Kevin & Karen in OZ: May 2009

TOOWOOMBA, THE GARDEN CITY OF QUEENSLAND.
Toowoomba City is situated on the Great Dividing Range and approximately 135km (82miles) from Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland. It is over 690 metres above sea level. Toowoomba and the surrounding area has a population of around 120,000. The area was settled in 1840.

Interesting Buildings in the City Centre

City Hall

Ruthven St (main street)

The Returned Services League Hall

Once a church, then a gallery. Now empty.

Built in the 1870s this was the old Courthouse. It is now a private home right in the middle of the CBD.

Once the Post Office, this 19th century building is now a cafe & business centre.

The Empire theatre was Toowoomba's picture theatre through the 1920s to the 1960s. It fell into ruin until the late 1990s when it was refurbished as the city's concert hall.

This is a former church, now small hall standing next to The Empire Theatre. This is a lovely building with fantastic acoustics.

This was the old Police Station. It is still used as an office building for the Police Department.

This was the Toowoomba Technical College. Kevin used to have an office in there when he worked for the college.

Pisa has its' leaning tower. Toowoomba has its' leaning toilet. Built in 1919 it is one of the oldest surviving examples of this characteristic building in Queensland.

The Rail station.

Around the City Centre

Grand Centre is the major shopping centre in the city centre

Garden Town is the other shopping centre in the CBD.

Toowoomba's Irish Club. Every town seems to have one. We have had a few good nights here we can tell you.

Fibber Magee is the other Irish pub. Of course, there are other pubs in the town.

Getting around Toowoomba

Vacy Hall was once a manor type home of the mid 19th century. It is now a guest home.

Clifford House was once the grandest manor near the city centre. It is now a restaurant and catering centre.

Smithfield Homestead began life as a grand private home in the 1800s. From 1970s-1980s it was a restaurant. It is now a private home.

The Bullshead Inn was built in 1847 by ex-convict William Horton. The Inn was used by Squatters as a meeting place. It was also a rest point for travellers making their way through the Darling Downs. The building is now owned by the National Trust of Queensland.

Harlaxton House

This building has fallen into disrepair for many years. Harlaxton House is a sandstone building completed in 1886 by JF Gregory. The home was named after Harlaxton Manor Nottingham UK.