Western Downs Region Guides Attractions Events in Queensland

On the banks of Wallam Creek Bollon is the habitat of a large koala population which thrives on the abundant Red River Gums in the area. More than 110 species of birds have been recorded in the area. You can set up camp on Wallam Creek and enjoy the wildlife.

Bollon was first recognised as a town in 1879. Bollon now stands as a small community in the Balonne Shire, characterised by friendly and helpful country people.

While in Bollon, visit the Rosehill Aviary - the most complete collection of parrots in Australia!

Bollon is situated near Thrushton National Park.

Dirranbandi is located in the Balonne Shire and is a one and a half hour drive from the nearest major town of St George. The district around the town of Dirranbandi has been described as some of the finest wool growing country in Australia.

In 1885, the town site was surveyed and named Dirranbandi which means 'swamp abounding in frogs and waterfowl' or 'frogs around the waterhole.' Dirranbandi is the gateway to the Culgoa Flood Plains National Park. The park is situated on the Queensland/New South Wales border and is ideal for birdwatching. Visitors wanting to camp at the National Park should contact the Ranger in Charge or talk to the Balonne Shire Information Centre in St George.

At the centre of a cotton-growing area, Dirranbandi's population almost doubles at harvest time when backpackers flock into town to pick the crop. Dirranbandi is also home to 'Cubbie Station'' which is believed to be the largest privately owned cotton property in the Southern Hemisphere.

Settled in the 1840s by pastoralists, Goondiwindi emerged in the latter half of the 19th century as an important administrative and commercial centre. Goondiwindi's name stems from Aboriginal origin, meaning 'resting place of the birds'.

The town's major rural products include wheat, cotton, beef and wool, while major industries include service industries, machinery sales and repairs. Goondiwindi is also home to one of the largest cotton gins in the world and tours are available.

Goondiwindi is situated on the Queensland and New South Wales border. The border is marked by the McIntyre River, which creates a great scenic backdrop. The Newell Highway also runs through Goondiwindi and is described as the gateway to the Western Downs.

Racing fans will know Goondiwindi as the home of the famous Gunsynd racehorse, affectionately nicknamed the 'Goondiwindi Grey'.

Distance From Brisbane: 368 kilometres

Hebel was established in 1889 under the name Kelly's Point. It has been claimed Dan Kelly and Steve Hart, members of the infamous Kelly gang resided in the Hebel area under assumed names. The name was changed to Hebel in the early 1890's. There's a suggestion that when the name was changed, there was a family of German people residing in the town whose surname, or the Christian name of the father was Hebel.

The Hebel Store established in 1897 today stands as two buildings: the original store and the Hebel Dance Hall, built around the same date. Visitors to the store need to watch their step as the old dance floor moves, telling a tale of the bygone era. The Hebel Store sells local arts, crafts and history books.

The distinctive Hebel Hotel was originally a Cobb & Co stopover, which opened in 1894. This wonderful hotel has a colourful history and cannot be missed on a visit to Hebel. Another place that must be visited is The Crafty Yum Yum Cottage. This is a surprising gourmet delight in this isolated community.

Heading west along the Cunningham Highway is the town of Inglewood, established in 1862.

Inglewood is emerging as the hub of the Olive industry with more than 340,000 olive trees planted to date. Harvest time is between March and May. Inglewood is also home to an award winning Lavender Farm.

Inglewood services a diverse rural economy which produces sheep, cattle, timber products as well as lucerne, grapes and a diversity of horticultural crops.

Located in South East Queensland, Inglewood is situated on the Cunningham Highway, 91 kilometres east of Goondiwindi and 109 kilometres west of Warwick. Distance From Brisbane: 270 kilometres

The centre for water activities is Lake Coolmunda situated 12 kilometres east of Inglewood on the Cunningham Highway. It boasts some very pretty picnic spots along its shores. Excellent fishing can be enjoyed from either a boat or by the shore. Fresh water fishing sports are also abundant along the McIntyre Brook.

Visitors are also invited to explore the Inglewood Museum, take a tour of an Olive Grove, enjoy the spring wildflowers or enjoy excellent birdwatching. Tourist drives such as the Tobacco Trail, Silverspur Trail and Dumaresq River Road allow visitors to explore the area's natural beauty.

Moonie, the oil capital of Queensland is a tiny settlement on the intersection of the Leichhardt and Moonie Highways.

This was Australia's first commercial oil field, established in 1961, it still operates today pumping Crude Oil at a rate of 35 kilolitres (7777 gallons) every 24 hours. Now the area is now also noted for its quality grain, cattle and prime lamb production.

The Moonie Transaction Centre can assist with all your information needs, and offers a wide range of local arts and crafts. The Moonie Crossroads is a must see, with the history of Moonie depicted in the brilliant murals in the bar area. The Sports Club serves as the hub of the district's social activities providing a range of sporting facilities. Legend has it that bushranger Captain Starlight once passed through the area on one of his escapades.

While in Moonie also pay a visit to Southwood National Park, home to the rare silky black cockatoo or drop a line in at the Rocky Water Hole.

Nindigully is home to the historic Nindigully Hotel, established in 1864. The hotel is now believed to hold one of the longest continued licenses in Queensland. You can't beat this for a classic outback-style pub with riverside fishing right out front.

