Dalby Travel Guide

4 more images

Jimbour is one of the oldest stations on the Darling Downs, dating from 1841. The most prominent landmark on the property is the heritage listed building known as "Jimbour House" which was built by Joshua Peter Bell. The Bell family had already built a substantial home from bluestone and cedar in 1870 (parts of it can still be seen at the back of Jimbour House) but it was the mansion which would leave its mark.

Of particular interest are the beautiful slender Tuscan columns at the front of the building, the beautiful French doors, the broad 'verandahs' on the front and side, and the roof which is covered with imported Welsh slate.

In recent times the home achieved some fame when it was used as a major location in the successful TV mini-series Return to Eden. In addition to the main house and its predecessor, the original Station Store, Church and Water Tower remain from the original station township.

Jimbour Station today comprises just over 11,000 acres, of which 3,000 is cultivated for grain and fodder, and the balance supports a Charolais cattle stud and commercial breeding herd. Jimbour Station has recently established a 52 acre vineyard. Once fully developed Jimbour will become known as one of Australia's unique Wine Tourism attractions.

Jimbour Station also has an ampitheatre. This was constructed in 2005 for the Opera at Jimbour concert, part of the Queensland Music Festival.

This venue was again used in 2007 for another massive crowd of around 7000.

I was in the orchestra playing for both of these concerts.

There is a winery here which produces very nice wine

From Brisbane to Toowoomba by any means you prefer.
Then, from Toowoomba, a train or bus to Dalby (pronounced "Dorlby") takes you past the huge "wheat belt" of Australia and into the sheep and cattle area.
Dalby is not the place where most tourists go.
It's around 2 1/2 hour car trip, 3 1/2 hour train trip from Toowoomba.
It's flat, no hills and farms of wheat, barley, milo and most other grains can be seen as far as the eye can see.

Dalby itself is a good stop off point.
There's dozens of reasonably priced motels and hotels to stay at.
Dalby has Queensland's largest sheep and cattle sales yards, which, on auction day, is worth the experience if you can stand the dust and smell.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: A hat.
Without it, you'll be most uncomfortable.
In summer, it gets to 40 degrees or more.
In winter, it gets to 3 or 4 degrees.

Photo Equipment: A filter lens.
The sun can be so glaring, a good filter lens will give you clearer pictures and delete the mirage that can sometimes dull the shot.

You're already there so why not go a bit further.
From Dalby, you can take a train or bus further west to Tara and eventually to Roma on the "Roma Line".
Roma is the location of Queensland's major oil reserves.
Another line takes you through Chinchilla and the vast sheep and cattle properties.
Most "graziers" (a grazier grows animals, a "farmer" grows grain) will welcome you to stay for a small price or maybe for free if you offer to help around the "station" or help in the "homestead" for a day or 2.

From these western towns, the next stop is "beyond the black stump", a fictitious place indicating the "real bush".
The Americans say "go west", Australians say "go bush".
Beyond the back stump you have such fascinating places as Bollon (capital of the cotton area. Toompine, the last roadside hotel in Austrlia. Betoota, Windorah and Birdsville signal the beginnings of the most beautiful deserts in the world.

For the really adventurous, THIS is where it all happens.

This is the area of my teen years where my father had a small sheep and cattle property.