The Cardwell Pioneer Tours are currently operating every Monday and Thursday morning from 10am at the Visitor Information and Heritage Centre located in Cardwell. The tour incorporates all the buildings in the historic precinct and takes visitors on a fascinating journey of the area’s colourful history as they move through each building. The tour begins at the old Bush Telegraph building which was the Telegraph and Post Office and explains how Cardwell was founded in 1864 as the first port in North Queensland. Over in the Courthouse visitors can gain an understanding of the old judicial system. Several interesting items are on display including the original straight-jackets used in Tully to restrain the more energetic offenders. The old lock-up building was still in use during the1980s at the Cardwell Police Station. The final building is the old Shire Hall which the community used for a multitude of purposes included balls and other formal social events. The tour concludes on the balcony of the Visitor Information Centre where visitors can enjoy a complementary Devonshire Tea while taking in one of the best views in North Queensland overlooking Hinchinbrook Island, Gould Island and the Family Islands
Event date: 11 - 13 August 2026
The biennial Eyre Peninsula Field Days showcases agricultural innovations and services in Cleve, South Australia.
More than 400 exhibitors from across agricultural machinery, farm services and rural lifestyle sectors set up displays, demonstrations and stalls showing new technologies, tools, and innovations. Alongside that are guest speakers, workshops, food and craft stalls, and features like “Artyculture” — a sustainable fashion/fashion-upcycling catwalk competition.
Facilities include food and beverage options, first aid, baby change, courier service for heavy purchases, free bus service around the site and ample parking.
With well over 10,000 attendees, EP Field Days plays a vital role in sharing farming innovations, inspiring rural lifestyle improvements, and strengthening community across Eyre Peninsula.
Date: 16/10-11/12/26
The Brigalow Arts Festival is the Banana Shire’s largest exhibition of visual arts in a professionally judged open art award. 2026 will mark the festival’s 30th anniversary. The festival program also offers artists and arts enthusiasts the opportunity to take part in networking events, practical workshops and to enhance skills in creative business development.
The exhibition component of the Brigalow Arts Festival is suitable for artists of any career stage across all artistic mediums. Categories encompass painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, digital arts, textiles, sculpture and decorative arts.
For artists, the Brigalow Arts Festival is the perfect way to build an audience, receive award recognition, sell works and exhibit in a professional gallery environment. For audiences, it is the ideal way to experience a cross-section of local arts, support artists and discover the stories that are being told in our region.
