Come and celebrate the re-opening of Kershaw Gardens!
Published on 03 August 2018
Mark your calendar for next Saturday and pack your picnic blanket! Kershaw Gardens is set to throw the greatest celebration it has ever seen with the grand opening of its exciting new redevelopment on Saturday August 11.
Council has pulled together a family program jam packed with free activities including a headline act performed by The Jitterbugs - one of Australia’s favourite touring children’s musical shows all the way from Sydney.
There will also be a free balloon artist, face painting, jumping castle, amusements, Luna markets, sausage sizzle, food vans, and of course, a birthday cake to celebrate the Gardens’ 30th year.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow said the highly anticipated re-opening marks a new era for Kershaw Gardens and a new world of fun for kids of all ages.
“In December 2015 we celebrated the re-opening of Kershaw Gardens after part of the site was remediated, we then closed it in 2016 to allow for further remediation and for this incredible redevelopment to get started,” Mayor Strelow said.
“We know how important it was to get this space open as quickly as possible for the community and I thank everyone for their patience while we were busy building an iconic play space for an iconic garden.
“To eventually open the space to the public will be like unwrapping the best birthday present you could imagine, and to see the excitement on the faces of children will be the icing on the cake.”
The event will commence at 9am to 4pm, Saturday August 11.
There will also be performances from the Lighthouse Christian College kids, Maggie Moo Music, paper boat making and history talks with Tom Wyatt - former Rockhampton Councillor and curator of Kershaw Gardens.
Designated parking will be available at the Knight Street, High Street, Dowling Street and Charles Street car parks. Additional parking will be available at The Department of Main Roads complex off Knight Street with traffic controllers assisting pedestrians at the Knight Street and Bruce Highway intersection. There is also ample parking within easy walking distance to Kershaw Gardens.
Kershaw Gardens is a jointly funded $16 million project in partnership with the Queensland Government—with $5 million from the Building our Regions program—as well as National Disaster Recovery and Relief Arrangement funding.
Download a copy of the program here.(PDF, 235KB)
View the car parking map here.(PDF, 4MB)
Kershaw Gardens Entertainment:
9am - Event opens
9am - Maggie Moos Music
10.15am, 11.45am - Lighthouse Kids MN8 performance
10.30am - Official Opening
11.00am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm – Jitterbugs Children’s entertainment
11.30am – Kershaw birthday cake cutting
12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3pm – Strings Attached (Kyel Roberson)
12.30pm - Tom Wyatt’s Historical Chat
1pm - Paper boat making at the water play area
4pm - Event concludes