East Toowoomba’s magnetic pull
This tree-lined suburb has become a must-see destination, attracting locals and visitors from all over Queensland and neighbouring states
THROUGH its museums, cultural events, heritage listings, and astonishingly beautiful gardens, East Toowoomba has the power to not only attract tourists, but also to make locals feel like visitors to the area.
The Cobb + Co. Museum on Lindsay St offers several interactive displays, exhibits and heritage workshops, like blacksmithing, lead-lighting or millinery. It houses the National Carriage Collection, which features 47 vehicles, each of which played a significant role in the development of Queensland.
From passenger coaches, travelling long distances between far-flung Queensland towns, to light and stylish four-wheeled buggies meant for in-town travel, wagons hauling heavy loads across the Darling Downs, carriages for the wealthy and carts pulled by farmers, laden with produce, the history of travel in Queensland holds an interesting insight into how Toowoomba became the transport corridor to the west.
The Coach Shop play area keeps kids busy all day, where they can dress up in old-fashioned clothes and become shop attendants in the old Museum General Store. Kids can also experience the view from horseback on the life-sized horse replica.
Heritage workshops are held at Cobb + Co. regularly and range from short, one-day workshops, to more immersive five-day challenges. Whether participants are beginners interested in learning a new traditional skill, or practitioners looking to enhance their skills, these workshops are tailored to suit everyone.
The Cobb’s Coffee Shop offers visitors everything from fresh scones, to shepherd’s pie, quiche, and muffins. The coffee shop caters for the whole family, with a Little
Cobbers menu also available.
The Heritage-listed Queens Park and Botanic Gardens are popular destinations for both visitors and locals. The picturesque parkland is situated between Margaret and Campbell streets on meticulously manicured land. A kaleidoscope of riotous colour erupts every spring and carries on throughout the warm summer months, while autumn brings with it a radiant show of red, orange and yellow as the massive deciduous trees shake off their leaves.
Combined with the evergreen trees and shrubs, autumn’s multi-coloured carpet makes for spectacular views throughout the park.
It is no surprise why Queens Park is the chosen venue for many community activities and annual events, like the ever popular Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, various fun runs and charity walks, as well as the Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival.
Reinforcing the magnetic pull of Toowoomba and its appeal as a regional hub for sports, arts, culture and education, there are several prestigious schools in the suburb of East Toowoomba drawing student enrolments from all over the Darling Downs.
State and private schools like Toowoomba Grammar School, Fairholme College, Toowoomba East State School, Mater Dei Primary School, Toowoomba Anglican College and Prep, and tertiary institutions like TAFE Queensland and South West campus, provide reason enough for locals and visitors alike to take a trip to East Toowoomba. Toowoomba Grammar’s immaculately sculpted grounds are set on a 52-acre campus, encompassing five major sporting ovals, two indoor swimming pools and eight tennis courts. The school’s aesthetics contribute largely to the overall beauty and natural feel of the suburb and neighbouring CBD. The nearby Toowoomba East State School on Mary St was founded in 1887 and offers excellent facilities (including a heated swimming pool) to about 830 students, from prep to year six. Fairholme College is situated in the north-eastern corner of this leafy suburb and is an extremely popular choice among families far and wide looking to enrol their child in the Garden City.