Discover regions of south east Queensland

This information is to give a brief overview of what you would expect to see and find in the surrounding areas where land or property is advertised. Some maps illustrate the location of the land for sale. View our Photo Gallery of the Darling Downs you will see that it is more than just the beautiful landscapes that surround these regions.

How do you get there?

TOOWOOMBA - DALBY and CHINCHILLA are accessed via the Warrego Highway - north-west from Brisbane. This highway stretches from Brisbane through the Lockyer Valley and over the Great Dividing Range, across The Darling Downs and then to the outback town of Charleville. There is a total of 744 km of sealed road and is one of the oldest highways in the State of Queensland. The Western Downs

TARA - KOGAN and GORANBA are accessed via DALBY

Toowoomba is the 'Garden City', Gateway to the 'Golden West' and has one of Australia's best climates.

Bunya Mountains National Park

This is a unique pristine wilderness that embraces and welcomes you and protects the largest remaining Bunya Pine rainforests in the world. You will find many scenic walking tracks leading out to panoramic views through intriguing eucalypt forest where the mountain mist falls.

Apart from the magnificent ancient forests the wealth of wildlife of approximately 120 species of birds and an abundance of mammals and other animal life that call the this rainforest haven home. Visitors find the Bunya Mountains a peaceful, mystical experience rich in timeless pleasures of a spectacular wilderness range. The Bunya Mountains are accessed by car through rural and regional districts of Kingaroy, Dalby, Nanango and Toowoomba.

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Cecil Plains - Escape the city and enjoy nature with modern country living!

Plenty of history to be found here at Cecil Plains. You'll find beautiful murals where various stages of the regions' history are depicted on the side of buildings with great photo opportunities.

The banks of the Condamine River make it a perfect destination for any weary traveller and is also home to Queensland Cotton's Cecil Plains Gin, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. During the harvest season you can take a tour from April through to July and see them ginning up to 1500 bales per day and is also home to Grassdale Feed Lot, 3 Sawmills and commercial Piggeries.

You will also find the famous Cecil Plains homestead where guests love to stay. Always plenty to occupy yourself with too with fishing, sporting facilities, bird-watching, bush tucker, bushwalking, camping, canoeing, golfing, swimming and tennis. Millmerran is its closest community located on the western fringe of the Darling Downs.

Town amenities include general store, refuelling depot, stock and produce agency, library, school from preschool to year 10, school bus to Dalby, police station, post office, hotel, caravan park. Tidy town award winning park gardens. Dunmore State Forest is on the outskirts of Cecil Plains.

• Dunmore State Forest

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Chinchilla - always on the go - always growing

Chinchilla, was established in 1878, and today has an approximate population of 3,500 and the surrounding shire 6,000. It is here at Chinchilla that they produce 25% of Australia's melons - hence the name 'The Melon Capital of Australia'.

It is 300 kilometeres north west of Brisbane on the Warrego Highway and hosts a railway, bus services and airport. Chinchilla is rich in agriculture and produces lamb, beef and pork, with heavy dependence on primary production. Wool growing and horticulture, wheat, barley, sorghum and millet are grown in abundance.

The Chinchilla Weir supplies the town with water, irrigating the flats of the Condamine river. Their super facilities make it the perfect venue for water sport enthusiasts or a family picnic.

Timber plays a significant role in Chinchilla with people fossicking for petrified wood - 'Chinchilla Red' (no not wine). At the Barakula State Forest 2,655km of tracks intertwine to bring you to the highest wooden tower in Queensland reaching 44m at its peak.

Real estate in Chinchilla has boomed as a result of the Kogan Creek Power Project that began in 2004. There is plenty to see and do. Visit the Chinchilla Historical Museum, The Chinchilla Weir, Children's Adventure Playground, Barakula State Forest (QLD's highest wooden tower - permits necessary) and you can fossick for petrified wood 'Chinchilla Red' on the Warrego Hwy.

• Chinchilla Business & Industry
• Chinchilla

• Western Down Regional Council

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Dalby - Is expected to double in size in the next few years due to the Resources Boom.

Situated on the rich soils of the Darling Downs, Dalby is just 211 km north west of Brisbane and is at the crossroads to Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Roma, Mundubbera and Goondiwindi. It is the next major town west of Toowoomba.

