83-470: Download coordinates as: Toowoomba ( / t ə ˈ w ʊ m b ə / tə- WUUM -bə ), nicknamed 'The Garden City’,and 'T-Bar', is a city in the Darling Downs region of Queensland , Australia. It is located 132 km (82 mi) west of Queensland's capital, Brisbane . The urban population of Toowoomba as of the 2021 census was 142,163, having grown at an average annual rate of 1.45% over
166-476: A humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cfa ) with warm summers and cool winters. The city's inland location as well as elevation and exposed location on the Great Dividing Range influence its climate in several notable ways: Toowoomba experiences more frequent high winds, hail, fog, low maximum temperatures and is even known to have the odd snowfall. As a result, the city has
249-537: A semi-arid or subtropical highland climate . Summer maximum temperatures range from 28 to 34 °C (82 to 93 °F), while winter maximums range from 13 to 19 °C (55 to 66 °F). The annual rainfall ranges from 600 mm (24 in) in the far west of the region, to 1,000 mm (39 in) in the east. In the south-east of the Darling Downs winter temperatures can drop below −5 °C (23 °F) with heavy frost and occasional snow , while in
332-551: A sheep property at Canning Downs on the Condamine River in 1846. Other well-established residences on the southern downs include Glengallan Homestead, Talgai Homestead, Pringle Cottage and Rosenthal Homestead. One of the first stations to be established was Jimbour House. It was also the point where Leichhardt launched his expedition to the Northern Territory in 1844. By 1844 there 26 properties including
415-680: A ball in their hearts to rid themselves of their ceremonials and presence at once?" The general mode of attack by the colonists would involve an early morning raid on the Aboriginal camps. The Hodgsons would "generally employ our [black] boys from distant tribes to act as trackers" to locate defiant groups of Aboriginal people. Sometimes a prisoner was taken and "ordered to conduct us to his own camp on risk of his life" and once at this camp, "we rushed to attack it and we had, notwithstanding, ample revenge". Hodgson describes how Aborigines would try to recover "the corpses of those who had fallen victims to
498-536: A distance of around 170 km (110 mi). The rich volcanic soil in the region helps maintain the 159 public parks that are scattered across the city. Jacaranda , camphor laurel and plane trees line many of the city streets. The city's reputation as 'The Garden City' is highlighted during the Australian Carnival of Flowers festival held in September each year. Deciduous trees from around
581-518: A distinct four seasons and is home to festivals including the Carnival of Flowers . Notable landmarks include Queens and Laurel Bank Park , the Empire Theatre , St James' Palace , and Mt Meewah. The surrounding Darling Downs region is known for its rolling hills and pastures, agricultural produce, and historic homesteads. The exact origin of the city's current name is unknown, although it
664-464: A major artistic and cultural centre with the establishment of the Austral Society . Toowoomba, a city renowned for its cathedrals and universities, is celebrated for its preserved Victorian-era and traditional Queenslander architecture , historic churches and gardens, and vibrant food, and coffee culture . The city boasts street art, laneways, and numerous nature trails. The city experiences
747-699: A number of power stations situated on the Downs, including the Millmerran Power Station , Oakey Power Station , Darling Downs Power Station and the Kogan Creek Power Station . Tarong Power Station is building the state's largest grid battery storage project. The Dingo Fence starts at the town of Jimbour across the country to the Great Australian Bight . Mining exploration leases cover more than 90% of
830-410: A number of sheep stations with more than 150,000 head. Local aboriginals and European squatters co-settled the area from the late 1840s onwards. Darling Downs then became known as the 'jewel in the diadem of squatterdom' with an elite 'pure merino' class living in comfortable houses. In 1854, Charles Douglas Eastaughffe settled in the area. Spicers Gap Road opened up the area in the 1850s. Later
913-434: A radio series. Cucumis pubescens Cucumis melo , also known as melon , is a species of Cucumis that has been developed into many cultivated varieties. The fruit is a pepo . The flesh is either sweet or bland, with or without an aroma, and the rind can be smooth (such as honeydew ), ribbed (such as European cantaloupe ), wrinkled (such as Cassaba melon), or netted (such as American cantaloupe ). The species
