Southern Downs Region Guides Attractions Events in Queensland

Allora is known as 'the best little town on the Downs'. The town nestles beside Dalrymple Creek just off the highway between Toowoomba and Warwick.

You may well think you are taking a trip into history when driving down the main street, a street described by one travel writer as 'one of the three best streetscapes in Australia'. Make sure you visit Saint David's Anglican Church built in 1888, and reputably one of the finest examples of a timber church in country Queensland.

Allora has a strong sense of history. A signed Heritage Trail takes walkers from one historic building to the next, street banners reflect the theme, and a series of murals at the gates of the showground depict local milestones. The town was the childhood home of P.L Travers who wrote the Mary Poppins stories, and the fallen soldier's memorial is one of only two Boer War memorials in Queensland.

Also of interest is Glengallan Homestead and Heritage Centre. Now restored, it embodies the history of the Allora region since the late 19th Century. A major draw card on the Heritage Building Trail, Glengallan divulges a fascinating insight into the workings of a pastoral station.

With a name such as Amiens, it stands to reason that there would be links back to World War I. Quite a few villages along Amiens Road are named after the bloody Western Front battlefields.

That is the case, but even though the name Amiens is French, the major ethnic group in the area is Italian.

It was one of those soldier settlement areas, when the lads came home from the war they were offered miniscule blocks of land. A high failure rate resulted. Latter day winegrowers and orchardists have made up for that, with fruit orchards and wineries flourishing in the area.

Whilst in the area it is possible to do a bit of fossicking in the old diggings. In order to do this you will need a licence, which you can purchase from the Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre. Stop off at Donnelly's Castle for a picnic where you will find a wood barbecue. Donnelly's Castle Lookout is atop a huge granite boulder.

Naturally enough apple-town (Applethorpe) would have to produce apples, and it does, along with a range of other fruits. This settlement is at the southern end of The Fruit Run, that stretch of roadway which shadows the New England Highway to the north of Stanthorpe. It is worthwhile leaving the highway and doing the 'Run', remembering that best results for purchasing local fruits naturally enough is seasonal.

It is in this area, just to the south of Stanthorpe, where the State's first commercially grown table grapes were harvested. Then, along came the wine industry, thanks predominantly to the arrival of Italian settlers.

Actually the first legally planted wine grapes were allegedly grown by the Puglisi family of Ballandean. The family vineyard is the venue for "Opera in the Vineyard", each May. That activity has seen growth of an industry to a peak of more than 40 cellar doors and 52 vineyards. Seasonal roadside fruit stalls also operate.

Nearby is Sundown National Park with access by four wheel drive. It is a little on the steep side and rough.

Dalveen, more-or-less midway between Warwick and Stanthorpe in Queensland's South East, is home to fruit stalls, orchards and tiny settlements.

It's an interesting little place this Dalveen, even with its own graphic arts 'factory'. Keep an eye out for signs indicating fresh produce for sale and if you need a place to have a rest, at Jim Mitchell Park, which is just off the highway, there's a picnic area.

Western Australia reckons it has it all over the wise-men from the East when it comes to wildflower time. Wrong ! In the Eukey district of the Southern Downs, come wildflower time and the west gets a bit of a going over. Given the right seasonal additives and these massive paddocks really do put on a show. The locals will tell you that Eukey has some of the highest farmland in Queensland. They emphasise that it's farmland that they are talking about.

It is possible to access the well known Girraween National Park via a back road from Eukey. Check the maps and talk with a local to get the right info, as parts are gravel and that requires new skills for those who may be more used to driving in the city.

Oh ! .. And if there is any snow about during the winter months ten-to-one it will be falling in and around Eukey.

The roadside signs, glimpses of fruit trees, the occasional fruit stall, and the regular signs directing your attention to wineries indicate this is the famous Granite Belt of South East Queensland.

Glen Aplin is to the south of Stanthorpe, on the New England Highway. Minor roads which head off in all directions usually access more fruit orchards and wineries. It's in this area, at the right season, that you'll savour the taste of stone-fruits, berries, through to gourmet jams, sauces and liqueurs. She doesn't talk about it often, but that rather famous and glamorous model and TV personality, Deborah Hutton, grew up in these parts.

The unspoiled natural beauty of the surrounding mountains, valleys and creeks makes Goomburra is ‘must see’ for any nature lover keen to get off the beaten track.

30 minutes’ drive north of Warwick and 90 minutes’ drive south-west of Ipswich, Goomburra is popular with campers and bushwalkers and offers plenty of space to pitch a tent and explore.

