Western Country Area Information Guide

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welcome to

western Country

Roma, miles, chinchilla & dalby

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JUST BRILLIANT GUIDES

welcome to

western country The Western Country encompasses a vast and varied region that stretches between the beautiful Bunya Mountains, over flat, grassy plains and across the red dust roads of outback Queensland.

There are fascinating attractions unique to this area that are well worth visiting. Historic villages, museums and galleries provide the opportunity to revisit bygone eras when Cobb & Co coaches operated and bushrangers roamed the countryside. Some of the finest Aboriginal rock art in Australia is preserved upon an escarpment in Carnarvon National Park, and

For more information on Western Country, visit www.visitmaranoa.com.au and www.westerndownsqueensland.com.au.

is known as The Art Gallery. Containing more than 600 stencils and 1,300 engravings, the site has boardwalks, interpretive signs and seating facilities for visitors to appreciate the range of rare Aboriginal artwork.

The towns in the Western Country region have a distinctive regional character and offer visitors an authentic rural Queensland experience. Discover the local sights and immerse yourself in the peaceful country atmosphere that makes touring this region so relaxing and rewarding.

t hings to

SEE & DO • Bushwalk through the magnificent Carnarvon Gorge and see the amazing Aboriginal rock art.

• Experience the story of oil and gas at the Big Rig’s Oil Patch and be entertained by the spectacle of the Night Show.

• See the exhibitions at Dogwood Crossing Art Gallery and browse the impressive library in Miles.

• Do some inland fishing in St. George on the beautiful Balonne River.

• Witness the excitement of cattle sales at the Roma Saleyards – Australia’s largest.

• View the stained glass windows of St Paul’s Church in Roma.

• Enjoy the Scenic Walking Track and unique views of Bunya Mountains National Park.

• Soak in the thermal mineralised waters of the Great Artesian Spa at Mitchell.

• Experience the Cobb and Co Changing Station at Surat.

• Visit Miles Historical Village for a memorable trip back through time.

Image by Tourism & Events Queensland/ Vince Valitutti

The Western Country is a gateway to the outback, an ideal region to explore wide, open spaces, to enjoy the warmth of country hospitality and uncover the rich heritage of early pioneers. Stop in for a cold one at the counter of a classic Aussie pub and meet the locals.

Find out where the best inland fishing spots are and take some time to venture off the beaten track. Unwind as you bushwalk through spectacular national parks and appreciate the fresh air.

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E

49

Cu

a lgo

Thrushton National Park

A2

r

Riv

er

Mitchell

Forest Vale

HWY

Injune

Muckadilla

46

46

Nindigully

Surat

N

BAR WO

A55

Wallumbilla

HWY

Roma

R iv e r

on

Riv er

We ir

Westmar

Hannaford

ine

HWY

ie

A5

Southwood National Park

To Moree

R iv e r

Tara

44

ron HAM

mo

R i ve

r

Yelarbon

NING

CUN

Com

A2

Kogan

Bendidee National Park

Moonie

r

E GOR

49

Jimbour

k ee

Cecil Plains

Wondul Range National Park

42

82

Millmerran

Inglewood

Cr

Warra

82

Bell

82

Oakey

Southbrook

Y HW

HWY

Coolmunda Reservoir

A39

Pittsworth

DOWNS

A3

Yarraman

A3

Allora

Stanthorpe

15

Moore

49

A2

80

To Brisbane

Killarney Maryland National Park

Tooloom National Park

Main Range National Park

Warwick

15

Gatton

Highfields

Esk

Crows Nest

Toolgoolawah

17

Nanango

A3

Goomeri

86

Biggenden

Mt Walsh National Park

Cambooya

Toowoomba

DARLING Kingsthorpe

A2

Kumbia Bunya Mountains National Park

49

Kingaroy

52

Blackbutt

Murgon

Wondai

Proston

Kaimkillenbun

Dalby

Jandowae

Durong

Lake Broadwater Conservation Park

Brigalow

Chinchilla

Boondooma Lake

Boondooma

75

Gayndah

A3

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39

Boggabilla

Goondiwindi

A39

A5

The Gums

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WARREGO

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RAN

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Auburn River National Park

R iv er

Mundubbera

To Biloela

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M ac in ty re

Bungunyah

Flinton

Moon

87

dam

Miles

Drillham

Condamine

Guluguba

Wandoan

Meandarra

Con

Dulacca

Glenmorgan Erringibba National Park

NIE

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DIVIDING

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Jackson

Yuleba

Alton National Park

ar w

85

B

49

A2

son

To Biloela

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Dirranbandi

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A7

GR EAT

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CAR

A55

R

Gunnewin

Lake Kajarabie

St George

Womblebank

Daw

A5

ne

BALONN

To Cunnamulla

To Charleville

40 km

WARREG O

Scale

Chesterton Range National Park

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Creek

Expedition National Park

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ano

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Mar RDT

Wa ll a m

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CA LEIC

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CARNARVON

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Image by Tourism & Events Queensland