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#1732771859375996-635: A reputation for being cooler than many other towns and cities in Queensland. Toowoomba is generally sunny, receiving 103.9 clear days annually on average, mostly in winter. Daily maximum temperatures in Toowoomba average 28 °C (82 °F) in summer and 17 °C (63 °F) in winter. Unlike most of inland Queensland, summer temperatures above 33 °C (91 °F) are uncommon, whilst winter days rarely above 23 °C (73 °F). Winter nights seldom drop below 0 °C (32 °F); however, in
1079-527: A rich source (defined as at least 20% of daily value, or DV) of both vitamin A (68% DV) and vitamin C (61% DV). Other nutrients are at a negligible level. Melons are 90% water and 9% carbohydrates , with less than 1% each of protein and fat . In addition to their consumption when fresh, melons are sometimes dried . Other varieties are cooked, or grown for their seeds, which are processed to produce melon oil. Still other varieties are grown only for their pleasant fragrance. The Japanese liqueur Midori
1162-510: A site where a tourist operator has collected numerous related structures. The region has also a small zoo, Darling Downs Zoo near Clifton. The region has uncovered important megafauna fossil finds. The rich discoveries have lent weight to the theory that humans were not a factor in the extinction of the ancient megafauna species. Many of the fossils in the region date to the Pleistocene and include species such as Diprotodon optatum ,
1245-547: A situation somewhat unique among Queensland cities, snow has been reported on the higher parts of the city on several occasions; this is a trait it shares with the Granite Belt to the south along the Great Dividing Range. Light frost will be experienced several nights each winter in the city centre, more often in the western suburbs. According to the Bureau of Meteorology , the highest temperature ever recorded in Toowoomba
1328-506: A small mail run in the 1800s to transport mail and passengers to Brisbane and beyond. It also houses Australia's largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles. The museum has undergone a A$ 8 million redevelopment before reopening in September 2010. Toowoomba has many heritage-listed sites, with over fifty on the Queensland Heritage Register in addition to listings on other local heritage registers. Toowoomba
1411-643: Is a farming region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland, Australia . The Downs are to the west of South East Queensland and are one of the major regions of Queensland . The name was generally applied to an area approximating to that of the Condamine River catchment upstream of Condamine township but is now applied to a wider region comprising the Southern Downs , Western Downs , Toowoomba and Goondiwindi local authority areas. The name Darling Downs
1494-567: Is also extracted from streams, off-stream reservoirs and on-farm dams. The lower temperatures of the milder summers in the Stanthorpe and Killarney regions allows farmers to grow lettuce, celery, brassicas and potato. The Darling Downs contains the largest deposit of rich black agricultural soils in Australia. A commonly grown grass species Panicum coloratum , also known as Bambatsi, is well-suited for pastures used for grazing because it
1577-598: Is flavored with melon. There is debate among scholars whether the abattiach in The Book of Numbers 11:5 refers to a melon or a watermelon . Both types of melon were known in Ancient Egypt and other settled areas. Some botanists consider melons native to the Levant and Egypt, while others n Persia , India or Central Asia, thus the origin is uncertain. Researchers have shown that seeds and rootstocks were among
1660-411: Is just over 218 kilometres as the crow flies . In 1899, George Essex Evans published his theory in a pamphlet. He wrote that "Toowoomba" was an Aboriginal word meaning "meeting of the waters", although no evidence was provided to support this claim. Toowoomba is on the crest of the Great Dividing Range , around 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level. A few streets lie on the eastern edge of
1743-539: Is no evidence that the melon grew near the Toowoomba swamps. A man named Enoggera Charlie proposed another theory in a news story he wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald . He claimed that when he was looking for work as a tar boy, he camped overnight near the Toowoomba Swamp. He claimed that when he asked a shepherd about the naming of the Toowoomba Swamp, he was told that near the junction of
