
The memorial to the road building soldiers was originally installed by the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association in the early 1990`s but was unfortunately removed a few years ago.
To remember the work of the road building soldiers, and to commemorate the Centenary of the opening of Soldiers Road, Western Downs Regional Council reinstalled this plaque in May 2021.
