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Warwick, Queensland

Updated: Aug 29

We took a drive to Warwick, expecting to encounter a sleepy little country ‘town’.


Well, did we get a surprise! Welcome to Warwick, the 'Rose Capital'.


While house-sitting in Mt Marshall, we quickly realised that the nearby city of Warwick was the best venue to pick up supplies. We were greeted by a bustling hive of activity with the most beautiful architecture dotted around the city.

Town Hall, Warwick
Warwick Town Hall, housing the Info Centre.

Situated in the Southern Downs on the Condamine River, Warwick offers a variety of things to see and do, to suit all kinds of travellers. Rich in diverse cultural history, with local fresh produce, foodie outlets to delight, art galleries, architecture, parks, and gardens.  A great weekend getaway, a mere 2 hours from Brisbane. Or, if you’re passing through, spend a few hours and check out some of the interesting sights.

* 10 things you might not know:


rodeo sculpture
  • Three scenic country drives begin in Warwick … i) The Sunflower Route, a

50-km round trip through picturesque farmland with panoramic views via Nobby and Clifton. (Sunflowers can be viewed between January and mid-March, depending on rainfall levels). ii) The Settlers Route, a 72-km round trip, travels through farmland and historic villages at the base of The Main Range, via Yangan, Tannymorel, and Killarney, the latter situated only 8 km from the Queensland/ NSW border. iii) The Cedar Route, named after the huge red trees that were once prolific in the region in earlier days. The route winds along back roads for a 66-km round trip via Goomburra and Freestone.

  • The Condamine River often floods, cutting the town in two.

  • Warwick was one of the earliest settlements in Queensland. The Leslie brothers were squatters in the area in 1840, on what they called Canning Downs. They erected a dwelling in 1846 and named the town that was to be developed, Cannington. No one knows how it eventually came to be named Warwick.

  • Three Qld Premiers were born in Warwick: the 12th premier, the 16th premier and the 37th premier – Thomas Joseph Byrnes (1860 – 1898); Sir Arthur Morgan (1856–1916); and Anna Maria Bligh (1960 - ).

  • A statue of Thomas J Byrnes stands at the intersection of two main roads in the city.

  • Warwick is known as the Rose City and the ‘Horsepower’ capital.

  • Warwick is home to the popular Morgan Park Raceway, a prominent motorsport venue.

  • Warwick hosts its famous Rodeo Festival and Rose Festival in October each year.

  • The designer of the famous ‘Horsepower’ iron sculpture in Queens Park, John Simpson, spent 14 years planning and campaigning for it but sadly passed away a few months before it could be erected.

  • Warwick has its own Arafuto rose variety – ‘The city of Warwick’.

rose
In Queen's Park. Not the Warwick Rose, but beautiful nonetheless.

* Location


Warwick is located in southeast Queensland, 130 km south-west of Brisbane.  The Southern Downs is the local government area. The surrounding agricultural region is known as the Darling Downs. The 500 km-long Condamine River runs through the town, from east to north-west. An hour's drive takes one to the nearest (larger) city of Toowoomba. The Cunningham and New England Highways enter Warwick from the north. The Cunningham then goes on towards Goondiwindi, while the New England Highway winds towards Stanthorpe.

* Population


According to the 2021 census, 12,294 people, with 8% (983) listed as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.


* What to see/do


💥 Horsepower: Warwick's Story of the Horse sculpture in Queen’s Park pays homage to the role of horses in society, and highlights the Lighthorse Troop, farmers during World War I and Warwick's famous horse sports, namely the rodeo, eventing, racing, and polo.

💥 View 14 cultural sites and early sandstone architecture on the self-guided City Walk Trail.

💥  Take the city drive trail to view another 15 diverse examples of early architecture and cultural places of interest.

💥  Plan a heritage steam train ride with the Downs Explorer.

💥  Take one of the many scenic roundtrip drives from Warwick.

💥  Enjoy a picnic at the nearby Leslie Dam. If you’re into fishing, try catching one of the famous Murray Cod.

fish statue
Statue of a pair of Murray Cod along the Condamine River Walk

💥  Walk along the famous Condamine River Walk, from the Rotary Park through the Federation Park, and view some of the many sandstone sculptures to be found in Warwick.