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#17327718593751826-590: Is now called The Downs include Dalby , Warwick , Stanthorpe , Wallangarra , Goondiwindi , Oakey , Miles , Pittsworth , Allora , Clifton , Cecil Plains , Drayton , Millmerran , Nobby , and Chinchilla . The New England Highway , Gore Highway and the Warrego Highway traverse the region. The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing has been constructed so that heavy traffic can avoid passing through Toowoomba. Coolmunda Dam , Leslie Dam , Cooby Dam , Perseverance Dam , Cressbrook Dam , Storm King Dam and
1909-565: Is rich in nutrients, but are vulnerable to downy mildew and anthracnose . Disease risk is reduced by crop rotation with non- cucurbit crops, avoiding crops susceptible to similar diseases as melons. Cross pollination has resulted in some varieties developing resistance to powdery mildew . Insects attracted to melons include the cucumber beetle , melon aphid , melonworm moth and the pickleworm . Melons are monoecious or andromonoecious plants. They do not cross with watermelon , cucumber , pumpkin , or squash , but varieties within
1992-405: Is sometimes referred to as muskmelon , but there is no consensus about the usage of this term, as it can also be used as a specific name for the musky netted-rind American cantaloupe, or as a generic name for any sweet-flesh variety such the inodorous smooth-rind honeydew melon. The origin of melons is not known. Research has revealed that seeds and rootstocks were among the goods traded along
2075-525: Is suitable to the heavy-cracking clay soils found in the area. The eastern Downs feature a wide range of soil types. Brothers Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Ziesemer and Theodor Martin Peter Ziesemer were significant pioneers of large scale wheat farming on the Darling Downs. The area is home to Australia's largest concentration of feedlots. In 2010, two abattoirs at Pittsworth and Killarney owned by Dudley Leitch were closed. Several other plants in
2158-425: Is the only natural lake on the tablelands. The town of Jandowae gained fame after offering vacant blocks of land for just $ 1. This was done to encourage residents to settle in the small town which had less than 1,000 people in 2001. The Cobb & Co Museum has displays of horse-drawn vehicles and material on the history of the Darling Downs. The Jondaryan Woolshed is a heritage-listed shearing shed situated at
2241-728: Is the seat of the Toowoomba Region local government area . The city is represented in the Parliament of Queensland by three seats: Toowoomba North , Toowoomba South and Condamine . In the Commonwealth Parliament , Toowoomba forms part of the Division of Groom , which is held by Garth Hamilton for the Liberal National Party of Queensland . Darling Downs The Darling Downs
2324-470: Is widely accepted that the name derives from an Aboriginal language. When Toowoomba was first discovered by Europeans, it was named "Drayton Swamp" (in reference to the Toowoomba Swamp) and was often nicknamed "The Swamp". One theory is that after European settlement, the local Aboriginal people referred to it as "Tawampa", which is borrowed from "The Swamp". Another theory is that it derives from
2407-580: The Baranggum people . The Baranggum language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Western Downs Regional Council , particularly Dalby , Tara , Jandowae and west towards Chinchilla . Originally, the Darling Downs was covered with a wealth of indigenous grasses which created an ideal verdure for stock eight months of the year. The Darling Downs Aboriginals had an annual burning season at
2490-721: The Bunya Mountains National Park . The region to the north is the South Burnett and the Maranoa lies to the west. A section of the western downs lies over coal deposits of the Surat Basin . Towards the coast, the mountains of the Scenic Rim form the headwaters of the westward flowing Condamine. The majority of the Darling Downs has a humid subtropical climate although some areas experience
2573-665: The Darling Downs , bordered on the east by the Great Dividing Range and 160 kilometres (100 mi) west of the settlement of Moreton Bay . In 1840, Patrick Leslie (second son of the ninth Laird of Warthill ) and Peter Murphy established Toolburra Station 56 miles (90 km) south-west of Toowoomba, being the first British pastoralists to take land on the Downs. Later that same year, Eton College graduate, Arthur Hodgson , together with Gilbert Elliot and Cocky Rogers established "Eton Vale" on land which included "The Swamp", now known as Toowoomba. In forming Eton Vale , Hodgson's brother Christopher Pemberton Hodgson , later described
