History of The Gumnut Place

The Gumnut Place has been proudly supporting people with disabilities, their families, and carers in the South Burnett for over 30 years. Established in 1986 by a dedicated group of families, Gumnut continues to grow with support from local businesses, the community, and South Burnett CTC Inc.

Gumnut History Timeline

1986

The Gumnut Place was established by a group of local families in conjunction with the Murgon YMCA (now PCYC) as an activity therapy centre providing social and active participation for people with disabilities. The house was deeded to the YMCA by a local identity, and was formerly situated where the Kindergarten now stands. It was moved by truck to its current place on Gore Street – the land was donated by Council.

1989

Lifelong Murgon local Bill Wessling, who was adapting to his new life as a paraplegic, began his tenure at The Gumnut Place. He oversaw the purchase of an engraving machine and taught himself the ins and outs of running the service. Bill continued honing his skills in the Engraving service until he passed away in 2021 after sharing his immense knowledge with his colleagues.

1992

When ‘The Disability Discrimination Act’ was introduced, Gumnut adapted and began producing a small range of hand-crafted pine products and delicious cakes, biscuits, slices and hot food to sell at markets and to the local community. This gave locals with disabilities a pathway into the workforce.

1998

A large capacity shredding machine was purchased, marking the beginning of the Secure Document Destruction business unit.

2001

The YMCA transferred its interest in The Gumnut Place to Barambah Community Services Ltd, managed by Murgon Shire Council, which was responsible for the day-to-day operations. The workshop shed was constructed around this time, and the Kitchen was moved into the refurbished and much larger downstairs space.

2007

South Burnett CTC commenced the management of the service due to the amalgamation of Murgon Shire Council. This brought a shift In Gumnut’s strategy, moving away from social & craft activities and focusing on becoming a thriving business empowering local people with disabilities to maintain employment.

2009

Thanks to a contribution from the Tarong Energy Community Partnership Fund, Gumnut’s commercial laundry service was established. A contract was secured with Theiss to launder the clothes of Meandu Mine & Tarong Power Station employees, which continues to date.

2012

CTC staff from across the South Burnett came together to give Gumnut a makeover for the annual ‘CTC Day’. In this process, the vegetable gardens were refurbished in unused areas around the grounds to provide additional jobs for supported employees.

2014

After five weeks of construction (and 50 cubic metres of concrete), a heat treatment kiln was Integrated Into the workshop a cost of over $200,000 funded by CTC with a contribution from the Tarong Community Partnership Fund. This kiln allows Gumnut pallets to be exported all over the world by going through a certified heat treatment process.

2016

Gumnut was recognised with a National Disability Services Australian Disability Enterprise Excellence Award. This brought national attention to the service.

2021

Additional industrial washers & dryers were purchased for the laundry to increase capacity, take on new contracts with accommodation providers, and support an incoming renewable energy company.

2021

A Community Social Enterprise Grant was secured to purchase a laser engraving machine, allowing the crew to expand their capabilities into gift Items, glassware, and much more.

2022

A new air-conditioned shredding shed was built, accommodating new shredding machines to expand the capability of the service. More supported employees were brought into the shredding team.

2024

Gumnut made huge strides towards eco friendliness, with all shredded paper & cardboard being 100% recycled in partnership with the Cherbourg Material Recovery Facility. A large 38KW solar system covering the roof of the shed was also Installed to offset electricity usage.

Today, The Gumnut Place offers meaningful supported employment for 20 people with disabilities, with a team of eight local staff. We operate five key business divisions:

Commercial Laundry
Commercial Kitchen
Wood Workshop
Secure Document Destruction Service
Engraving, Trophy, and Badge Making Service

These roles provide valuable skills, personal growth, and potential opportunities for transition into open employment.

Join the Gumnut Team!

Interested in becoming part of our team? At The Gumnut Place, we offer a welcoming, inclusive environment where people with disabilities can thrive through meaningful work.

Eligibility

If you are interested in employment opportunities with The Gumnut Place, we would like to talk to you. To be eligible, you must:

Be in receipt of a Disability Support Pension and have an NDIS Plan.
Available to work at least 2 days a week (9 am to 3 pm).

Benefits

Working at The Gumnut Place provides independence and the ability to earn money while contributing to essential community services. You will have the opportunity to work with a fantastic team, learn and develop skills, and interact socially with like-minded people, all in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.