Roma, Queensland: not only bottle trees!

Sep 20
7 min read

We recently equipped ourselves for a nomadic working existence, offering professional Motel Relief Management. Our first commitment was in Miles for 10 days. Soon after, we took the road west from Gympie again, this time to Roma for a 21-day stint.

Arriving in town, we managed to only visit a few attractions before our work commitment began. But here are some interesting, and hopefully useful, bits of information for you, should you find yourself heading towards Roma.

* 10 things you might not know:

1. Roma is named after the wife of the first Governor of Queensland, George Bowen. She was Lady Diamantina Bowen, previously the Contessa Diamantina di Roma!

2. The first European to explore this region was the famous Sir Thomas Mitchell. He named the area the Fitzroy Downs.

3. Roma is famous for being the birthplace of Australia’s Oil and Gas industry. One of the post-war pipelines still provides gas to Brisbane and Gladstone.

4. Australia is famous for its ‘big things’. But do you know about Roma’s BIG RIG? Standing at 40 metres high, would you climb to the top? There is a viewing platform and a tree walk to add to the experience.

5. The largest cattle-selling centre in Australia is the Roma Saleyards. it draws a crowd! Walk above the cattle and experience the thrill of the saleyards yourself.

6. Roma’s water is sourced from the Great Artesian Basin below it. The first well was dug in 1897.

7. Roma may not have the largest bottle tree in Australia, but Roma’s largest is impressive! Standing 15 metres high, with a girth of 9.62 metres, and a crown of 23 metres, it is a sight to see.

8. Regarding Bottle Trees, did you know that Roma has a remembrance lane lined with Bottle Trees on both sides? Heroes Avenue was created over a hundred years ago to commemorate lives lost in wars since WW1.

9. Roma has a beautiful 3-dimensional clay mural, located at the entrance to the Cultural Centre. Created in 1988 by local artists, it took 2 tonnes of clay mixture. A truly beautiful celebration of Roma and district’s history and development.

10.The largest commercially operated windmill manufactured by Southern Cross stands proudly in Roma.

* Location:

Roma is in the Maranoa district of Southwest Queensland. A favourite slogan in the town is, “Where the country meets the Outback”. The town lies at the junction of two main roads – the Warrego and the Carnarvon highways.

* Population:

In the 2021 Census, the population count for Roma was 6,838 people, with 839 identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

* What to see/do:

The sights and sounds of Roma offer diverse attractions. Here are just a few …

💥 Roma’s BIG RIG and Night Show – Self-guided tours are available. The impressive night show is on every day. It looks back at the trials and challenges through the eyes of a “Roma Rigger” of the early days.

💥 Roma’s bush gardens: an inviting location for everyone, not only bird watchers and plant enthusiasts. A work in progress, it will eventually highlight 15 different vegetation communities from the Roma area. Set around a large body of water, with walking paths and plenty of shade, it’s the perfect place to spend a restful few hours.

💥 Sculptures Outback: during June to September, the Sculptures Outback exhibit is on in town. Free to view, these amazing creations will captivate any art lover!

💥 The Roma Saleyards offer a free guided tour on Tuesdays, the regular sale day, at 08:00. It draws a crowd, so be prepared to be there early! Walk above the cattle and experience the thrill of the saleyards yourself.

💥 Roma has its very own hand-crafted distillery – Western Queensland Spirit. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can experience a unique flavour of the outback.

💥 Heroes Avenue - each bottle tree that lines this lane has a soldier’s name on a plaque beneath it. In some way the person is associated with Roma, and their bravery and sacrifice is celebrated with a lasting tribute.

💥 Up the Creek Museum - a 5^th-generation family’s collection of motoring artefacts collected over the years, all housed in their private ‘Up the Creek’ museum.

💥 History - enthusiasts can take in the beautiful stained-glass windows of St Pauls Anglican Church. There are 50 leadlight windows to admire on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Easter until October.

💥 From there, take a trip to the heritage listed Court House, opened in 1901. If you have read the 19^th-century bushranger novel “Robbery Under Arms” by Rolf Boldrewood (aka Thomas Alexander Browne) you’ll want to see the site of the 1873 trial of the real Captain Starlight, Harry Redford, the bushranger.

💥 4WD enthusiasts - this one is for you! The Grass Tree Drive. Preferably not after, or during, wet weather. The Roma Info Centre provides a map of this +-80km drive over rather rough/sandy terrain. There are interpretive panels at points along the way to watch out for; the highlight of course, is the flora (especially the unusual Grass Trees - Xanthorrhoea thorntonii). Try noting how many animals you spot along the route.

