Darling Downs

This area to the west of Brisbane and the Great Dividing Range, is one of teh most fertile areas in Queensland. Crops in the area include wheat, barley, maize, soya beans, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses.

The Darling Downs were discovered by botanist and explorer Allan Cunningham in 1827, and were named afer Govenor Ralph Darling who was Govenor of N.S.W. from 1825 to 1831.

Bell

Cecil Plains

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.

Chinchilla

Located in the Western Darling Downs, the town's major industries are rural and saw milling. Its rural products include wheat, sorghum, barley, cattle, sheep, fruit and vegetables. Chinchilla is also a gem and petrified wood fossicking area.

Located just 8 kilometres south of the town, the Chinchilla Weir offers fun watersports including skiing. Set in rugged mountainous country, Chinchilla has a shire area of 8689 square kilometres and is 300 metres above sea level.

Clifton

Average summer day temperature: 29.8°C
Average winter day temperature: 17.4°C
Average annual rainfall: 692.9mm
Average clear days: 106.0

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

Condamine

Crow's Nest

Average summer day temperature: 30.0°C
Average winter day temperature: 16.7°C
Average annual rainfall: 701.7mm

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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Dalby

Average summer day temperature: 31.9°C
Average winter day temperature: 18.8°C
Average annual rainfall: 676.4mm
Average clear days: 128.4

In the heart of the "golden west", the Dalby area includes the beautiful Bunya Mountains National Park. Built on the Condamine river, it is the centre of a productive wheat and cattle area. The explorer Ludwig Leichhardt on his last trek from the local 'Jimbour' homestead.

The Dalby Rodeo is held in September each year.

Goondiwindi

Average summer day temperature: 33.8°C
Average winter day temperature: 18.2°C
Average annual rainfall: 621.6mm
Average clear days: 187.2

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.

Inglewood

Average summer day temperature: 33.1°C
Average winter day temperature: 18.7°C
Average annual rainfall: 662.8mm
Average clear days: 117.9

Iglewood and Texas are the twin towns of the Inglewood Shire. Forests, rivers, wildlife, national parks & dams make this a good area for fishing and rock climbing.

Jandowae

Jondaryan

Average summer day temperature: 30.0°C
Average winter day temperature: 16.7°C
Average annual rainfall: 701.7mm

The Jondaryan Woolshed has demonstrations of blacksmiths, working horses, shearing and damper making are featured. One of the largest collections of historical farm machinery, steam engines, tractors and horse drawn vehicles in Australia can also be enjoyed.

Miles

Average summer day temperature: 33.1°C
Average winter day temperature: 19.3°C
Average annual rainfall: 659.0mm
Average clear days: 127.5

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

Millmerran

Average summer day temperature: 30.0°C
Average winter day temperature: 16.7°C
Average annual rainfall: 701.7mm

The national headquarters of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, who gather biennually for the National Open Rendezvous.

Murilla Shire

Oakey

Pitsworth

Average summer day temperature: 30.0°C
Average winter day temperature: 16.7°C
Average annual rainfall: 701.7mm

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.

Rosalie

Average summer day temperature: 30.0°C
Average winter day temperature: 16.0°C
Average annual rainfall: 704.1mm

The Rosalie Shire on the Darling Downs includes the towns of Kingsthorpe, Goombungee, Quinalow, Meringandan, Gowrie Junction, Acland, Cooyar, Kulpi, Yarraman and Upper Yarraman.

Stanthorpe

Average summer day temperature: 26.1°C
Average winter day temperature: 13.7°C
Average annual rainfall: 784.0mm
Average clear days: 82.3

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.

Tara

Taroom

Toobeah

Toowoomba

Average summer day temperature: 27.6°C
Average winter day temperature: 16.3°C
Average annual rainfall: 956.4mm
Average clear days: 113.6

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.

Waggamba

Wandoan

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

Warra

Warwick

Average summer day temperature: 30.1°C
Average winter day temperature: 17.8°C
Average annual rainfall: 710.1mm

The pretty town of Warwick is located at the juncture of the New England and Cunningham Highways on the southern edge of the Darling Downs. The productive land in the area produces wheat, sunflowers and other crops, along with beef cattle and dairying.

Warwick is a popular amenity stop for travelers, and their are many fast food outlets to cater to their needs.