Welcome to Wandoan

Welcome to

Experience Wandoan

Welcome

From the Community...

Wandoan Community Commerce and Industry officially welcomes you to our town. Wandoan is a small town with a big heart. The town offers residents a number of sports and community based events to keep everyone entertained. With fresh air and plenty of trees, Wandoan is a great location for those looking for a tree change.

I would like to extend a personal invitation to explore all that our region has to offer using our welcome guides.

These guides are for those who have recently moved to the Western Downs or are looking to relocate here.

There is a lot of helpful information including available schools, local community groups, recreational and sporting groups and essential services offered in our towns.

Our region is known for its vibrant communities which have a great variety of activities for all ages and interests. From our regional events,

local festivities, arts and culture programs and strong sporting communities, there is something for everyone

I’m excited to be able to these guides comers and hope offer support to our new-

will help Downs. Western into the you settle

Wandoan Community Commerce and Industry

Mayor Paul McVeigh Western Downs Regional Council

From the Mayor...

Located on the Leichhardt Highway, Wandoan is located 69km west of Miles. On your travels west, you will pass through the community of Gulugaba.

Set on a backdrop of towering grain silos and prime farming land, the town is the perfect place to call home, balancing country charm with modern amenities. Within the Wandoan business area, you’ll find a number of community facilities, including the Wandoan Cultural Centre which houses a Library, QGAP facilities and a large function room.

In addition to a long-established history in wheat and cattle farming, thanks to the fertile Brigalow country soil, the coal and gas industries have also secured their footprint locally.

If you’re looking for somewhere to explore the outdoors, Wandoan has plenty of activities on the annual events calendar and peaceful spots for a relaxing picnic.

Four reasons to call the Western Downs

home...

Welcome to

The Western Downs is home to more than 34,000 residents and 8,188 families. The median age of our population is 37 years, and 7.1% of our residents were born overseas. We are proud to be a multicultural community and support diversity and inclusivity.

Combining a country lifestyle with modern living and conveniences, the Western Downs has an assortment of urban centres, quiet small towns, rural lifestyle blocks and an abundance of recreation spaces — something to suit everyone!

Living in the Western Downs is affordable compared to many parts of Queensland. Our average rent is $250 per week, compared to the Queensland average of $395 per week.

Across the region there are 15,000 homes with an average sale price of $200,209 — $258,151 lower than the Queensland average.

The Western Downs boasts one of Australia’s strongest, wellrounded and diverse economies.

Agriculture is a founding pillar of the region, closely followed by intensive agriculture, manufacturing, and more recently large scale investments in the resources industry and renewable energy.

Getting Around

Races

Meet a Local

Hollie, Owner of HB Beauty

Hollie is a young business owner who brought skills and experience from the city back to her hometown of Wandoan. There has been fantastic support for her beauty salon, many of her clients are familiar faces from her childhood. She talks fondly of her loving and tight knit community and hopes anyone looking to move here will enjoy the small businesses that make Wandoan such a vibrant community.

Below are Hollie’s insider tips for living in Wandoan.

I moved away...

For boarding school and went on to study beauty in Brisbane, but it was always my dream to come home and open a beauty salon so here I am.

lifestyle...

And being close to family and friends. My brother and I both moved back onto the family property but we all live in separate houses. It’s so nice and peaceful when you wake up in the morning, a great way to start your days.

There are some great places...

Around town to catch up with friends: the café, the pub, the park has great play areas for kids. But sometimes I just take the opportunity for down time hanging out with my dog at home.

When my friends visit...

They love to experience the small community lifestyle. Some of our local events are great for that atmosphere but we also just enjoy the peace and quiet at home, that’s something they really appreciate coming from the city.

The locals. Everyone knows everyone and they’re always up for a chat.

Spring, because the weather is perfect and all the flora is in full bloom. It’s beautiful.

The camel races that happen in town every second year. But the local football games are really fun too.

My go-to lunch...

Is the Chicken Caesar Salad from Wandoan Café. All of their food is delicious.

My favourite time of year is...

I love running into...

I love the country

I always look forward to...

When opening my salon the support has been overwhelming. It’s been really great to see the town support small business.

The Western Downs is one of Australia’s largest primary producers and our abundant local produce offers a chance for residents to explore our local produce. Here’s a taste of what the Wandoan district has to offer...

Play Juandah

Historical Musuem

Trace the town’s early European origin back to Ludwig Leichhardt’s journey at Juandah Station. Original pioneering buildings are still standing.

Parkrun

Held every Saturday from 7am at Waterloo Plains, get active and meet new friends.

Waterloo Plains Environmental Park

Enjoy a picnic, pitch a tent or enjoy an overnight stay in your caravan at this 11 hectare recreational space which also has an abundance of birdlife. Snap a picture of the impressive painted water tank during the day and illuminated silos at night, both a part of the Australian Silo Art Trail.