Dalby and the surrounding Wambo Shire is renowned as a rich agricultural region growing crops such as cotton, sorghum, wheat, barley, sunflowers, chickpeas, mung beans and corn, as well as the production of lamb, beef and pork. Diversification into the fish and native flower markets has occurred in recent times.

Dalby is supported by an Agricultural College, hospital, airport and two cotton gins. Lake Broadwater services the water sport lovers with this recreational luxury.

The Dalby Wambo Region is a vibrant "go ahead" rural community with a population of approximately 15,000. It has the largest grain receival depot in Queensland, the largest one day livestock market in Australia and has one of the largest regional industrial and agricultural manufacturing sectors.

Two Environmental Parks in close proximity to Dalby feature pristine rainforest, a natural lake and flora and fauna in their natural habitat.

• Dalby Council
• Dalby Wambo Region
• Grassdale Feedlot

• Wambo District
• Dalby
• Dunmore State Forest

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Gatton - The Salad Bowl of Australia

Gatton, situated in the Lockyer Valley, is known as ‘The Salad Bowl of Australia’ due to the rich fertile soil and close proximity to major markets. Crops grown include: sweet corn, pumpkins, onions, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, beans, carrots, potatoes, peas, beet-root and celery. At harvest time you can see lines of workers busy in the fields harvesting the crops.

The town is less than an hour from Brisbane, and 25 minutes from big town shopping at Toowoomba. Attractions include Apex Park where visitors can barbeque and picnic and watch the wild water- bird colony on the island in the middle of the lake. On the other side of the lake from the Visitor Information Centre and Kiosk you will find a restored Historical Village and Museum to while away a few hours in.

Shopping is well catered for with 3 major supermarkets in town, a Target Country store, and you will find licenced pubs and clubs to enjoy a cold drink or meal. Ford, Holden, Nissan and Toyota car dealerships are also located in the town.

Festivals held in the town include the Clydesdale and Heavy Horse Field Days at the showgrounds over the Labour Day long weekend, the Sprint Car Races and the Gatton Potato Carnival in October. The Gatton show is held in July. The University of Queensland Gatton Campus, known formerly as the Gatton Agricultural College, is only 6 kilometres from town.

Pohlman Nurseries are located just out of town and is the largest nursery in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a big employer in the area. The Shire of Gatton offers a rural lifestyle with city amenities, and welcomes visitors and businesses alike.

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Kogan - the source of power

The Kogan Creek power station is a 750MW single unit steam turbine plant, fired on coal from the adjacent open cut mine. The project design includes supercritical steam conditions and a dry cooling system for the exhaust steam. The plant is located approximately 25km southeast of Chinchilla in Queensland.

The hotel at Kogan is famous for the artwork by Hugh Sawrey. Painting and murals of the 1788 First Fleet cover the walls of this quaint hotel. New Community Centre at Kogan -The new centre and the existing hall both located in High Street look set to become a focal point of entertainment and events for the local and surrounding communities.

Emu farms will be what you would expect to see when you visit this community. This second largest flightless bird in the world, these Emu farms are open all year round and there are in excess of 170 emus kept at Kogan Emu Farm.

• Kogan Creek Coal Mine
• Kogan Creek Power Station
• Kogan Pub Photo

• Kogan State School
• Kogan Creek Viewing Platform
• Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project
• Kogan celebrates

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Killarney - at the foothills of the Great Dividing Range

The district of Killarney is recognized for farming, spectacular waterfalls and National Parks. Located 196 km south-west of Brisbane, 33 km south-east of Warwick it is situated near the source of the longest river system in Australia - The Condamine River.

Killarney was named by nostalgic Irish settlers and the Irish tradition still remains today. The major attractions in the area are the Queen Mary Falls National Park which is located 10 km from town. Great walking tracks and lookouts along the way are facilitated with BBQ and picnic areas.

• Killarney Information

• Fly Killarney

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Logan -

• Logan City Council
• Maps of Logan

• Logan Community Profile
• What You Would See at Logan

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Oakey - Breeding grounds of many winners

Oakey is famous for lots of things but one of the most memorable would be as the breeding grounds of the horseracing legend Bernborough. His bronze statue welcomes you as to pass through the township that supports around 4000 residents. You will also find much memorabilia at the Museum of Australian Army Flying and the Jondaryan Woolshed is only a short distance from Oakey and on the way to the Bunya Mountains National Park.

