Gympie creek officially named after First Nations horseman

A new creek name will recognise Uncle Jimmy, a local First Nations horseman from Gympie's gold rush days.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart and Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig announced the naming of the creek, which flows into Glastonbury Creek.    

“The community expressed their strong support for the name of Uncle Jimmys Creek, acknowledging First Nations people and history,” Mr Stewart said.

“The Palaszczuk Government continues to work with First Nations communities to formally name sites that carry spiritual and cultural significance.

“I applaud the Gympie Regional Council for putting forward the suggestion for the naming of the creek.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford said recognising the history of First Nations people was important.

“The newly named Uncle Jimmys Creek is a great example of our work on the Path to Treaty,” Mr Crawford said. 

“It demonstrates our Government’s commitment to truth-telling and reconciliation.”

Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig said he was happy to support the naming of an un-named and un-signed creek that flows into Glastonbury Creek as Uncle Jimmys Creek, as it recognises the rich history of our First Nations people.

“Like many parts of Australia, the Gympie region has a long and storied history with the traditional custodians who deserve to be recognised for their contributions to our community,” he said.

“I am pleased to endorse the naming proposal of the un-named creek at Glastonbury as Uncle Jimmys Creek."

Jimmy has been described as a First Nations horseman, employed by Thomas Betts, the first European settler of the Glastonbury region in 1869. Jimmy also worked at the Glastonbury Inn, which was held under licence by Thomas Betts at the time.

Jimmy was known to camp beside the creek that ran through the property of Thomas Betts.

The inclusion of “Uncle” was proposed by the Gympie Regional Council in a sign of respect and to indicate that Jimmy was a First Nations man.

The creek is just southeast of the township of Glastonbury in the Gympie Regional Council local government area.

It begins in the Glastonbury State Forest area, before continuing 4.2 km in a northeast direction across multiple properties.  

The name will now be entered in the Placenames database, which can be searched at www.resources.qld.gov.au/qld/environment/land/place-names/search

ENDS

Media contact: CHRIS LEES, 0434 859 940