Toowoomba's History
When explorers laid their eyes on Toowoomba in 1816 and discovered the potential farming land, they became the first settlers of Toowoomba. Now known as “The Garden City” Toowoomba was founded on its rich farming land. To become one of Australia’s gems known for it’s laid back atmosphere and beautiful town buildings. Toowoomba is now a fully-fledged Queensland city offering. Now a rich cultural hub, Toowoomba was once just a small settlement.
These are historical moments that have shaped Toowoomba to become one of the largest inland cities in Australia.
Agriculture startings
Toowoomba is a fantastic inland city 125km west of Brisbane. Situated above the Great Dividing Range, it is surrounded by beautiful scenery. So it’s no secret that the city of Toowoomba got its start from its agricultural offerings. Explorer Allan Cunningham arrived in Toowoomba in 1816. During his botanist studies, he then stumbled upon 4 million acres of farming and grazing land. He saw the potential in the land and became the first European settler in Toowoomba.
The first settlers
Since its initial agricultural startings, within the next 20 years, Toowoomba started to see the boom of town establishments as the Toolburra Station was built and allowed the first settlers to arrive and call Toowoomba home. Forthcoming Tradesmen and businessman helped to make many of the first town buildings and fuel the commerce scene.
In the next few years, there was the further discovery of more swampland. This attracted curious buyers and buying land became a new talking point around its surrounding towns. With more land being sold, the population had grown to 700 by 1858.
To help the influx of new settlers, the growing town built three hotels and more stores.
Establishing the town
By the end of the 18th century, Toowoomba had opened five railway stations and had direct telegraphic communication with Brisbane. Toowoomba was now its own municipality with by the Queensland government claiming William Henry Groom as a member of the Queensland and Legislative Assembly for Toowoomba and Drayton and later becoming a township from the Under Secretary of Public land.
Toowoomba finally became an official Queensland City in 1904, celebrated by Bells and horns played throughout the city for 30 seconds.
World War 2
During world war 2, American soldiers and nurses arrived and transformed Toowoomba into a training hub. Since the war, the town has continued to expand, to serve the public government, and establishing tertiary and training institutes. As a progressive city, they elected their first female mayor in Queensland, a Toowoomba native Nellie E. Robinson in 1967
Since then, Toowoomba has had its first high rise buildings, becoming one of Australia’s blossoming cultural hubs for food and tourist attractions.
Origin of the name Toowoomba
The Queensland city has an interesting backstory to how it got its name Toowoomba. There is no lasting evidence of its meaning. It is theorised to have come from the local Barumggam people.
In their language, it’s theorised to mean the swamp or reeds of a swamp. However, the city name became official in 1858 from a settler Thomas Alford. He named one his properties Toowoomba and later became the official name for Toowoomba.
These are historical moments that have shaped Toowoomba to become one of the largest inland cities in Australia.
Agriculture startings
Toowoomba is a fantastic inland city 125km west of Brisbane. Situated above the Great Dividing Range, it is surrounded by beautiful scenery. So it’s no secret that the city of Toowoomba got its start from its agricultural offerings. Explorer Allan Cunningham arrived in Toowoomba in 1816. During his botanist studies, he then stumbled upon 4 million acres of farming and grazing land. He saw the potential in the land and became the first European settler in Toowoomba.
The first settlers
Since its initial agricultural startings, within the next 20 years, Toowoomba started to see the boom of town establishments as the Toolburra Station was built and allowed the first settlers to arrive and call Toowoomba home. Forthcoming Tradesmen and businessman helped to make many of the first town buildings and fuel the commerce scene.
In the next few years, there was the further discovery of more swampland. This attracted curious buyers and buying land became a new talking point around its surrounding towns. With more land being sold, the population had grown to 700 by 1858.
To help the influx of new settlers, the growing town built three hotels and more stores.
Establishing the town
By the end of the 18th century, Toowoomba had opened five railway stations and had direct telegraphic communication with Brisbane. Toowoomba was now its own municipality with by the Queensland government claiming William Henry Groom as a member of the Queensland and Legislative Assembly for Toowoomba and Drayton and later becoming a township from the Under Secretary of Public land.
Toowoomba finally became an official Queensland City in 1904, celebrated by Bells and horns played throughout the city for 30 seconds.
World War 2
During world war 2, American soldiers and nurses arrived and transformed Toowoomba into a training hub. Since the war, the town has continued to expand, to serve the public government, and establishing tertiary and training institutes. As a progressive city, they elected their first female mayor in Queensland, a Toowoomba native Nellie E. Robinson in 1967
Since then, Toowoomba has had its first high rise buildings, becoming one of Australia’s blossoming cultural hubs for food and tourist attractions.
Origin of the name Toowoomba
The Queensland city has an interesting backstory to how it got its name Toowoomba. There is no lasting evidence of its meaning. It is theorised to have come from the local Barumggam people.
In their language, it’s theorised to mean the swamp or reeds of a swamp. However, the city name became official in 1858 from a settler Thomas Alford. He named one his properties Toowoomba and later became the official name for Toowoomba.