Part of the spectacular Scenic Rim the ‘Goomburra Section’ is also part of the World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park. It provides a haven for rare and endangered species of frog as well as platypus, koalas, brush-tailed phascoale (a type of carnivorous, tree-dwelling nocturnal marsupial) and antechinus (a type of marsupial mouse).

There are several walks gazetted in the Goomburra section of the park, each providing a different perspective on this unique part of the country. The walk to Araucaria Falls takes you through subtropical rainforest and past rock pools and towering hoop pines. The half hour hike to Sylvesters Lookout is well worth the effort with spectacular views across the Brisbane Valley your reward.

There are several accommodation options available at Goomburra from cabin-style bungalows to camping in the National Park. Campsites have toilets, tap water and barbeques however campers are advised to boil all water before drinking. Campers must also bring their own firewood.

Killarney is one of the scenic gems of the South East Queensland. Killarney's rolling foothills, deep secluded valleys and dramatic waterfalls provide picture postcard views that will stir your imagination.

Killarney is an old timber and dairying town, named by nostalgic Irish settlers and now the centre of a thriving mixed-farming district, producing meat, potatoes, onions, grain and timber to name a few.

You can visit the Killarney Heritage Centre (located at the RSL Hall in Acacia Street) on weekends which specialises in researching local family history. It has a grand collection of local historical photos, articles and small artefacts.

Drive east into the mountains and follow the Falls Drive Tourist Route for Brown's Falls, Dagg's Falls and then the spectacular waterfall at Queen Mary Falls National Park, where Spring Creek tumbles dramatically over a 40 metre cliff. Follow the Falls Drive further to Carrs Lookout for spectacular views over Condamine Gorge.

Bursting with history, Leyburn has many intriguing buildings. The school, circa 1862, has a bell from 1872 and a shingled roof play shed. Henry Kirby's grave and the cemetery are also worth visiting. A former butcher shop is now an art gallery while St Matthew's Catholic Church and St Augustine's Anglican Church remain active.

Liberator Park has a memorial to 'Z Special Unit', stationed at Leyburn in World War Two, and the historic Royal Hotel is Queensland's oldest continually licensed establishment and is owned by former Bronco's star, Shane Webcke.

The Leyburn airstrip was the site for the first Australian Motor Racing Grand Prix in 1949. Today, the annual Historic Motor Sprint through the town's main streets attracts thousands each August.

Nearby Pratten was once a bustling goldfield. Visitors can still try their luck at Thane's Creek fossicking reserve.

The small close-knit community of Maryvale is typical of the type of town you’ll find in South East Queensland – friendly, peaceful, and surrounded by stunning natural beauty.

The area’s lovely aspect and crisp mountain air has seen a number of health resorts and farm stays open up in recent years. These resorts offer guests fine dining, award-winning local wines, pools, spas, horse riding, bushwalking, and the cosy ambience of an open log fire.

The town of Maryvale itself is nestled in picturesque farmlands but just five minutes drive east you’ll come to the grandeur and majesty of the World Heritage listed Main Range National Park.

This expansive park is part of the beautiful Scenic Rim and offers exhilarating walks through dense rainforest, past thick groves of piccabeen palms and along the edge of sheer cliff faces. There are waterfalls and bubbling creeks to enjoy and the views across the valley will take your breath away.

Back in town, be sure to visit Maryvale’s historic pub constructed in 1912 and take the time to wander around and enjoy a little country relaxation.

Maryvale is located a short 90 minutes drive west of Brisbane or the Gold Coast and 45 minutes east of Warwick.

Any place which boasts having the most densely 'netted area' in the world may frighten off anglers. The land which is under these nets grows fruit and veggies. The reinforced netting is erected to help avoid damage from hailstones, one of the negatives about fruit growing in a hail prone area.

Note the name: it's French, and as with a number of villages along the Armistice Way (Amiens Road), in the Southern Downs, such names in these soldier settlement areas help commemorate the selfless contributions made by the men and women who served in France during World War 1. Pozieres is about 5 kilometres west of the New England Highway, with the turnoff to the south of Dalveen.

The village of Severnlea, on the highway south of Stanthorpe on the Southern Downs of Queensland, probably has not changed that much over the years. There is still fruit growing, and also topaz fossicking, but now add to that some pretty good wineries. Check out the various byways as these provide access to fruit stalls stocking seasonal stone fruits and berries. Plus those wineries.

Years ago, the locals of Severnlea did not realise that young Graham 'Skroo' Turner was destined to become one of Australia's most successful businessmen. From the fruit growing and topaz mining area, this fellow gave fruit and mining the flick as he took a career path which now sees him heading up the travel agency Flight Centre.

