“Just ask Scott”. Thanks to historian, Scott Stedman, this is a common saying of the Childers locals who are never left pondering the past of their hinterland town.

With his family entangled in the stories of Childers for decades, it’s no surprise that Scott, a fifth generation local, is captivated by the history of this storybook town and has been involved with The Old Pharmacy, one of the town’s most time-honoured icons, for many years.

A memento of days gone, The Old Pharmacy gives visitors a look into the town’s past at the original Childers pharmacy, established over 125 years ago. Now one of Australia’s largest pharmaceutical displays, the pharmacy is home to wondrous medicinal marvels and incredible rare specimens you would be lucky to see elsewhere in the world. Remarkably, nearly all the pharmacy’s collection is still intact, despite the great Childers fire which destroyed much of the main street over a century ago, a feat Scott believes is a true accomplishment for the Childers community.

                                                                                                                                                                          (Credit: Bundaberg Photographer Paul Beutel)

With nine books already under his belt on the local history of Childers, Scott says there is still so much more to uncover about the town he calls home. It is clear to see that Scott’s ever-growing passion for recording history will lead him to tell many more stories of the town, undoubtedly intertwining himself in the stories of Childers without ever realising.

This year, Scott will be resuming his role as Coordinator of this much-loved piece of Childers history. Come take a take a trip down memory lane at The Old Pharmacy and hear the tales of the people and places in this charming town from Scott himself.