ROMA With a rich history filled with colourful stories of its pioneering past, Roma offers visitors an array of activities and a popular base from which to explore the Western Country region.

Roma has preserved many impressive public buildings including the Roma Court House, opened in 1901. The heritage-listed Heroes Avenue is lined with more than 100 bottle trees planted in dedication to local soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. Roma’s Historical Walk will take you from the beginnings of this unofficial capital of the Western Country region on a tour through time as you take in significant landmarks.

The Roma Farmers and Artisans Market offers the opportunity to buy local produce and wares. The market occurs the last Saturday of every month.

The Big Rig Night Show is an interactive display of Australia’s oil and gas industry that offers activities for kids and an outdoor light and sound presentation of local early 20th century oil and gas exploration.

The Big Rig also houses a museum, the Roma Visitor Information Centre and a cafe with souvenirs.

Roma is also famous for its picnic and country race meets and annual ‘Easter in the Country’ festival.

Other things to see and do include bushwalking in the magnificent Carnarvon Gorge, witnessing the cattle sales and giving your taste buds a treat at the many divine eateries and restaurants in Roma.

Image by Tourism & Events Queensland/ Vince Valitutti

roma

Image by Tourism & Events Queensland/ Western Downs Council

miles Miles is a vibrant rural township with an active arts and cultural community.

It’s an ideal base for travellers to explore a region rich in history and natural attractions.

The Historical Village Museum is where the history of the district comes to life in a remarkable streetscape of authentic and replica buildings from the pioneering era.

The history is also celebrated at Dogwood Crossing. An architecturally stunning building with 7m tall stylised bottle trees forming a colonnade down its centre, Dogwood Crossing provides a comprehensive display of the town’s social history and houses the John Mullins Memorial Art Gallery.

Close to town, nature lovers can take in the iconic Dogwood, or Jacksonia Scoparia, and other native trees and shrubs along the relaxing Dogwood Creek Walking Track. The rare pink form of the native waterlily produces a spectacular display on Chinaman’s Lagoon during the summer and autumn months. The district is also renowned for its landscape blanketed in delicate wildflowers, which can be enjoyed throughout spring via a self-drive tour.

The Back to the Bush Festival is a biennial celebration that heralds the beginning of the wildflower season in spring.

chinchilla chinchilla is renowned for producing twenty-five percent of Australia’s watermelons and plays host to the Melon Festival in celebration of all things melon.

Tap into some local knowledge at the Chinchilla Visitor

Attracting people of all ages, the Melon Festival

haven away from the bustle of the highway. Take a

includes popular events such as melon bungee and skiing, pip spitting and melon chef demonstrations. The festival is a biennial event that's loads of fun.

Information Centre on the Warrego Highway. Here you can enjoy a Devonshire Tea while you purchase your official Department of Mines and Energy Qld fossicking license and learn where to find the rare ‘Chinchilla Red’ petrified wood. Be sure to enquire about the Chinchilla Historical Museum, which houses an impressive Cypress Pine Interpretive Centre and the Wongongerra Cottage.

The main street of Chinchilla is a beautiful tree-lined relaxing stroll down the street, encounter a friendly nod and smile from a local, do a bit of country shopping or enjoy a light lunch. Take note of the flood marker artworks as you enter the main street, which show the heights the water reached during the floods of 2011. Stop in at the Cultural Centre which features the Chinchilla White Gums Gallery, a popular movie cinema and the public library.

To enjoy the great outdoors, take Charley’s Creek Riverside Walk or make the scenic drive to Chinchilla Weir for a picnic. East of Chinchilla, on the Warrego Highway, lies Brigalow where you can purchase melons and pumpkins at the roadside farm gate during summer.

