A quiet reflection space and remembrance wall within Childers Arts Space will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Palace Backpackers fire.
Childers Arts Space houses the Palace Backpackers Memorial and is a significant gathering space to commemorate the tragedy, particularly on the anniversary of the fire, 23 June.
From 19 June to 17 August, no artworks will be displayed in the usual exhibition area, instead the space will be available for visitors to leave messages of remembrance for the victims and survivors.
Bundaberg Regional Council Arts and Heritage portfolio spokesperson Councillor John Learmonth said the remembrance space would include a poignant temporary memorial.
“Keys with parcel tags attached will hang in the front room of the gallery, on which visitors can write a message and add to a memorial wall,” Cr Learmonth said.
“The keys were given to Council by survivors of the Bundaberg Federal Backpackers fire of 2020 to acknowledge the safety legislation reforms following the Childers fire that saved their lives twenty years later.
“All 62 backpackers in the Federal Backpackers fire were evacuated safely, which is a testament to the significant changes that were made in the wake of the Palace Backpackers tragedy.”
Cr Learmonth said the temporary memorial would help people to grieve and to feel connected to others who were feeling similar emotions.
“We feel it is important to provide a place for people to sit and reflect in the memorial space at the time of the 25th Anniversary, when we anticipate an increase in visitors, including family members of victims and survivors.”
The community will mark the anniversary on 21-23 June with a public memorial service led by local clergy at Childers Sacred Heart Church, a poignant performance project honouring the community response and a private memorial service for survivors and victims’ families and invited guests.
Tickets for The Palace: A Musical Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Palace Backpackers Fire are available here.
Childers Arts Space will be open to the community across the anniversary weekend but will be closed to the public on 23 June.
