Croydon Heritage Festival

Croydon Heritage Festival 2025 – Celebrating Our Shared Story

Croydon’s Heritage Festival 2025 was an incredible celebration of culture, community, and connection—bringing together locals, descendants, and visitors from across Queensland and beyond for nine unforgettable days in the Gulf.

This year’s festival honoured Croydon’s rich multicultural legacy, from rodeo thrills and campdraft tradition to red lanterns, historic tales, and the reopening of a nationally significant Chinese Temple and Settlement Site.

A historic moment: Reopening the Chinese Temple Site

The centrepiece of the 2025 Festival was the official reopening of Croydon’s Chinese Temple and Settlement Site—a Queensland Heritage-listed location restored through careful archaeological work and cultural collaboration.

Special guests included:

Dr Ruan Zongze, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China
Vice-Consul Ren Shoujun
Larry Wong, Chinese-Australian community leader
Architect Nancy Lau
Heritage researcher Dr Janis Hanley
Project Manager & MC Judy Austin

Traditional performances by CADCAI (Cairns and District Chinese Association Inc.) brought colour, rhythm, and meaning to the occasion, with lion and dragon dances weaving between outback bushland and sandstone buildings.

Listen to the Temple Sound Trail: here

Festival highlights

Campdraft & Rodeo Events – showcasing the best of rural Queensland talent
Gold Coin Hunt – a community tradition with real gold coin prizes
Trivia & Stargazing – family-friendly fun and awe-inspiring skies
High Tea & Live Music – featuring local artists and community performances
Forever Golden Tour – a guided heritage experience aboard the historic Gulflander train and points of interests around Croydon

Our fundraiser the Biggest Morning Tea raised over $280 for the Cancer Council, and community volunteers brought energy and heart to every corner of the event.

Looking ahead

Planning is already underway for the next Croydon Heritage Festival!
Stay up to date on future dates, programs, and opportunities to get involved by subscribing to our mailing list.

Email: info@visitcroydonqld.com.au
Follow us on Facebook: @croydonshirecouncil