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The township of Tiaro is located approximately 260km. north of Brisbane within the Wide Bay region of southeast Queensland, Australia, and between the regional centres of Gympie and Maryborough, with close access to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. Tiaro's climate is sub-tropical giving warm wet summers and mild winters. The Mary river meanders for approximately 65km. through the Shire. Some of the most beautiful sections, like Petrie Park, are located north of Tiaro township, and offer a boat ramp, toilets, BBQ's and camping areas. Tiaro also offers free of charge for two nights, caravan area where visitors have the use of showers and toilets. More details are available from Tiaro's Tourist Information Centre which is located in the old railway station on Mayne Street (Bruce Highway) next to the Tiaro Shire Council Offices. The Bruce Highway, (National Highway Number One), passes through the Shire in a north, south direction. The Tiaro Shire has eleven small but vibrant communities within its borders, being Miva, Glenwood, Gunalda, Curra, Theebine, Tallegalla Estate, Tinnanbar, Gundiah, Bauple, Forest View, and Antigua. Many of these were originally born around the expansion of the rail lines. The area within the Tiaro Shire held three distinct Aboriginal groups, the Dowabara, the Kabi and the Badjala. White settlement in the area began in the 1840's, where several pioneers tried sheep farming. This proved unsuccessful due to dingoes, wet ground conditions, and numerous diseases. Today, Tiaro Shire has a population of approximately 4,800, and boasts a very diverse economic base. The Shire has a wide range of primary production industries which include bananas, mangoes, paw-paws, oranges, macadamia nuts, pineapples, olive groves, a vineyard, and a wide variety of vegetables. Other primary production includes dairy cattle, beef cattle, crayfish farming, forestry, softwood plantations and sugarcane. There are five historic hotels in the Tiaro Shire. These hotels are a fine example of Australian country architecture and many date back to before the turn of the 20th century. The Bauple Museum has recently been established as a result of major donations from residents and businesses, hard work from volunteers and a Centenary grant. The museum is dedicated to the history of Bauple and the surrounding region.

History of Tiaro

The name 'Tiaro' is of aboriginal origins, dhaw-wa or tau-wau translates as withered or dead tree.
The first attempt at settlement in Tiaro occurred in 1842 when John Eales came overland with 20,000 sheep to establish a station.
Although not successful, this marked a beginning for Tiaro.
Also at this time Andrew Petrie's expedition landed in Tiaro having explored the Mary River. Petrie had been commissioned by the Government to locate the extent of the Bunya Bunya nut country.
A second expedition manned by Simpson and Eiper visited Eales station in 1843, their aim being to locate a site for a German mission station.
Although Tiaro Township was surveyed in 1864 it was not until 1867, influenced by the Gympie Gold rush, that Tiaro became a recognised settlement. The two-day trip to transport gold from Gympie mines to the river port of Maryborough was broken by an overnight stop in Tiaro, where the valuable cargo was secured in the Police Station.
In 1867 a Post Office servce commenced, but it was not until 1881, after the railway had been built, that a full postal service was established.
Local Government had its origins in the Tiaro Divisional Board, established on 11 November 1879. It was annother 25 years before Tiaro Shire Council came into existence on 31 March 1903. The boundaries extended from Owanyilla in the north, to Curra in the south, east from Tinnanbar to the Urah Mountains in the west.
The Bauple Sugar Mill commenced operations in 1886, servicing the requirements of the cane farmers throughout the Shire. The mill operated for some fifty-five years before closing in 1951. From the 1890s onwards Tiaro Shire was the base for a butter and cheese factory, as well as several juice mills.
The Shire continues to maintain a distinct rural character, the main industries in the Shire being - sugar cane, dairy and beef cattle, orchards, sawmilling, timber harvesting and treatment, small crops, vineyards and aquaculture.