The birth of Bundamba

Established in 1886 as the Goodna Salvation Army, the ministry was renamed Bundamba Salvation Army in 1889. Bundamba Salvation Army had a chequered beginning, alternating between capacity crowds on special occasions, to a handful of the faithful praying, preaching, and praising God. As was typical with many regional corps, Bundamba’s ranks ebbed and flowed in relation to the industries surrounding it (coal mines and woollen mills) and the occurrence of natural disasters (mainly floods). Due to these factors Bundamba struggled for the first 20 years to become an established Army presence in the district and was described by one senior officer as the toughest nut in South-East Queensland. Over the years since then, the corps has been in a constant state of evolution, combining tradition with new methods of evangelism and providing many avenues of worship, service and witness for young and old alike.