💥  Visit Pringle Cottage (built in 1870) and the Historical Society’s Museum Complex at 81 Dragon Street, Warwick.

💥  Take a drive out of town to the Glengallen Homestead and Heritage Centre to view one of only 2 unique sandstone homesteads in Queensland and enjoy a delicious homemade high tea in their welcoming café. A self-guided tour through the house narrates its sad history.

cafe
Scones with cream and jam at Glengallen Homestead

💥  Visit the Darling Downs Zoo, located off the New England Highway towards Pilton, on the Gatton/Clifton Road. It is an easy 44-kilometre drive to Queensland's privately owned, regional zoo, divided into 4 geographical areas – Africa, South-East Asia, South America, and Australia. On their website, they mention that the zoo specialises in the captive husbandry and breeding of many critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species from around the world. Open from 9 am to 4 pm daily.


These are just a few suggestions for activities in and around Warwick. Be sure to seek out the Granite Belt Wine Route, which highlights award-winning ‘alternative’ wines known as ‘strange birds’, produced in the highest wine region in Australia. (See 'useful links' below.)


* Where to stay (for caravans/motorhomes)


1.    Warwick Showgrounds. Tel: (07) 4661 9060 (Pet friendly)

2.    Big4 Warwick Holiday Park. Tel: (07) 4661 2874 (Pet friendly)

3.    DJ’s Caravan Park. Tel: 0427 690 811 (Pet friendly)

4.    Rose City Caravan Park, Glengallen Rd, Warwick. Tel: 07 4661 1662

5.    Callemondah Sheep Farm Bush Camping (Off-grid/Self-Contained) (Pet friendly)

Tel: 0429 040 404

6.    Washpool Camping Reserve on the Leslie Dam (no pets)

Tel: (betw. 12 pm and 5 pm) 0427 026 216. email: mail@sdrc.qld.gov.au

7.    Lake Leslie Tourist Park (Kui Parks) Tel: (07) 4661 9166 (Pet friendly)

8.    Sandy Creek Pub (72-hr free camp, dog-friendly, spend at the pub)

Tel: (07) 4661 3413 / 345 Sandy Creek Rd, Leslie, Qld.

camping










* Where to stay (hotels/motels)


1.    Luxury: Abbey Boutique Hotel, 4-star. 8 Locket Str, Warwick.

2.    City View Motel, 3-star, Yangan Rd, Warwick.

3.    Country Rose Motel, 3-star, 2 Palmer Ave, Warwick.

4.    Rose City Caravan Park & Cabins, Glengallen Rd, Warwick. Tel: 07 4661 1662 Email: rosecity@westnet.com.au

5.    3-star Alexander Motel, 4 Wentworth Str, Warwick.


burgers










* Where to eat (accurate at the time of posting)


1.    Cherry Tree Coffee and Dining, Cnr. Palmerin and Fitzroy Str, Warwick.

Tel: 07 4667 1746 (7 am – 2.30 pm daily.)

2.    Little Gallery Café, 90 Palmering Str, Warwick.

Tel: (07) 4667 1162 (9 am – 2.30 pm Mon to Sat.)

3.    Bluebird Kitchen and Smokehouse, Palmerin Str, Warwick.

Tel: (07) 4661 5795 (8 am – 9 pm Wed to Sat.)

4.    Char Belas Restaurant, 81 Grafton Str, Warwick.

Tel: (07)4661 9079 (10.30 am – 2 pm; 4 – 9 pm, daily.)

5.    Rupert’s Bar and Grill, 91 Wood Str, Warwick.

Tel: (07) 4660 2199 (5 pm – 9 pm daily)


* For the history buffs


# The first European in the district wasn’t Cunningham!

According to Thomas Hall, in his book The Early History of Warwick District and Pioneers of the Darling Downs (192-?), the first European to make his way to the Darling Downs was a Moreton Bay escaped convict by the name of ‘Boralcho’ Baker, who managed to live with the local Aborigine tribe for 21 years, before he surrendered and was recruited by the NSW government as a guide in 1840 to find a path over the Range, without going through Cunningham’s Gap. He led them to Gorman’s Gap. This was told to Thomas Hall by the eldest son of the “King of Canning Downs tribe” in the early 1850s.