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2656-612: The Giabal and Jarowair people. The city's central streets were named after the history of the House of Stuart . The city became the viceregal summer retreat of Queensland's governors . The city witnessed several significant events during Australia's Victorian period , including the War of Southern Queensland and Battle of One Tree Hill . During the Federation period , Toowoomba emerged as
2739-618: The Glenlyon Dam are some of the major water storage facilities in the area. West of Toowoomba is the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport . The Darling Down is situated in the drainage basins of the Condamine River and Maranoa River and tributaries. The Condamine River flood plain is noted for its good soils formed by basaltic alluvium . On the northern boundaries of the Downs are the Bunya Mountains and
2822-481: The Great Artesian Basin , light planes crop -dusting, rusty old woolsheds and other scattered remnants from a bygone era of early exploration and settlement. The region is recognised as a cultural icon on the list of Queensland's Q150 icons. The largest city and commercial centre of the Darling Downs is Toowoomba about 132 kilometres (82 mi) west of Brisbane . Other towns situated on what
2905-463: The Hunter Region and travelling north. In June 1827, Cunningham climbed to the top of Mount Dumaresque (near what is now Clintonvale close to Maryvale ) and after wrote in his diary that this lush area was ideal for settlement. Exploring around Mount Dumaresque, Cunningham found a pass, now known as Cunninghams Gap . Cunningham returned to Moreton Bay in 1828 and with Charles Fraser charted
2988-519: The Q150 celebrations, the Darling Downs was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "location". Steele Rudd (Arthur Davis) wrote a series of comic novels on rural life, starting with On Our Selection (1899), about Dad, Mother and Dave Rudd of Snake Gully. The Rudds had four (or six) acres adjoining a sheep run in the Darling Downs. The stories were made into films and
3071-695: The RAAF and the US Army Air Forces at a total cost of £900,000 ($ 1,800,000). In 1985, the show left the Toowomba Showgrounds for the new site in Glenvale . Toowoomba was named as Australia's Tidiest Town in 2008. On 10 January 2011, Toowoomba suffered a catastrophic flash flood . Unusually heavy rainfall had occurred in the preceding days, causing the city's waterways to become swollen. Around midday, an intense storm moved in from
3154-500: The "constant skirmishes with the natives" to wrest control of the area off the local Aboriginal people. He wrote that hundreds of Aborigines were killed in a bitter war that lasted three years from the time they arrived in the area. The interior of Eton Vale homestead was decorated with spears and boomerangs and other spoil which the Hodgsons had collected after hard fought battles with "the blacks". Hodgson wrote "who would not rather put
3237-609: The 1900s. In July 1902, 80 subdivided allotments of "The Lilley Estate" owned by the late Sir Charles Lilley, were advertised to be auctioned by Scholefield & Godsall. A map advertising the auction shows that the estate was bordered by Bridge, Mary and Lindsay Streets and overlooking and adjoining the Royal Agricultural Society's Showgrounds. In 1905, the Royal Agricultural Society and the Drayton and Toowoomba Agricultural and Horticultural Society merged and
3320-895: The Armenian cucumber and Serpent cucumber, is a non-sweet melon found throughout Asia from Turkey to Japan. It is similar to a cucumber in taste and appearance. Outside Asia, snake melons are grown in the United States, Italy, Sudan and parts of North Africa, including Egypt. The snake melon is more popular in Arab countries. Other varieties grown in Africa are bitter, cultivated for their edible seeds. For commercially grown varieties certain features like protective hard netting and firm flesh are preferred for purposes of shipping and other requirements of commercial markets. Per 100 gram serving, cantaloupe melons provide 34 calories and are
3403-568: The CBD to form Gowrie Creek. Gowrie Creek drains west across the Darling Downs and is a tributary of the Condamine River , part of the Murray–Darling basin . The water flowing down Gowrie Creek travels approximately 3,000 km (1,900 mi) to the mouth of the Murray River near Adelaide , South Australia. Rain falling on the easternmost streets of Toowoomba flows east to Moreton Bay ,