Big Skies

Experience events like no other

Image by Cathy Finch

Chinchilla Melon Festival

 @westerndownsqueensland  @experiencewesterndowns For more information visit www.westerndownsqueensland.com.au

Image by Tourism & Events Queensland

dalby Explore Dalby’s diverse range of country delights and uncover some of the local history of the Western Country.

Not far from Cunningham Street, history buffs will appreciate the Pioneer Park Museum, which features one of the largest collections of working tractors and agricultural machinery in Queensland. The museum also houses an impressive rock, mineral and fossil collection.

Of notable interest is the handwritten letter by Ned Kelly asking authorities to allow his mother to visit him in prison.

Reminiscent of the heritage, the local saleyards continue to flourish with one of Australia’s largest single cattle sales taking place here every Wednesday. If you are interested in horses, Dalby hosts Australia’s largest Stock Horse Show and Sale every December.

A favourite local walking spot is along the founding Myall Creek, which runs through town. The track follows the creek bank through beautiful parklands to the CBD.

Bunya mountains Located approximately 48kms from Dalby, the Bunya Mountains boasts the largest collection of bunya pines in the world. The Bunya Mountains is a vertible oasis for nature lovers and showcases a diverse range of birdlife.

There’s a number of walking tracks available here. For more information, visit bunyamountains.com.au.

Image by Tourism & Events Queensland

dalby

calendar of

events

essential services

february • Chinchilla Melon Festival (biennial) • Miles Picnic Race Day

March • Bell Show Rodeo & Campdraft • Jandowae Show • Tara Show

POLICE/ FIRE/ AMBULANCE

000

Policelink

131 444

Roma Hospital 197-234 Mcdowall Street, Roma

4624 2700

Miles Hospital 26 Colamba Street, Miles

4628 5600

Chinchilla Hospital Slessar Street, Chinchilla

4662 8888

Dalby Hospital Hospital Road, Dalby

4669 0555

Maranoa Medical Centre 27 Quitin Street, Roma

4622 2266

Miles Medical Centre 79 Marian Street, Miles

4627 1388

Chinchilla Medical Practice 58 Middle Street, Chinchilla

4662 7188

• Jandowae Timbertown Festival

JULY

Myall Medical Practice 37/1 North Street, Dalby

4662 2433

April • • • • •

Roma's Easter in the Country Festival Chinchilla Polocrosse Carnival Dalby & District Show Wandoan Show Big Skies (Apr-May)

May • Chinchilla Annual Show • Miles & District Show

JUne • Opera at Jimbour

AUGUST • Tara Festival of Culture & Camel Races • Dalby Delicious & Delightful Festival

September • Groovin into Town, spring events • Tara Bloomin’ Creative Showcase • Miles Back to the Bush Festival (biennial)

NOVEMBER • Roma Cup Race Day

Regional

MARKETS Chinchilla Markets 3rd Sunday of the month, 7am-noon, Chinchilla Showgrounds Dalby Markets 3rd Saturday of the month, 7am-noon, Dalby Showgrounds, Nicholson Street Jandowae Lions Markets 4th Sunday of the month, 8am-noon, Lions Park Miles Country Markets Last Saturday of the month, 7am-noon, Miles Golf Club Roma Farmers & Artisans Market 3rd Saturday of the month, 7.30am-12.30pm, Big Rig Parklands Warra Markets 2nd Saturday of the month, 8am-noon, Warra Park

more western country

towns to visit

ANDOAN – Situated upon the fertile expanses of W Brigalow country, the Wandoan Windmill marks the place where explorer Ludwig Leichardt passed through on foot nearly 200 years ago.

INJUNE – Injune is a gateway to Carnavon Gorge, an oasis in the semi-arid heart of Queensland.

SURAT – Situated on the banks of the Balonne River, Surat is a picturesque place to stay for great fishing, birdwatching and activities such as waterskiing or jet skiing.

ST GEORGE – Whether cruising along Balonne River or wandering down St George’s beautiful tree-lined streets, you’ll see why so many visitors comment on how pretty the town is especially when Bauhinias and Jacarandas paint the town white and purple with their bright blossoms.

GOONDIWINDI – Located on the majestic Macintyre River at the junction of six highways on the Queensland-New South Wales border, Goondiwindi is a popular stop-over destination for visitors.

TARA – A small town south of the Warrego Highway, Tara gives travellers a unique experience of rural culture.

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