Nindigully is also the site where the Australian film 'Paperback Hero' was filmed. In recent years Nindigully has received quite a lot of publicity. It has been named Australia’s 'Best Country Pub' but has also drawn attention when it ran out of beer - after a massive harvest season and hot weather saw the pub inundated with unexpected patrons; receiving the pet name 'the pub with no beer'.

The township also plays host to thousands of visitors each year who come for the New Years Eve Party and the annual B and S Ball. Nindigully usually has a population of about six people, but this swells to a few thousand people when either of these two events take place.

St George is the business centre for a large primary producing district. Major rural products include cotton, grain, sheep, beef cattle, table grapes and other horticultural crops. Beardmore Dam provides excellent freshwater fishing for Yellowbelly and Murray Cod, labelling St George as the Fishing Capital of Queensland.

Often referred to as ‘An Oasis’ or ‘the inland fishing capital of Queensland’, St George is situated on the picturesque banks of the mighty Balonne River.

The town was named by Sir Thomas Mitchell who discovered the river crossing on St George’s Day (April 23), 1846. Mitchell’s monument is located in the landscaped gardens adjacent to the Jack Taylor Weir.

The Balonne River, Beardmore Dam and Jack Taylor Weir present an inland aquatic playground for locals and visitors alike. There are a number of fishing spots where you can drop in a line and try your luck. The waterways also make great places to take lazy afternoon walks. Be sure to wander along the river parkland and spot a koala.

If you visit St George in spring you will be treated to the wonderful colours of the Jacaranda and Bauhinia Trees in full bloom. The Rosehill Aviary near St George supports the most complete population of Parrots in Australia and is a great stop any time of year.

Wine lovers can enjoy a drop of local Riversands wine or for the beer drinkers, visiting one of the historic pubs may be just the thing. Be sure to see the illuminated hand-carved emu eggs at the Unique Egg and visit the Heritage Centre.

Talwood is well known for its annual Picnic Races held on the June long weekend each year. People travel from afar for this event and the town swells to ten times its normal population.

Talwood has a pretty main street, with well kept lawns and trees. The Talwood Hotel, a beautiful country hotel, offers delicious meals and cold beer for the locals and travellers. Talwood is also known for its numerous churches.

Texas is a picturesque town nestled along the banks of the Dumaresq River in southern Queensland on the state border. Texas was named over a land claim in the 1850's which bore many similarities to one happening in Republic of Texas and Mexico in the United States at the same time. The original town was established on the river flats in 1875 but was relocated after the disastrous floods of 1890 and 1921. Remnants of the original historic township still exist for visitors to see.

Texas is located on the Bruxner Highway between Goondiwindi and Tenterfield and links north south into the Fossickers Way via Inverell or Warialda as an alternative route to Sydney.

The picturesque Dumaresq River is one of the star attractions of the South East Queensland region, it winds through gentle hills and rocks crossed by the historic weirs of Bonshaw, Cunningham and Glenarbon. The fertile river flats are dotted with old tobacco barn relics from a colourful past where grape vines now flourish alongside orchards, vegetables, peanuts and a myriad of other agricultural crops.

These beautiful water and wilderness areas of Texas invite canoeing, fishing, hiking, four wheel driving activities and picnicking.

The fishing is outstanding in the region with anglers having the choice of many peaceful fishing spots along the Dumaresq River or at the spectacular Glenlyon Dam.

For those less active there are the wineries to visit, camping areas, farm stays, craft shops, the Texas museum, or just relaxing by the river.

Distance From Brisbane (State Capital): 320 kilometres.

Thallon has long been known as a place of rest and was once a stop for Cobb & Co coaches on the Mungindi to St George route.

This large wheat grain growing area features six large capacity concrete silos of which tours can be arranged. The agricultural infrastructure also includes the railway station, which dispatches grain, wool and freight to the surrounding towns. The railway station is open for visitors on Monday and Thursday.

Two interesting murals painted by local artists exist at the Thallon School.

Bring your tent and do some bush camping at Barneys Beach on the Moonie River. The areas' river banks offer good fishing in unspoilt settings.

In 1911, the St George Progress Association asked the Minister for Lands to resume 'Bullamon' for closer settlement and 780 acres were gazetted as a town reserve. Development continued, stores opened and a hotel was built to cater for employees of the railway line which had arrived from Talwood. The town was named after the then Commissioner for Railways Mr J. F. Thallon.

The first mention of the Thallon district was made by Sir Thomas Mitchell in his diary when he was held up by flood waters on sand ridge on the Moonie River in 1846. At this site, a bloodwood tree where Mitchell carved his initial still stands today.

Another place of historical significance is Bullamon Homestead. It was built in the 1860's and still retains its original shingle roof, slab and log walls and remains of a Chinese garden. It was part of a huge station that at its peak covered over 3,102,023 acres. The word Bullamon is an aboriginal word meaning 'largest waterhole.' 'Bullamon' was an early Cobb and Co. change over station and appears in Steele Rudd's story 'The Memoirs of Corporate Kelly.'

Toobeah with its lovely gum trees growing either side of the highway is famous for its horse sports. A Rodeo is held each September.

Toobeah is amongst the cotton and grain growing region of the Western Downs. The town is well worth a look and is a great place to stop on your journey for a stretch and rest.

Yelarbon meaning water lily which grows in a lagoon, is noted for many interesting things.

The area grew the first commercial tobacco crops in Australia in the late 1870's and tobacco curing barns can still be seen from the highway.

Yelarbon is also known for its spinifex desert, an unusual phenomenon surrounding the town.