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3486-515: The Darling Downs were fertile wilderness . For example, around Ma Ma Creek, rich swampy wetlands provided a haven for many animal species not currently found on the downs. The Darling Downs hopping mouse and paradise parrot have both become extinct since cattle farming began. The New Acland Mine expansion, north of Oakey, has been delayed by the largest environmental public interest court cases in Australian history. In 2009 as part of
3569-464: The Darling Downs. The western Downs has seen a massive installation of coal seam gas wells. After agriculture and mining and manufacturing are the next most important sectors. Manufacturing focuses on food and beverages but also the production of machinery, equipment and metal products. The region produces around one quarter of the state's agricultural output. Water for irrigation is mostly sourced from groundwater from alluvial aquifers . Water
3652-456: The East and West Swamps, there was a log with an inscription informing swagmen of the way to a well-known homestead where food rations were available. He claimed that the inscription read "To Woombrah". A man named Ardlaw Lawrence put forward his theory shortly after Enoggera Charlie. He suggested that the name was an Anglicised form of "Boowoomga", which comes from the term for "thunder" in
3735-650: The Empire Theatre is now the largest regional theatre in Australia. The former Drayton railway station now functions as the DownSteam heritage railway and museum . Rollingstock includes the only surviving C16 Class , No. 106 "Pride of Toowoomba", Built in 1914 and originally retired in Cairns by 1964. The city also is home to the Cobb & Co Museum , hailing to the famous mail company's beginnings as
3818-664: The Gummingurru Aboriginal Corporation and is an important ceremonial place for not only the traditional groups but neighbouring groups. Toowoomba's colonial history traces back to when English botanist and explorer Allan Cunningham arrived in Australia from Brazil . He conducted an inland expedition north from the New England region and in June 1827 encountered 4 million acres (16,000 km) of rich farming and grazing land, which he named as
3901-519: The Kamabroi dialect. The Downs tribes spoke one common dialect, called Waccah and so to all other surrounding tribes were known as the Wacca-burra. The Goonnee-burra were once situated where Warwick stands today. Goonnee meant "the ones who hunt with fire". Allan Cunningham set out to explore the area to the west of Moreton Bay in 1827, crossing to the west of the Great Dividing Range from
3984-490: The Toowoomba Showgrounds on Campbell Street became the sole venue for the annual show. The Rotary Club of Toowoomba was established in 1930. During World War II , Toowoomba was the location of RAAF No.7 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (IAFD), completed in 1942 and closed on 29 August 1944. Usually consisting of 4 tanks, 31 fuel depots were built across Australia for the storage and supply of aircraft fuel for
4067-470: The area were also closed leaving the remaining meat processor at Yangan in high demand. By late 2012, the industry was recovering with smaller processing facilities at Crows Nest and Inglewood opening. In 2014, the Oakey Abattoir which is the fourth largest meat processing plant in Australia, launched an environmental initiative to extract green energy biogas from its waste water streams. It
4150-519: The building. However, the Empire was rebuilt and reopened in November 1933. The architectural styling of the new Empire Theatre was art deco , in keeping with the trend of the 1930s. After years of neglect, the Empire Theatre was extensively renovated in the late 1990s, but retains much of its art deco architecture and decorations, especially the proscenium arch. Able to seat approximately 1,500 people,
4233-623: The caravan routes of the Ancient World. Some botanists consider melons native to the Levant and Egypt, while others place their origin in Iran, India or Central Asia. Still others support an African origin, and in modern times wild melons can still be found in some African countries. The melon is an annual , trailing herb. It grows well in subtropical or warm, temperate climates. Melons prefer warm, well-fertilized soil with good drainage that
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#17327718593754316-558: The decade up to 2016. The landscape is dominated by rolling hills covered by pastures of many different species, vegetables , legumes such as soy beans and chick peas, and other crops including cotton , wheat , barley and sorghum . Between the farmlands there are long stretches of crisscrossing roads, bushy ridges, winding creeks and herds of cattle. There are farms with beef and dairy cattle , pigs , sheep and lamb stock. Other typical sights include irrigation systems, windmills serving as water well pumps to get water from