• Oakey Information
• Jondaryan Woolshed

• Bernborough
• Museum of Australian Army Flying

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Tara - The home of the friendly people!

Born a township in 1912 the Shire of Tara is situated on the western surrounds of the Darling Downs about 180kms west of Toowoomba and 380kms south west of Brisbane. The shire nurtures the towns of Tara, Meandarra, Moonie, Glenmorgan, Flinton and the smaller communities of Westmar, Hannaford and The Gums.

At Tara, with a welcoming rural lifestyle and population of approximately 4,000, you can expect to find plenty of sheep and cattle grazing as the three primary agricultural industries are wool, beef and grain. Well known as being a hard wheat country, it produces the best quality wheat. The RNA often boasts champion fleece each year from the sheep grazed in the Tara district.

Well known for having large rural subdivisions of up to 40 hectare properties it gives rise to growth in population, bringing with them new skills and trades. You can find ostriches, emus and mohair goats amongst some of the unusual primary produce. Staying at local host farms allows you to experience what life is like in a rural community.

Tara has excellent lifestyle opportunities and recreational facilities are well catered for, especially for the keen fisherman or the master golfer, with an 18-hole golf course. With its own airport, first-rate schools, health services including local hospital and own retirement village, Tara caters for all in the community.

Tara is also proud of the ironbark, spotted gum and cypress pine trees that grow on the eastern outskirts of the shire.

• Tara Activities And Travel
• Dunmore State Forest

• Western Down Regional Council

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Toowoomba - The Garden City

Toowoomba is Queensland’s largest inland provincial city and is located where the Warrego Highway and the New England Highway meet. Settled on the top of the Great Dividing Range, panoramic views of the Lockyer Valley are to be had from the Picnic Point Lookout. Toowoomba enjoys a cooler climate with less humidity than the coastal cities, due to being 700 metres above sea level and offers comfortable living conditions for residents.

Just an hour and a half from Brisbane, Toowoomba is an area known for it’s natural beauty, and its heritage. Toowoomba is also the gateway to the Darling Downs where you’ll find the towns of Cecil Plains (where the largest proven gas deposits have been found), Dalby, Tara. Chinchilla, and further west - the Surat Basin, where the Resources Boom is currently happening.
Agriculture is the major industry in the region, with retail trade and manufacturing the next largest industries.

Shopping is well catered for with a Westfield Myer Drive-in Shopping Centre, and you’ll enjoy the cafes, galleries, museums, antique shops, and boutique wineries in the area. Toowoomba CBD is a sight-seer’s delight with many heritage listed facades retained on the shopfronts. For those wanting to venture further afield, there are a number of rural drives and country markets to explore.

Of course Toowoomba is not known as ‘The Garden City’ for nothing. A drive through the city reveals the stunning parks and gardens, tree lined boulevards, and inner city streets lined with rose gardens. The Carnival of Flowers is held in September each year. Complementing these gardens you’ll find heritage listed homes in superb condition.

Education is not forgotten with Southern Cross University, Downlands College, Toowoomba Grammar School among the various educational facilities you’ll find. Whatever’s your fancy, Toowoomba is becoming a sort-after location to escape the crowds and enjoy a rural lifestyle with all the amenities at your door.

• Tara Activities And Travel
• Dunmore State Forest

• Western Down Regional Council

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Warwick - a great place to live, work and play

The Shire’s catch phrase, ‘a great place to grow’, reflects its position in the heart of Queensland’s rich Darling Downs. Warwick Shire has a population of more than 21,000 and services an economic catchment area of 55,000 people. The Shire repeatedly records the lowest cost of living in the State and has economical house, land and building costs.

The town of Warwick is renowned for producing high quality agricultural and is well known for hosting Australian rodeos. Local retailers provide all the needs of today's modern lifestyle amongst Queensland's finest sandstone buildings. Shopping varies from traditional country stores to the modern $30 million Rose City Shopping world in the heart of Warwick. At the Pringle Cottage Museum you will find plenty of history dating back to the 1880s.

• Warwick Events

• Southern Downs Info

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