Roll up the footpaths!
by tiabunna
After we reached Toowoomba and settled into our overnight accommodation, we decided to have a short look around the central city before our evening meal. When we arrived in the late afternoon, most people were finishing work and the traffic was reasonably busy. By six PM when we went sightseeing, the main city area had been comprehensively evacuated, there were few vehicles, and almost nothing was open.
To be fair, in Australia this effect is not unique to Toowoomba, but it seemed more pronounced than usual. One of the brochures in our room carried the claim that Toowoomba hosts Australia’s largest gospel singing event – maybe the town comes alive a little more then! Actually, quite a few events were listed, but our visit coincided with none of them.
With very few people or vehicles, it became easy to take photos of some of the interesting buildings dating from the early 1900s. Toowoomba certainly has far more parks than most Australian cities, I’ve included photos of two with this tip – one fairly formal, the other less so.
LAUREL BANK PARK - THE SCENTED GARDENS
by balhannah
The Scented Garden was especially built as a garden for visually impaired people.
The area has mass plantings of richly perfumed plants, herbs and flowers.
Paths are wide, and winding there way amongst trees , water features, and the perfumed plantings. It is an easy access for wheel chairs, and the picnic tables have also been designed to cope with wheel chair users.
A lovely, unique garden area.............FREE
As well as this area, the park is quite large, with plenty of other beautiful plantings, shrubs and Trees.
One area of particular beauty, is the large arbor of Wisteria.
Gardens & Gardeners Galore!
by balhannah
"QUEENSLAND'S GARDEN CITY - TOOWOOMBA"
"News Flash!"
JANUARY 10th 2011, and Toowoomba and the surrounding towns of Murphy's Creek, Grantham & Withcott have been devasted by an ALMIGHTY FLOOD.
Can you imagine 10" or 250mills of rain falling in 1 hour, incredible!!
This flood was a once in a life time event, described as an inland Tsunami.
It caught people unaware, coming unexpectedly with such force and speed, that some lost their lives. There is a tremendous amount of damage, and a lot of people without homes.
My heart and prayers go out to these people, and I do hope that we never see anything like this happen again, once in history is enough!
About Toowoomba
Toowoomba is a modern city, with beautiful heritage buildings & modern ones interspersed amongst them.
The magnificently restored art deco Empire Theatre is one of these, this Theatre attracts regular performances.
Located on the edge of the Great Dividing Range, 700 metres above sea level, Toowoomba is known for its open spaces, parks, and as the "GARDEN CITY."
It is located about and hour and a half from Brisbane, an easy drive on good roads.
One of the city's famous vantage points is Picnic Point, from where you can explore the graded walks along the range escarpment, or sit back, relax and take in the view.
Views are had, overlooking the fertile, vegetable growing area of Lockyer Valley, parts of Toowoomba, and Table Top Mountain.
PICNIC POINT IS A MUST VISIT
Because of where its located, it experiences the four seasons, so foliage will change colour for Autumn, unlike Brisbane.
In Winter, it is quite cold, and in Summer, generally cooler than Brisbane.
The city has two sign posted scenic tours that you can do, this way you can see all the main sights.
A well signposted drive for visitors will take you past the city's finest architecture, including City Hall, the National Trust Royal Bulls Head Inn and Heritage Street and historic Russel Street.
A visit to the Cobb & Co Museum is a must as it houses Australia's largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles.
Toowoomba really is Queensland's Garden City, with more than 240 public parks and gardens.
In spring, the gardens are an extravaganza of colour, and the city celebrates with its Carnival of Flowers, held each year in September.
From mid-January to mid-February the city is again ablaze with floral colour.
From March to May tints of red and gold, mark the Autumn showing, when you can walk through Queens Park amongst the blanket of fallen oak and willow leaves.
Garden lovers will be kept busy exploring the city's internationally themed gardens the University of Southern Queensland's Japanese Gardens, the Wetlands of the World and the New Zealand themed park at Lake Annand.
If you would like to stroll among the flowers, visit the meticulously tended Queens Park Gardens at Queens Park or take time out to smell the flowers in Laurel Bank Park.
Use Toowoomba as your base to explore the interesting surrounding towns.
COME TO TOOWOOMBA, I DOUBT IF YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED!
Art gallery park
Side of the Church Hall
"The Strand"
St Patrick's Cathedral
