Welcome to Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi country and the fight to stop the proposed Traveston Dam.
In April 2006 then Queensland Premier, Mr. Peter Beattie, announced the proposal to create a dam along the Mary River at Traveston Crossing. At the time there had been a prolonged drought and the dams in south-east Queensland had little rainfall. In July 2006 Mr Beattie announced the dam would go ahead.
So began the fight. Mary Valley residents took up the fight, stating that the dam would impact upon lifestyles, livelihood, and some of the best farming land in Queensland. It would also threaten the lives of animals of the Mary River and Great Sandy Strait. The protest became visible with signs, rallies and demonstrations. Help was at hand. The Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi people refused the government’s $1 million offer. Environmental groups, Sunshine Coast MPs and Greens Senator Bob Brown also lent a voice to the protest.
After protesting for three years the building of the dam was cancelled on 2 December 2009 by Mr Peter Garrett, the Minister for the Environment Heritage and the Arts.
View the slideshow for a snapshot, but click on the photo gallery for all photos.
Mary River – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Katie Martin – Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Tina and Mick Venardos March in the Anti Dam Rally – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Kate and Ivan Molloy lead the Anti Dam March to the State Conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Greens Senator Bob Brown – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mr Lawrence Springborg (leader National Party Qld 2003-2006) – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
A security guard stands watch at the drilling rig at the proposed site of the Traveston Crossing Dam.
Photo Gallery of the Traveston Dam Protest – click on an image to view full screen
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mr Rick Elliott – (Save the Mary River Co-ordinating Group) – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mr David Gibson (in green) (State MP for Gympie 2006-2015) – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Farmer of the Mary Valley – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Farmers of the Mary Valley – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Farmer of the Mary Valley – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Farmer of the Mary Valley – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mary River – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mary River – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection Mary River – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Former Premier Peter Beattie (State MP 1998-2007), Mr Mick Venardos (Mayor of Cooloola/Gympie 1997-2008) meet at the airport – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Former Premier Peter Beattie (State MP 1998-2007), Mr Mick Venardos (Mayor of Cooloola/Gympie 1997-2008), Mr Henry Palaszczuk (Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Water – Feb 2006-Sept 2006) looking over the dam site – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Alan Holznagel with dog near the proposed new dam site – Traveston Dam protest – April 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mayor Mick Venardos (Mayor of Cooloola/Gympie 1997-2008) – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mayor Mick Venardos (Mayor of Cooloola/Gympie 1997-2008) – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Greens Senator Bob Brown (Greens Senator 1996-2012) – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Greens Senator, Bob Brown (Greens Senator 1996-2012) & Glenda Pickersgill – Traveston Dam protest – October 2006 – Mary River Appreciation parade – Gympie Times collection Greens Senator, Bob Brown (Greens Senator 1996-2012) & Glenda Pickersgill – Traveston Dam protest – October 2006 – Mary River Appreciation parade – Gympie Times collection 
Greens Senator, Bob Brown (Greens Senator 1996-2012) & Glenda Pickersgill – Traveston Dam protest – October 2006 – Mary River Appreciation parade – Gympie Times collection 
Greens Senator, Bob Brown (Greens Senator 1996-2012) & Glenda Pickersgill – Traveston Dam protest – October 2006 – Mary River Appreciation parade – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Glenda Pickersgill in kayak – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Keith Gall and Craig with their signs – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Keith Gall plays his songs he wrote about the Mary River – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Vanessa holds up the No Dam stickers that are for sale for $1 Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Drillers on the Traveston Dam site – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Federal Democrat Senator Andrew Bartlett (Australian Democrats 1997-2008 1997-2008) talks at the anti Dam rally – Gympie Times collection 
Federal Democrat Senator Andrew Bartlett (Australian Democrats 1997-2008) talks at the anti Dam rally – Gympie Times collection 
Federal Democrat Senator Andrew Bartlett (Australian Democrats 1997-2008) talks to the Anti Dam protesters at Kandanga yesterday. 
Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection Mr Lawrence Springborg (leader National Party Qld 2003-2006) – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mr Lawrence Springborg (leader National Party Qld 2003-2006) – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mr Lawrence Springborg (leader National Party Qld 2003-2006) – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Rick Elliot greets Senator Andrew Bartlett (Democrats 1997-2008) after he choppered into Kandanga to lend his support to the anti dam cause – Gympie Times collection A security guard stands watch at the drilling rig at the proposed site of the Traveston Crossing Dam. 