4399-558: The dialect spoken by the Aboriginal tribe inhabiting areas along the Upper Burnett River (including the town of Gayndah ). However, it is highly unlikely that this theory is correct, as this dialect was not spoken in the Darling Downs region (but rather in the Wide Bay-Burnett region) and Lawrence did not state why he transferred the name to the Darling Downs. In fact, the distance between Toowoomba and Gayndah
4482-477: The expansion of Queensland Rail 's train networks and Cobb and Co 's stagecoach transport greatly assisted access to the region. Gold was found in the district around this time, however it was agricultural activity that provided for the boom times ahead. The 1891 Australian shearers' strike started at Jondaryan . The Darling Downs experienced a water crisis as the Condamine River dried up during
4565-496: The heritage-listed Russell Street. Immediately to the east of the CBD is the Caledonian Estate, an area of turn-of-the-20th-century housing, ranging from humble workers cottages to large stately homes, in the classic wooden Queenslander style. Toowoomba is also home to the Empire Theatre , which was originally opened in June 1911, as a silent movie house . In February 1933, fire broke out, almost completely destroying
4648-625: The landscape within the local government boundaries of the Toowoomba Regional Council, particularly Toowoomba north to Crows Nest and west to Oakey . This traditional landscape changed dramatically from 1840 with the incursion of British pastoralists into the region. Those Aboriginal Australians that survived the frontier conflict of this time were pushed to the fringe of society in camps and later moved to missions such as Deebing Creek , Durundur and later Barambah (now Cherbourg ). Some local Aboriginal Australians worked on
4731-496: The largest-ever marsupial . In 2021, examination of a partial skull revealed a site on the Darling Downs was the location for a new species of Tomistominae crocodile, representing the largest extinct crocodile species ever discovered in Australia. The Darling Downs Golf Association has 21 affiliated golf clubs on the Darling Downs. The Carnival of Flowers attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists to Toowoomba each September since 1950. Before European settlement many areas on
4814-512: The name "Toogoom". This theory was first proposed by author Steele Rudd in a letter to the Toowoomba City Council . He claimed that his father told him that in 1848, he first saw Toowoomba and that he assisted in laying it out the following year. He believed that it derived from the native name "Toogoom" because of the reeds that grew in the area. Rudd also wrote that he remembered that the original Aboriginal name for "The Swamp"
4897-427: The north-west summer temperatures can surpass 45 °C (113 °F). Severe thunderstorms and damaging floods are a threat at times, as are bushfires in dry years. Part of the Darling Downs, which includes the towns of Allora, Clifton, Warwick, Killarney and the rocky district in the south known as the Granite Belt , is known as the Southern Downs . The phrase is also used to define political boundaries and in
4980-516: The northeast, completely overwhelming East Creek and West Creek which run through the CBD. 149.6 mm (5.89 in) fell in one day with rainfall peaking at 144 mm/h (5.7 in/h) over one 10-minute interval. The flood caused damage to properties and infrastructure, and resulted in the deaths of 2 people in Toowoomba. At the 2016 census , the Urban Centre of Toowoomba recorded a population of 100,032 people. Of these: Toowoomba has
5063-521: The peak rainy months. Like most of south-east Queensland, severe thunderstorms can be a threat and Toowoomba may occasionally be affected by ex-tropical cyclones . Toowoomba's history has been preserved in its buildings. Examples of architecture drawing from the city's wealthy beginnings include Toowoomba City Hall which was Queensland's first purpose-built town hall, the National Trust Royal Bull's Head Inn and many examples in
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#17327718593755146-571: The population of the Darling Downs was estimated to be 241,537 people. In 2022, the Wieambilla police shootings took place, marking the first fundamentalist Christian terrorist attack in Australia. The Queensland Gas Pipeline oil pipeline and the Roma to Brisbane Pipeline, Australia's first natural gas pipeline both cross the region from west to east. There are three coal mines , New Acland Mine , Kogan Creek Mine and Cameby Downs coal mine and
