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welcome to
western Country
Roma, miles, chinchilla & dalby
leaf flower2
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.
Please do not remove map from room
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49
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Thrushton National Park
A2
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Riv
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Mitchell
Forest Vale
HWY
Injune
Muckadilla
46
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Nindigully
Surat
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BAR WO
A55
Wallumbilla
HWY
Roma
R iv e r
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Riv er
We ir
Westmar
Hannaford
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A5
Southwood National Park
To Moree
R iv e r
Tara
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ron HAM
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Yelarbon
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CUN
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A2
Kogan
Bendidee National Park
Moonie
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E GOR
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Jimbour
k ee
Cecil Plains
Wondul Range National Park
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82
Millmerran
Inglewood
Cr
Warra
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Bell
82
Oakey
Southbrook
Y HW
HWY
Coolmunda Reservoir
A39
Pittsworth
DOWNS
A3
Yarraman
A3
Allora
Stanthorpe
15
Moore
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A2
80
To Brisbane
Killarney Maryland National Park
Tooloom National Park
Main Range National Park
Warwick
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Gatton
Highfields
Esk
Crows Nest
Toolgoolawah
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Nanango
A3
Goomeri
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Biggenden
Mt Walsh National Park
Cambooya
Toowoomba
DARLING Kingsthorpe
A2
Kumbia Bunya Mountains National Park
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Kingaroy
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Blackbutt
Murgon
Wondai
Proston
Kaimkillenbun
Dalby
Jandowae
Durong
Lake Broadwater Conservation Park
Brigalow
Chinchilla
Boondooma Lake
Boondooma
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Gayndah
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Boggabilla
Goondiwindi
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The Gums
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Auburn River National Park
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Bungunyah
Flinton
Moon
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Miles
Drillham
Condamine
Guluguba
Wandoan
Meandarra
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Dulacca
Glenmorgan Erringibba National Park
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Yuleba
Alton National Park
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Gunnewin
Lake Kajarabie
St George
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Chesterton Range National Park
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Expedition National Park
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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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This guest services room publication is compiled and produced by John Batman Group – The Hospitality Supermarket, publishers of specialist room directories and magazines. John Batman Group – The Hospitality Supermarket, and Just Brilliant Guides are trademarks of Binders Compendiums Menu Covers Pty Ltd. © Copyright all rights reserved. JBG–S John Batman Group – The Hospitality Supermarket. PO Box 726, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia 3134. Tel: (03) 9879 8588 Fax: (03) 9879 8688 Email: info@johnbatman.com.au Web: www.johnbatman.com.au
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Compiled with the assistance of Western Downs Regional Council. Front cover image courtesy of Tourism & Events Queensland.
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