Rick Elliot front shows off the Save The Mary Posters that will be in the Gympie Times. Pictured behind is Sally Mackay, Carol Elliot, Nick Smith Howard Archard, Tony Hawkyard and Linley Archard Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
June Blighton and Melanie Larson organise buses for the Rally in Brisbane against the Dam Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Melanie Larsen with the 15000 signatures against the Traveston Dam – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
David Gibson (Member for Gympie 2006-2015) and Jeff Seeney (Liberal/National party 1998-2017) look over the latest site of drilling operations on the western side of Traveston Crossing – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Rick Elliot ponders the next step – – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Madonna Hedberg at the anti-Dam rally in Brisbane – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Campbell Cochrane’s sign says it all – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Dan Burnett and Mitchell Bennett show Premier Beattie how they feel about the Traveston Dam – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Elexis Ensby gets ready for the massive anti Dam rally in Brisbane – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Lauretta Clark at the Anti Dam Rally in Brisbane at the Anti Dam Rally – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
John and Robyn Dorinski from Kandanga with friend Keith Hutchinson from Gladstone at the Anti Dam Rally – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Dean Heise from Rathdowney gets his message across – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Cameron Edward from Dagun gets his message across – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Marita and Clinton Wood turned up to the rally in Brisbane. The Woods will loose their house and jobs because of the Traveston Dam – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Anti Dam protesters at the Entertainment centre and the ALP state conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Anti Dam protesters at the Entertainment centre and the ALP state conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Anti Dam protesters at the Entertainment centre and the ALP state conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Ivan and Kate Molloy lead the Anti Dam parade in Brisbane Anti Dam protesters head toward the Entertainment centre to the ALP state conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Another bus load of people arrive at the Anti Dam Rally in Brisbane – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Anti Dam protesters head toward the Entertainment centre to the ALP state conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Anti Dam protesters head toward the Entertainment centre to the ALP state conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection Mrs Tina and Mr Mick Venardos (Mayor of Cooloola/Gympie 1997-2008) – Traveston Dam protest – May 2006 – Gympie Times collection – March in the Anti Dam Rally – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection Kate and Ivan Molloy lead the Anti Dam March to the State Conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Anti Dam protesters head toward the Entertainment centre to the ALP state conference – Traveston Dam protest – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
No Dam Rally in Brisbane – June 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
No Dam Rally in Brisbane – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Map of the proposed Traveston Dam – Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection – Mr Warrern Truss (MP, Wide Bay 1990-2016), Mr Mick Venardos (Mayor of Cooloola/Gympie 1997-2008) Katie Martin – Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection – Mr Warrern Truss (MP, Wide Bay 1990-2016), Mrs Tina Venardos, Mr Mick Venardos (Mayor of Cooloola/Gympie 1997-2008) 
Mr Henry Palaszczuk (Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Water – Feb 2006-Sept 2006) – Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Former Premier, Peter Beattie speaking at the Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Former Premier, Peter Beattie speaking at the Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mr Mick Venardos (Mayor of Cooloola/Gympie 1997-2008) at the Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mr Henry Palaszczuk (Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Water – Feb 2006-Sept 2006) – Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Mr Rick Elliot (Save the Mary River Co-ordinating Group spokesman) at the Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – July 2006 – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – October 2006 – Mary River Appreciation parade – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – October 2006 – Mary River Appreciation parade – Gympie Times collection 
Traveston Dam protest – October 2006 – Mary River Appreciation parade – Gympie Times collection
Click on a tab to view more images
To view the interviews about the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam Visit Here (YouTube)
References:
State Development, Infrastruction and Local Government of Queensland
Traveston Crossing Dam Project – full EIS reports and maps available to download
Traveston Dam – the federal process
Federal Government reports and processes on the cancellation of the Traveston Dam
Further Mary Valley References
King, Joy (2001) “Imbil: jewel of the Mary Valley: a historical reference” [available for loan]
Wild Heart Bountiful Land
Produced by the Queensland State Archives in partnership with Cooloola Shire Council, Wild Heart Bountiful Land is an historical overview of the Mary River Valley. [free eBook]
Mary Valley Rattler
A history of the railway in the Mary Valley [Web site]
Queensland Places
Centre for the Government of Queensland, contains all the places in Queensland with or has had a population over 500. [Web site]
Queensland Government – Place Names
Queensland place names database [Web site]
Regional Profile
A statistical snapshot of our region [Web site]
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Data from the 2016 Census [Web site]
Sponsorship
Proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government and the State Library of Queensland.
Disclaimer
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that ‘Voices of the Valley’ may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, websites, film, audio recordings or printed material.
All opinions expressed in the Voices of the Valley interviews are those of the interviewee and do not reflect the views of Gympie Regional Council.
About Us
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Imbil QLD 4570
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