💥 Alternatively, go on a day trip tour with Boobook Explore, where you can view early Aboriginal art and nature on the fringes of the Carnarvon Gorge. Enquire at the Info Centre.

Disclaimer: accommodation/eatery suggestions are based upon review ratings gained from Google maps at the time of writing. It is not feasible to list all the availabilities in a blog post. Remember to do your own research, so that you are not disappointed.

* Where to stay (for caravans/motorhomes):

(Rates at the time of writing)

1. Roma Bowls Club Camp Area: $15 per night with a discount for two or more nights. This is an off-grid camping area. Tel: 0746221146

2. Villa Holiday Park: 67 Northern Rd, Roma. $40 p/night, powered.

3. Roma Gun Club – Roma Clay Target Club: $30 p/night, powered. Tel: 0476674514

4. Big Rig Tourist Park: 4 Mc Dowell St., Roma. $45 p/n, powered. Tel: 0746222538

5. Ups N Downs Caravan Park & Farm Stay: (5 km from Roma) 78 Hartleys Ln, Orange Hill. $30 p/n, powered. Tel: 0407740252

* Where to stay (hotels/motels):

(Rates at the time of writing)

1. Stay @ Pete’s Place: 77 Quintin St, Roma. From $130 p/n. Tel: 0746220010

2. Roma Motel: 11 Bowen Str, Rom. From $137 p/n. Tel: 0746222288

3. 22 on Bowen Motel: 22 Bowen St, Roma. From $150 p/n. Tel: 0423950567

4. Mandalay Motel: 39 Quintin St., Roma. From $159 p/n. Tel: 0746222711

5. Motel Carnarvon: 18 Northern Rd, Roma. From $169 p/n. Tel: 0746221599

6. The Club Hotel Motel: 42 McDowall St, Roma. From $165 p/n. Tel: 0746221322

7. Roma Inland Motor Inn: 12 Northern Rd, Roma. From $205 p/n. Tel: 0746222345

8. The Overlander Homestead Motel: 44767 Warrego Hwy, Roma. From $248 p/n.

Tel: 0746223555

* Where to eat

(Accurate at the time of writing)

These are only a few of the many places to eat:

1. Blue Shed Fish and Chips Café: 81 Charles St.

Monday closed; Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM–8 PM; Sunday 10AM–2:30 PM.

2. Burgers on Bowen: 92a Bowen St.

Monday – Friday 8 AM–7:30 PM. (Closed weekends.)

3. Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant: 60/62 McDowall St.

Daily 5.30 PM-9PM.

4. Roma Kebabs and Curry House: 104 McDowell St.

Monday to Friday 9 AM–8:30 PM; Saturday 10 AM–11:30 PM; Sunday 10 AM–8:30 PM.

5. Roma has a KFC, Domino’s, McDonalds, and a Subway outlet.

* For the history buffs

# The Fitzroy downs?

Exploring the area in 1846, Sir Thomas Mitchell recognised the potential of the plains in the region he then named the Fitzroy Downs. He was right - today Roma is the centre of a rich pastoral and wheat-growing district.

# Battlegrounds

Between 1846 and 1858, British pastoralists and the Aboriginal Mandandanji nation fought harsh battles over European settlement in the area.

# Mount Abundance

Sir Thomas Mitchell had named a nearby hill ‘Mount Abundance’, as he viewed the fertile plains around him. In 1847, Mount Abundance pastoral station – comprising 400,000 acres from Muckadilla Creek on the west to Bungil Creek on the east - was established by Allan MacPherson. In 1849 MacPherson was not happy with the constant battles fought in the area and left for England. In 1856 he sold the run-down station to Stephen Spencer from NSW, who then settled there with his family. They first made use of rough mud huts, before a new homestead was built. In 1861 a post office was opened on the station. The town of Roma was established in the following year. The homestead of Mount Abundance has stood since then; it was expanded from time to time until 1923. In 1992 it was listed in the Queensland Heritage Register. It can be found along the Warrego Highway, +-5 km West from Roma.

# Romavilla Winery

One of the oldest wineries in Queensland was established in 1863, in Roma. Named the 'Romavilla Winery', it began with cuttings brought from Toowoomba by Samuel Bassett. The winery became one of the first in Queensland to produce commercial wines, and was part of the major attractions in Roma. In 2012, its owners retired and sold. The new owners apparently had big plans for the estate. Sadly, the heritage listed building and shed suffered irreparable damage in a fire in June 2023, and had to close. A piece of history lost forever.

If you are travelling through Roma, stop off at the Info Centre. There is so much to see, and it all starts there, at the site of The Big Rig.