5229-467: The prefix "too-" and omitted one "Woomba" (as this would be a synonym of "two Woomba"), hence "Toowoomba". In 1875, William Henry Groom wrote an account of Toowoomba. He stated that "Toowoomba" derived from the Aboriginal term "great in the future". However, he did not provide a source for his information. Another theory was proposed by botanist Archibald Meston in a book titled A Geographical History of Queensland . He wrote: "Toowoom" or "Choowom"
5312-406: The previous two decades. Toowoomba is the second-most-populous inland city in Australia after the nation's capital, Canberra . It is also the second-largest regional centre in Queensland, and is often referred to as the capital of the Darling Downs. The city serves as the council seat of the Toowoomba Region . Toowoomba, one of Australia's oldest inland cities, was founded in 1849 on the lands of
5395-539: The promotion of tourism in the area. The Dumaresq and the MacIntyre are found in this part of the region. (This is different to the IBRA subregion also known as The Southern Downs Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia , which is further west, around the towns of Roma, Mitchell and Injune). Baranggum (also known as Barrunggam, Barunggam Parrungoom, Murrumgama) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by
5478-401: The properties around Toowoomba in this contact period. Ceremonies such as the Bonye Bonye festival remained active until the late 19th century – groups from south east and south west Queensland as well as northern New South Wales gathered at Gummingurru, near Gowrie (west of Toowoomba) prior to attending the festival. The Gummingurru site with its ancient stone circles is being restored by
5561-405: The range, but the majority of the city is situated west of the divide. The city is situated on the edge of the range and the low ridges behind it. Two valleys extend north from the southern boundary, originating from springs on either side of Middle Ridge near Spring Street, at an altitude of approximately 680 metres (2,230 ft). These waterways, East Creek and West Creek, converge just north of
5644-416: The rest of Queensland due to its elevation. Altitudes from 680 m to over 1200 m above sea level make it ideally suited to premium wine production. The region is popular with tourists because of its many natural and heritage attractions, including the Goomburra State Forest, Cunninghams Gap , Spicers Gap and the Queen Mary Falls near Killarney in the Main Range National Park . Lake Broadwater
5727-419: The route through the pass to the Darling Downs. Ludwig Leichhardt in 1844 saw the remains of a camp showing the signs of white men through ridge poles and steel axes. News of the lush pastures quickly spread resulting in a land grab that authorities in the distant New South Wales colony found difficult to stop. Patrick Leslie was the first European person to settle on the Darling Downs in 1840, establishing
5810-467: The severe drought of 1994/1995. During the early 20th century dairy was a significant industry for Queensland. The 1930s saw the peaking of the dairy industry on the Downs with 6,500 farms and over 200,000 milking cows. The Downs Co-operative Dairy Association expanded, constructed or purchased at least 10 butter and cheese factories across the Darling Downs. The Downs Co-operative Dairy Association Limited Factory in Toowoomba closed in 2006. In 2010,
5893-449: The species intercross frequently. The genome of Cucumis melo was first sequenced in 2012. Some authors treat C. melo as having two subspecies, C. melo agrestis and C. melo melo . Variants within these subspecies fall into groups whose genetics largely agree with their phenotypic traits, such as disease resistance, rind texture, flesh color, and fruit shape. Variants or landraces (some of which were originally classified as species; see
5976-506: The synonyms list to the right) include C. melo var. acidulus (Mangalore melon), adana , agrestis (wild melon), ameri (summer melon), cantalupensis ( cantaloupe ), reticulatus ( muskmelon ), chandalak , chate , chito , conomon ( Oriental pickling melon ), dudaim (pocket melon), flexuosus ( snake melon ), inodorus (winter melon), momordica (snap melon), tibish , chinensis and makuwa ( Oriental melon ). Not all varieties are sweet melons. The snake melon , also called
6059-478: The time when the indigenous grasses were ripe and dry. The annual fires gave the local Aboriginals of the Darling Downs the name "Goonneeburra" or "Fire Blacks" – "goonnee" being a name for fire and "burra" a generic word for the whole race. This is what the Downs tribes were known as to the coastal Aborigines who inhabited the Moreton Bay area. Murri is a wider-spread generic word meaning the whole race but in
