TASTE Chinchilla

Famous for its melons, as well

as being a renowned spot for fishing, bushwalking, and camping, the colourful town of Chinchilla is an easy 81 kilometre drive west of Dalby, along the Warrego Highway. Having once produced 25% of the country’s watermelons, rockmelons and honeydew melons, Chinchilla is the undisputed melon capital of Australia.

Chinchilla is a peaceful and pretty town, with a beautiful tree-lined main street, just off the highway.

Make sure to stop for a selfie at The Big Melon and explore the Visitor Information Centre to pick up some HISTORY: The town name is a corruption of the Aboriginal word

“tintinchilla” or “jinchilla” indicating cypress pine, possibly recorded by explorer and naturalist Ludwig Leichhardt. yummy local honey, jams, and other homemade goodies.

Every second year in February the town hosts the Melon Festival featuring a full program of events and melon related activities.

Another interesting fact about Chinchilla is its petrified wood which dates back to the Jurassic period. The types of trees in the area that are petrified include conifers, ferns, and cypress pines. Pick up a fossicking licence online or at the Visitor Information Centre; there is also a wonderful display telling this fascinating geological story at the

Chinchilla Museum.

WANDOAN

DULACCA MILES

CHINCHILLA

CONDAMINE

TARA

JANDOWAE BUNYA MOUNTAINS BELL

DALBY

BRISBANE → 290km 3hr 21mins

Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre Downtown Cafe

Chinchilla Farmers Market Downtown Cafe

Chinchilla Farmers Market

Downtown Cafe

CHINCHILLA FARMERS MARKET

The Chinchilla Farmers Market are a local farming family providing high quality produce to their hometown of Chinchilla and beyond. Their shop is easily found on the Warrego Highway and stocks a steady supply of locally grown fruit and vegetables as well as meats. Local produce from Archerfield Beef, Millers Organic Produce, and KC Ridge Pasture Raised Eggs and Heritage Pork is available for purchase here.

Vegetables such as kale, celery, broccoli, and shallots are all grown locally in Chinchilla, and watermelons as well when in season. Millers Organic Produce is a consistent grower in Chinchilla who provide supplies of zucchinis, cucumbers and tomatoes to the market, all year round.

A producer who is renowned for growing delicious watermelons, Paramagh Farming, supply their melons for sale in the farmers market. Paramagh recently established the recipe for the ‘wham’ a BBQ’ d watermelon which certainly resembles a ham.

You can also satisfy your sweet tooth by purchasing watermelon or dragon fruit juices in store. As well as Paramagh watermelons, the market stocks watermelons from Davco Melons. The local Denhert family supply their dragon fruits for purchase.

The farmers market has teamed up with their neighbour butcher Gleeson Quality Meats to bring a free home delivery service of meats to Chinchilla locals. As well as the market, Gleeson Quality Meats supplies approximately 20 businesses within Chinchilla with their quality protein requirements, with their meat having been raised in the Western Downs region. The beef you find in store at Gleeson Quality Meats is either from the owners’ own property nearby or from local cattle properties on the Western Downs. The butcher team are always trying innovative recipes such as the watermelon sausage – a true taste of Western Downs authenticity. Any other sausages you find in Gleeson Quality Meats are homemade.

At the Chinchilla Farmers Market, you will also find multiple items from KC Ridge. This farm is located just south of Chinchilla and overlooks the abundant flood plains of the Condamine River. The farm consists of open improved fields for pastured pig and chicken operations and is farmed in a holistic way with rotation grazing of pigs, chickens, and cattle. The farm’s main produce is a steady supply of pasture raised free range eggs and pasture raised heritage pork which they sell regularly at market stalls and local produce suppliers such as the Chinchilla Farmers Market and Gleeson Quality Meats.

Owners believe strongly in allowing their animals to roam free with unlimited access to grass which optimises the produce.

KC Ridge produce is available to purchase at the Chinchilla Farmers Market, or if you are up for a drive you are welcome to head to their farm and purchase directly from their paddock. Their pork and eggs can also be purchased from local stores such as Gleeson Quality Meats, Chinchilla FoodWorks and Miles Wholesale Meats.

DOWNTOWN CAFÉ

Located in Bell Street Chinchilla is the popular Downtown Café who specialise in fresh, quality meals. Their menu is seasonal and features multiple signature options with locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. All meat on the menu here is purchased from Gleeson Quality Meats, and fruit and vegetables are direct from the Chinchilla Farmers Market down the road.

In summer you will find the spiced avocado and maple glazed bacon stack a popular choice, while in winter you will find the butter chicken curry on most plates. Pair with a watermelon juice for a truly Chinchilla experience.

» TRY: Spiced Avocado and Maple Glazed Bacon Stack.

CLOVER HILL MEATS

Clover Hill by Warregold Wagyu is a paddock to plate wagyu beef that is processed, packed and prepared entirely in Chinchilla. Cattle are born and raised on local pastures on the Condamine river, before being fed in local feedlots. Beef can be purchased directly from Clover Hill Ranch in Chinchilla or online, with the producers even able to cater to custom orders.

» TRY: Smoke Warregold Wagyu.

WHERE TO FIND CHINCHILLA PRODUCE

Downtown Cafe 25 Bell Street, Chinchilla 07 4669 1757 thedowntowncafe.com.au @chinchillacafe.com.au

Chinchilla Farmers Market Warrego Highway, Chinchilla 0427 387 979

Gleeson Quality Meats 91 Heeney Street, Chinchilla 07 4662 7475 @GleesonQualityMeatsPtyLtd

KC Ridge Pasture Raised Eggs & Heritage Pork 359 Windmill Road, Chinchilla kcridgefarm.com.au kcridgepork@skymesh.com.au @KCRidgePork

Clover Hill Meats cloverhillmeats.com.au @cloverhillcamping