# Then came Cunningham

On the 5th of June 1827, Allan Cunningham, an English explorer discovered the Darling Downs. Looking down from the top of the range at the head of Sandy Creek and Thane’s Creek, he described the scene below as the “Garden of Australia” (Hall, 192-?]).


# Along came the Leslie brothers

In 1840, the NSW government opened its northern area to squatters and pastoralists. Queensland as a state, had not yet been formed. Scottish settlers, Patrick and George Leslie arrived in 1840, and by 1846 George Leslie had settled a station and built a home on their Canning Downs (near the current Glengallen Homestead). Patrick Leslie was invited by the NSW government to propose a site for a town. He named it Cannington. Somehow, no one knows how the town became known as Warwick.


# Local Aborigines

Early interactions with the local Aborigine tribe (the Gidhabal) were not hostile, and, according to Thomas Hall, there was mutual acceptance. The tribe around ‘Canning Downs’ (the expansive area settled by the Leslie brothers) was known locally as the “Blucher” tribe since their King was named ‘Blucher’ by Patrick Leslie after the tribe had come to the rescue of the Leslies in the early days of their settlement on the Canning Downs when help was often needed to ward off attacks from the warriors of the Macintyre tribe! (Hall, 192-?].)

The Aborigines had named the area Gooragooby.


# We have a town!

Warwick was only officially recognised as a town in 1861, but before this, as early as 1850, the first allotment was sold to a Leslie brother. Stores and a hotel rose soon after, as the need existed for the surrounding stations to trade for supplies.

old colonial hotel
The impressive O'Mahoney's Hotel, opened in 1887.

# First school and churches

In 1850 Warwick East State School was erected.

By 1851 the Presbyterians were enjoying church services in the town. In 1857, permission was granted for no less than three church buildings – the Presbyterian, the Methodist, and the Church of England. The impressive St Mary’s Catholic church was built much later in 1864.

statue with horses
A section of the 'Horsepower' sculpture

# A municipality with a coach service!

Warwick was declared a municipality in 1861, and Cobb and Co. began running a coach service to Warwick shortly after.

Warwick Town Hall entrance

# Here comes the choo-choo rail!

By 1871 the railway from Ipswich arrived in Warwick. By 1902, the rail was extended to Goondiwindi. The old rail station is part of the area known as the Warwick Railway Precinct, occupied by the present Southern Downs Steam Railway Association Inc (SDSR), operating as the Downs Explorer, and overseeing a vast restoration project since 1995.

The rail brought an industrial boom to the city. During the 1880s and 1890s, many of the beautiful sandstone structures were erected, which can still be seen today.


# A 1917 egging, resulting in a new police force

Prime Minister William (Billy) Hughes was making a speech before a crowd, urging them to consider conscription. The crowd was largely against the idea. One person decided to demonstrate this by throwing an egg at the Prime Minister, managing to dislodge his hat. He consequently ordered the person's arrest but the local policeman declined, with the excuse that, in his opinion, no law had been broken. This was the incident that gave rise to the formation of the Commonwealth Police Force, shortly afterwards.


# We have a city! What … a shire?

April 1936 saw Warwick recognised as a city. However, by 1992 Warwick was merged with the Shires of Allora, Glengallan and Rosenthal to form the new Shire of Warwick.


# Today, “The Southern Downs Regional Council”

In 2008, the Shire of Warwick was joined with Stanthorpe, to become known as the ‘Southern Downs Regional Council’.


This ‘Rose and Rodeo Capital’ continues to lure many visitors to its festivals, rodeos, markets and historical tourist attractions. Be sure to plan a good stopover when you can.

* Useful Links:

Warwick Tourism Info Centre. Town Hall, 72 Palmerin Street. (07) 4661 3122       https://www.facebook.com/WarwickQLDInfo/

Downs Explorer Rail. https://downsexplorer.org.au/ 

Warwick Museum Centre https://warwickmuseum.com.au/


Thank you for visiting Warwick with us! If you found this useful, please leave a comment, like, or share. 🧡👍🏼 Any interaction will be appreciated! 🌼

Or you can 'Buy me a Coffee'. 🙂 (link below.)

Till next time, ciao.





 

References:

Hall, Thomas. (192-?]). The early history of Warwick district and pioneers of the Darling Downs Retrieved May 4, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-37325731

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Tourism-g261643-Warwick_Southern_Downs_Region_Queensland-Vacations.html

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