6142-480: The white man's gun in defiance of a sentry on the lookout". Those who were at peace with the Hodgson brothers, were kept in line with methods such as the taking of young boys from the tribe as hostages. Hodgson claimed that if the local Aboriginal people were to be considered a species of simia acaudata or tail-less monkey, they had to be "hunted down and exterminated". Towards the end of the 1840s, closer settlement
6225-517: The wish of locals and a new municipality was proclaimed on 24 November 1860. The first town council election took place on 4 January 1861 and William Henry Groom won. The railway from Ipswich was opened in 1867, bringing with it business development. In 1892, the Under Secretary of Public Land proclaimed Toowoomba and the surrounding areas as a township and in 1904 Toowoomba was declared a city. Pastoralism replaced agriculture and dairying by
6308-478: The world line many of the parks, giving a display of autumn colour. The City of Toowoomba includes the following suburbs: - from former Shire of Jondaryan Giabal and Jarowair are recognised as the two main Aboriginal language groups of the Toowoomba with Giabal extending south of the city while Jarowair extends north of the city. The Jarowair (also known as Yarowair, Yarow-wair, Barrunggam, Yarrowair, Yarowwair and Yarrow-weir) language region includes
6391-528: Was Chinkery Yackan meaning "water like the stars". Another theory was proposed by the wife of pioneer Toowoomba resident Thomas Alford. She claimed to have asked the Aboriginals what they called the area; they replied with "Woomba Woomba", meaning "the springs and the water underneath". However, she claimed that the Alfords thought this would not be a suitable name for their house and store, so they added
6474-410: Was 40.8 °C (105.4 °F) on 12 February 2017, while the lowest was −4.4 °C (24.1 °F) on 12 July 1965. Average annual rainfall is 735 mm (28.9 in), which peaks in the warm season. Rainfall in the eastern suburbs along the Great Dividing Range nudges 1,000 mm (39 in) per year. The majority of Toowoomba's rain falls from November to March, with January and February being
6557-529: Was given in 1827 by Allan Cunningham , the first European explorer to reach the area and recognises the then Governor of New South Wales , Ralph Darling . The region has developed a strong and diverse agricultural industry largely due to the extensive areas of vertosols (cracking clay soils), particularly black vertosols, of moderate to high fertility and available water capacity . Manufacturing and mining, particularly coal mining are also important, and coal seam gas extraction experienced significant growth in
6640-477: Was occurring and the nearby township of Drayton had grown to the point where it had its own newspaper, general store, trading post and the Royal Bull's Head Inn , which was built by William Horton and still stands today. The first Britishers began to live at "The Swamp" (Toowoomba) from 1849, where Josiah Dent, William Shuttleworth and William Gurney were employed to cut reeds and timber for use at Drayton. Dent
6723-453: Was said to have "lived in a tent, and with his axe, he killed the blacks". In 1852, Thomas Alford established the first store at Toowoomba. Land for the town of Toowoomba at "The Swamp" was first surveyed in 1849, then again in 1853. By 1858 Toowoomba was growing fast. It had a population of 700, three hotels and many stores. Land selling at £4 per acre (£10 per hectare) in 1850 was by then £150 per acre (£370 per hectare). Governor Bowen granted
6806-405: Was the first ever use of a covered lagoon to treat effluent. In the Southern Downs region surrounding Stanthorpe in an area called the Granite Belt there are now over sixty cellar doors, wineries, and vineyards. The industry first began as a table grape growing region that by the mid-1960s was starting to plant wine grape cultivars. This region has a subtropical highland climate atypical to
6889-481: Was the local blacks' name for a small native melon ( Cucumis pubescens ) which grew plentifully on the site of the township. The terminal "ba" is equal to the adverb "There", so the whole word means "melons there", and to an Aborigine it meant "the place where the melon grows". While this melon still exists and can be found in areas along the Balonne and Warrego Rivers , as well as in areas closer to Toowoomba, there
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