Darling Downs

Cecil Plains Homestead was founded in 1841 by Henry Stuart Russell and it was sold to James Taylor in 1859. The Station area covered over 200,000 acre’s. Ludwig Leichhardt came on 3 occasions to the Station. The homestead still stands today and is used as a Bed & Breakfast.

In 1919 Cecil Plains developed as a soldier settlement community. There has been 3 large successful Saw Mills in town as well as the Cotton Gin.

The October Iris & Rose Show is the only one of its kind in Queensland and features cut flowers, with championships for the best blooms.

Crows Nest National Park is located 6 km to the east of the township, and has extensive walking trails and picnic areas. A number of areas offer extensive views of the area and the park includes waterfalls and cascades.

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This town is located on the Queensland / New South Wales border at the intersection of the Bruxner Highway, Barwon Highway and Cunningham Highway. The twon takes its name from the aboriginal word Gundawinda meaning "place of birds". The town services a large cotton industry.

Home of the famous Goondiwindi Grey race horse, Gunsynd. Today a statue of the Goondiwindi Grey can be viewed in the town.

Visitors will appreciate the lovely Western Woodlands Botanical Gardens and the Scenic Macintyre River.

Miles is Located on the Darling Downs, 346 kilometres west of Brisbane. As the regional centre it has shopping, medical, and educational facilities available.

Pittsworth is known as the "Heart of the Darling Downs." A beautiful display of Silky Oak and Jacaranda trees line the towns streets.

It also boasts some of the richest farming land in Australia.

Located in the Granite Belt, Stanthorpe is an important wine producing area. Tourism to the winyards is popular, as is the Bed & Breakfast accomodation offered in the area.

Toowoomba is situated at the top of the mountain escarpment west of Brisbane. Generally it enjoys a cooler climate than the capital city although it is only about an hour away from the coast.

There is always something on in Toowoomba but the Carnival of Flowers in September attracts a huge amount of visitors to the area to view the magnificent floral displays.

Wandoan is a delightful town with a small population of wonderful people. Visit the Wandoan Information & Juandah Heritage Centre and pick up a Heritage Trail Map and visit the many fascinating places this town has to offer. Wandoan also has a talented and enthusiastic Country Music Club that is famous throughout Queensland - to find out when they are performing, see Elaine Bruggemann at the Wandoan Sewing Centre.

Before 1926, Wandoan was known as Juandah. The official records show that Juandah was first selected in 1852. The run was over 700 square miles and has an estimated herd of over 50,000 cattle. During the drought of 1902 the surface water dried up and 20,000 head of cattle were lost.

Mustering was carried out throughout the year and is was said that there was up to eighty stockmen working on Juandah, forty on the station and forty droving mobs of cattle. There were also shearers, a bookkeeper, blacksmiths, carpenters, cooks, a housekeeper and housemaids.

Provisions arrived by bullock dray from Ipswich every six months, weather permitting.

In the early years Juandah was an important resting and watering place for passing bullock and horse teams. From 1890 it was also the Coach change where lunch was served on the Miles - Taroom twice-weekly service. In 1900 the first hotel was opened and in 1914 the Railway came to Juandah.

The historical site of Juandah is open to the public and is situated only 1 km off the Leichhardt Highway at Wandoan