Silo Art Trail

Mick the Cattle Dog

Wandoan’s local hero, Mick the cattle dog sits proudly in O’Sullivan Park. This family-friendly recreation space is also home to the Visitor Information Centre

Wandoan Soldier Settlers Avenue of Honour

Discover and celebrate each of the 103 families who established Wandoan through the Soldier Settlers Scheme of the 1950’s at this peaceful memorial walk.

Experience Wandoan, our small town has a big heart.

With plenty to do, including cultural activities, active sporting clubs and groups, and the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, there’s fun activities for the whole family.

Education for all ages is a priority in the Western Downs. There are 33 schools and 24 regulated childhood education and childcare services in the region. Our libraries also offer online education programs.

Wandoan and District Playgroup

Wandoan & District Kindergarten

Guluguba

Wandoan State School Prep to Year 10 49 North St, Wandoan QLD 4419 07 4628 8888 wandoanss.eq.edu.au

Connect

Community Groups

Apex Australia

Juandah Heritage Society

Lions Club

Wandoan Ambulance Committee

Wandoan Arts Council

Wandoan Campdraft Association

Wandoan Community Commerce and Industry

Wandoan Creative Sewers

Wandoan Diggers Race Club

Wandoan Health Auxiliary

Wandoan Housing Association

Wandoan RSL

Wandoan Rodeo Association

Wandoan Senior Citizens

Wandoan Showgrounds Improvement Committee

Wandoan Show Society

Wheels on Wandoan Car Club

Experience warm connection and immerse yourself in Wandoan, with a wide variety of community and cultural groups ranging from the arts to social groups and volunteering.

Welcome to

Activities & Sporting Clubs

Wandoan Amatuer Swimming Club

Wandoan Bowls Club Inc

Wandoan Diggers Race Club

Wandoan and District Pony Club

Wandoan Gymnastics Club

Wandoan Gun Club

Churches

Wandoan Uniting Church

Wandoan Presbyterian Church

St Joseph’s Church

Wandoan Assembly of God Church

St Margaret’s Anglican Church

Keen to volunteer? Visit www.wdrc.qld.gov.au/ living-here/volunteering/ for more.

Wandoan Junior Rugby League Football Club Inc

Wandoan Polocrosse Club

Wandoan/Taroom Active Riders

Wandoan Tennis Club

Wandoan Touch Association

Waterloo Plains Parkrun

We love the small town atmosphere, it’s very friendly... there’s always plenty to do too.

Welcome to

Meet a Newcomer

Jack and Kate, Principal and Teacher at Wandoan State School

Jack and Kate moved to Wandoan 18 months ago and are both happily settled into their new community. Being part of the local school has made meeting the locals easy, but the couple have enthusiastically become involved with all corners of the tight knit community. They would encourage anyone looking to step back from the rat race to come west and join them in their new town, it’s really a great place to live. They, along with everyone else in town look forward to welcoming and getting to know you.

Below are Jack and Kate’s insider tips for living in Wandoan.

All of the

The first person we met...

Was Louise, who works here at the school. She waved us down as we drove by the post office, walked up to our car in the middle of the road and introduced herself. She was expecting us in town, spotted our new faces and pieced together who we were. We got to know each other parked in the middle of the street. It was a really nice welcome to the community. – Kate

Everyone waves at you...

On the street. Especially being part of the school, you often cannot leave home without running into a family you know. We’re always happy to pull up for a chat. – Kate

shops and facilities...

In town make living here really nice. We can even still get a smashed avo on toast at the Café. – Jack

A local taught us...

Where we could burn some extra energy. People found out I like to run and pretty quickly got invited to parkrun on Saturdays at Waterloo Plains. I go cycling on weekends with a local cattle grazier and we take our dog Poppy for walks around town most afternoons. – Jack

We’d love to explore...

The Bunya Mountains. We’ve heard there are some new mountain biking tracks going in at the moment. Those with some camping and bush walking will make it a great little holiday spot that’s not too far from home. – Jack

Welcome to

Acknowledgements

With thanks to Shell’ s QGC Business

With a third of our staff and contractors calling the Western Downs home, we know the region is a fantastic place to live, work and raise a family. We want more of our employees living locally and we know the Western Downs has so much to offer. We are proud to support the production of these welcome guides for people moving to the area.

Relocating anywhere new is often daunting, with many factors unknown. With information on key resources such as schools, services, businesses and community groups easily accessible in these packs, we’re confident the transition for individuals and families will be made easier.

And by showcasing the unique character of what brings the towns ‘alive’ we are confident your new life in the Western Downs will be exciting.

This guide was funded by Shell’s QGC Business and produced by Western Downs Regional Council. Information is current as at 2 June 2022. Front cover image by Jessica Turich Photography.