The history and culture of rural towns in Australia can surprise as well as inspire. ERLE LEVEY was at Kilkivan for a weekend with horses and country hospitality.
“What a great attitude – country town, country hospitality. You can’t beat it.”
The 2025 Kilkivan Great Horse Ride and Country Weekend Escape promised to be double the fun and excitement of previous years.
It exceeded that … by far, and was probably three times bigger than 2024.
More than 400 riders and horses took part in the ride down the main street at 4pm, watched by an enthralled crowd that took up vantage points ranging from shop fronts to the hotel verandah.
The weekend saw more than 1000 horses and riders nominated for a variety of events. From trail rides to calf-roping, barrel racing to heavy horse displays, a handy horse challenge and ranch sorting – where teams of riders sort 11 numbered cattle.
The Cobb & Co coach was a popular addition to the program this year, with the promise of a working bullock team for the 40th anniversary event in 2026.
Yet that wasn’t all – there were working dog demonstrations and camp oven cooking displays, musicians and artists, stationary engines and antique and veteran car clubs.
Included was a demonstration 25km ride by Queensland Endurance Riders Association (QERA), with Kilkivan having recently successfully held a Blue Ride in support of men’s health.
A feature of the weekend was the sense of history evident in the town, with the event paying tribute to the area’s long heritage with horses and to celebrate the Australian bush culture.
Ride weekend president Craig Ellison was thrilled at the popularity of the event and the sense of pride it engendered in the community.
“Well, the weather was certainly on our side,’’ he said after the street parade of horses. “An early morning shower took the temperature out of the day, and made it fantastic for the horses and the riders.
“The numbers were up substantially on last year in preparation for our 40th anniversary in 2026.
“It will be absolutely amazing, especially if we can get back some of the original trails from that era for the riders.
“There were more than 1000 nominations from all horse events this year. The barrel racing on Friday night was a huge success.
“They were competing for substantial prize money in some of the events.
“The off-track events on Sunday added another dimension – such as the handy horse that shows a genuine concern for retired racehorses. It’s something we are all concerned about.
The endurance ride demonstration reflected the increasing popularity of the sport in the area in recent times, with a second ride for the year planned in early October.
While the horses remain the main attraction of the Kilkivan Great Ride, next year the focus will be on the greater aspects of a country weekend, Craig Ellison said.
“We just want people to have a good, wholesome country weekend.’’
CELEBRATION BORN IN THE SADDLE
The Kilkivan Great Horse Ride & Country Weekend Escape celebrates the horses and bush culture that has been long part of the region.
Kilkivan was central to the opening of the 5330km-long National Trail – stretching from Cairns to Healesville, outside of Melbourne.
That was in October 1988, as part of an Australian Bicentennial project.
Fabian Webb of the Webb Brothers fame started the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride in 1986 as a tribute to the history of the area.
The Webb Brothers were the instigators of what has become the Gympie Country Music Muster – an event that has also been running for four decades and reached national acclaim.
On Saturday I caught up with one of the Webb family … Mike Webb, who continues the family history as a bush poet.
Mike was born in the area and has spent much of his life working with cattle and horses throughout Queensland, particularly around the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Now living at Ellesmere in the South Burnett, he welcomes the return of the Great Horse Ride to its former popularity, with organisers hoping for 1000 horses in the street parade in its 40th year.
Mike was among the original founding members in 1986 and his cousin Marius wrote the song Who Put The Roo In The Stew that shot the brothers to fame.
The Webb Family came to the area in 1862 when GS Webb set up on a property at Black Snake.
GS had four sons and Mike’s grandfather Ned Webb was one of them.
From Black Snake the family moved to Thornside in 1882.
“It’s good to see horses back in Kilkivan. It’s a tradition which we pay respect to.
“That’s been my trade if you like. Today everything is about time and money, but that does not do a lot for the country towns or for the cattle.
“They appreciate a gentle lifestyle. It’s about treating the cattle calmly and that brings on good conditioning.
“If they’re happy, they’re doing well. They’re thriving.
“We’ve got the best meat in the world in Australia.
“You need to travel to see and understand what we have in this country. There is no second place … we are that far in front.’’
