Toowoomba Off The Beaten Path

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Jondaryan is a working woolshed, and a rural heritage museum. Outdoors, there is allsorts of machinery and different items covering rural history.

Admission includes browsing around the old buildings and collections, seeing sheep, horses, poultry and other animals, and if there at the right time, seeing old skills being used, and Machine's of yesteryear, this is from Wednesday to Sunday.
One of the demonstrations is shearing in the woolshed. Others are seeing the working horses, wagon rides, blacksmithing, and wool spinning.

My favorites are the working horses and watching the sheep dogs round up the sheep, they are so clever, and they save the Farmer a lot of work.

We had a meal of Damper and corn beef and billy tea, YUMMY! The damper is cooked in the open coals of a fire.
Tea and damper only available Wednesday - Sunday

There is accommodation if you wish to stay here, it is very reasonable.

Take the road that leads to Oakey, go past Oakey and its little further on.

Admission is from $9 depending if you have a look on your own, or if you want a guided tour, its $13, these are 2010 prices.

In August, the Heritage Festival is held, Admission then is $15, but this is when everything is happening and the best time to go.

OPEN...........7 Days a week from 10am to 4pm.
Jondaryan Woolshed, 264 Evanslea Road, Jondaryan, 4403

Only 45kms from Toowoomba.

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If you are on the Warrego Highway heading to the Jondaryan woolshed or onto Dalby, then you will pass through the small town of Oakey.

Located here is the Flypast Museum, a museum of Army aircraft flown since World War 2. There are Black Hawks, Kittyhawk, Lancaster, Mustang, Spitfire, to name a few, there are more. An excellent collection of Aviation & aircraft memorabilia.

The Museum is at the Army Airfield, Admission is $5, and its open from 10 -4pm daily.

The Bernborough tourist centre, at 68 Campbell street, Oakey will give the directions of how to get there.

Oakey is located 30kms from Toowoomba

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Driving into Oakey from Toowoomba, we couldn't help but notice the lovely statue of a Horse standing infront of the Jondaryan Shire Council.

The Horse, was the champion Racehorse.... Bernborough [born 1939], who was once known as “Queensland’s greatest racehorse”
Bernborough won some big races carrying huge weights throughout his career.
Carrying 65.5 kilos in the Doomben 10,000, he came from last in the field of 27 to win running away in course record time. He was re-handicapped to 68.5 kilos for the Doomben Cup, and won that as well!

Bernborough was sent to America to stand at stud, at Spendthrift Farm, Kentucky, and it was here he spent his last days and died.

Bernborough will never be forgotten, when the Doomben 10,000 and Doomben Cup come around each year, people tend to think and talk about this great Horse.

Oakey is located 30km from Toowoomba

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Historic homestead, Jimbour House, is located near Dalby.

The inside of this home is not open to the public as it is a private residence, but the gardens [est. 1874] and surrounds are. I didn't mind, as I found it quite pleasing just to wander around the outside.

The driveway in, has Jacarandas on either side, a picture in Spring when they are in full flower.

Surrounding buildings & gardens are a Chapel (1868) Water tower (1870) Jacaranda Avenue (1877) Rose garden, kitchen garden, Bluestone building (1870) Plaques, Cemetery, and the Bulls stalls and stables historic displays.

At the Cellar door, you pay the entrance fee of $5.50 (2008), this covers the living history walk as well, or you can browse around on your own. Afterwards, if liked, there is free wine tasting, and light meals, tea or coffee & cool drinks.

Jimbour House is located via Dalby (85ks from Toowoomba) From Dalby, cross over the railway line, take the road on the right (82) Jandowae road, sign posts will lead you to it.