The Southern Downs region is truly where you can escape the pressures of everyday life and do as much or as little as you please. Sample delicious stone fruits straight from the grower. Tour wineries and taste award-winning wines. Explore the region's history and heritage. Take a bushwalk in spectacular national parks or share the romance of an open log fire. Try your hand at freshwater fishing or fossicking, or go sailing on the region's dams. In the Southern Downs you experience real country life and hospitality.

The region provides a natural alternative to the cities and beaches of the coastal area. The Southern Downs stretches from Cunningham's Gap in the east, north to Clifton, south to the border town of Wallangarra, and to Inglewood in the west. The region prides itself on its old-fashioned hospitality. The principal towns are Warwick, Stanthorpe, Inglewood and Clifton.

Queensland's Southern Downs region has a diverse geography, from the rolling fertile hills of the Warwick area, the high altitude granite rock country of the Granite Belt, to the wide open plains of Inglewood and Clifton.

Queensland's Southern Downs region is steeped in history; the area boasts some of Queensland's finest restored sandstone and timber buildings.

Stanthorpe is located south west of Brisbane and is nestled in the heart of the Granite Belt. Known as Queensland's premier wine region, it boasts more than 45 wineries, vineyards and cellar doors.

Stanthorpe has the reputation as being Queensland's coolest town, with some locations in the area reaching 1000 metres above sea level. Frosty mornings and the odd snowfall during winter are not uncommon.

The high altitude and unique soil provide excellent growing conditions for not only grapes, but for stonefruit such as peaches, apricots and nectarines along with a variety of apples and berries. The Biennial Apple and Grape Harvest Festival, held each even numbered year in February/March, celebrates the harvest of the district.

Stanthorpe is surrounded by unspoilt National Parks. Just south of Stanthorpe, Girraween National Park is quite popular. With its spectacular granite rock formations, and wildflower displays during Spring, it is a favourite park for bushwalkers. Adjacent to Girraween, is Bald Rock, Sundown and Boonoo Boonoo National Parks. Bald Rock National Park has the largest granite rock formation in the southern hemisphere, providing excellent views over the surrounding terrain.

Take leave of the New England Highway between Dalveen and Applethorpe (to the north of Stanthorpe) and check out the fruit stalls along that stretch of road known as Granite Belt Drive. One of the towns is The Summit, home to the highest railway station in Queensland.

The fruit stalls operate most of the year but of course it's seasonal when you're seeking local produce.

More orchards, more fruit in season, but there's a bit of a difference between Thulimbah and the neighbouring towns which make up Granite Belt Drive north of Stanthorpe. At Thulimbah, the fruit growers provide a 'value-add' service during the fruit season. Not only do they sell products on-farm, but whenever the season permits, there's the side benefit of doing a tour. Keep an eye out for signage at the farm-gate.

A railway station which is split into two, two schools, two police stations, two pubs - and a population of a few hundred. So, why has Wallangarra and its neighbouring township of Jennings received so much attention by governments ? Simply put: they are border towns.

Half of the railway station is owned by Queensland and the southern end is owned by New South Wales. It's a good example of how governments in the past went their own ways - notice the two different railway gauges.

The railway station looks quite new, however, because with the Celebration of Federation there was a general spruce-up. The town has an excellent information centre, picnic facilities with barbecues and toilets. You'll know you're in railway town once you spot the big train welcome sign. This is one of those rare towns where you can celebrate New Year's Eve twice - New South Wales operates on Daylight Savings time.

Warwick is situated 160 kilometres south west of Brisbane and borders on fertile farmlands and the rolling hills of the Great Dividing Range. The town is strategically located at the junction of major highways from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

The area was discovered in 1827 by explorer Allan Cunningham and settled in 1840 by the Leslie brothers who began the tradition of the pastoralist, sheep and wool industry in Queensland.

The Warwick area boasts some of Queensland's finest historical sandstone buildings, which were made from local sandstone and now stand today as reminders of their pioneering past. Many are located within the Central Business District and are complemented by roses and palms lining the city's main street.

Known as the 'Rose and Rodeo City', Warwick hosts one of Australia's oldest and most famous rodeos each year in October. The Warwick Rodeo can trace its roots back to 1857 where records indicate the first professional buckjumping contest. Each year riders from around the nation compete for their share of the prize money.

During the spring months, Warwick showcases its wonderful roses throughout its parks and gardens. The red 'City of Warwick' or Arafuto Rose was developed especially for the town.