HORSES FOR COURSES
Part of the weekend’s program was the heavy horse demonstrations and I caught up with Jack Nowland and Maddie Pitstock of Goomeri with Madeegan Carson, an 11-year-old Clydesdale gelding.
Jack and Maddie raise Clydesdale’s at their property and love how versatile the horses are.
“We plough with them, do harness work and the kids ride them at the shows,’’ Maddie said. “We use them for everything.’’
Not far away, resting in the shade before saddling up to help lead the street parade, was a group from Fifth Lighthorse Regiment Gympie Troop.
Jim Boyle’s father was a prisoner of war in Changi, when Singapore fell in World War Two.
“His father may have been in the Lighthorse in the First World War,’’ Jim said, “but that would have been towards the final days.’’
Jim joined the Gympie Troop in 1993 to keep the tradition alive and honour those who served.
The troop practices monthly, except in summer. Other than that they visit schools and attend ANZAC services as well as parades.
MAINTAINING A SENSE OF HISTORY
A remarkable part of Kilkivan is the museum, that chronicles the development of the area and the important stages in its timeline.
Speaking with volunteer Dulcie Dyne, you understand how much a part of the wider Gympie region Kilkivan has been.
It was even on the maps of enemy forces in World War Two as a place to bomb, along with Darwin, Broome and Townsville.
This was because of the mercury mines at Cinnabar, Dulcie said, and the chemical element was an important part of manufacturing bombs and ammunition.
Dulcie used to live at Lower Wodonga and her late husband Ron Dyne was the mayor of Kilkivan, then mayor of Gympie when the shires were amalgamated.
“I come out here and volunteer,’’ she said. “I love the connection with people.
“The ladies before me have put in so much work and effort, you can’t not keep it going.
“Most people go through and are amazed at what we have here, how good it is.
“It’s a matter of pride in what you’re doing.
“Look at the contribution of this area over 150 years.
“We’ve got to cherish our history because people lost their lives working and making Kilkivan what it is today.’’
KEEPING THINGS TICKING OVER
The steady “chug, chug, chug, pshhhh’’ of stationary engines couldn’t help but attract attention among the market stalls in the town centre.
Percy Elliott from The Gympie and District Historic Machinery Club was one of the members happy to explain the workings of the engines chugging away.
“It’s my hobby, ’’ Percy said. “I used to cart logs.
“I was a mechanic in the bush. I would go to sawmills up around the mountains all the way to Gin Gin and keep old motors going.
“I go to museums whenever I travel around Australia.’’
Not far away from the markets, I met up with Matt Kerrison and members from the South Bennett Antique Motor Club.
They had set up their lovingly restored cars – a Mercedes-Benz, MGB sports car, Jaguar and Valiant – in front of a million-dollar backdrop of local prime movers.
Matt has a 1935 Ford model 48 first generation flat head V8 that he bought from the second owner.
It has been maintained and had some restoration but mechanically, it’s pretty much untouched, Matt said.
THE LOVE OF HORSES
Ty Granger and Gus were demonstrating calf roping in the magnificent covered arena at Kilkivan Showgrounds and Endurance Centre.
Handling livestock goes back thousands of years, he said, to the grass plains of Central Asia.
Ty was full of praise for the organising of this year’s Great Ride weekend and the good weather.
“It’s the start of it getting really big again. It’s back to a consistent time of year.’’
Pandora Bevan of Queensland Endurance Riders Association (QERA) was there as part of the 25km demonstration ride on Sunday.
Swapping stories with her was Keith Humphries of Gympie, who has been an endurance rider but also a life member of Sunshine Coast Area Trail and Endurance Riders (SCATER).
CAMP OVEN SECRETS
Demonstrating the benefits of cooking with a camp oven were Jeff and Sharon Davie.
“What’s the secret to a good camp oven,’’ I asked.
“Lots of flavour,’’ was Jeff’s reply. “And cook for a long time on a low heat.
“That mixes the flavours in … nice and low, nice and slow.
“Beef, spices, onions, carrots and beer in one pot. In the other pot will be potato to make mash to all go on the plate together.
“Slow cooking … it melts in your mouth.
“You can use any meat. Kilkivan Meat gave us the protein for today. A donation.
“What a great attitude – country town, country hospitality. You can’t beat it.’’
