The city of Toowoomba requires little introduction. Located on the edge of a plateau on the Darling Downs west of Brisbane, it’s all boarding schools and spring flower festivals, right? Not quite. Look beyond its lush parklands and you’ll find a gourmet powerhouse brimming with history and culture, plus a local community as vibrant and colourful as the street art that adorns its walls.
If you want to get to know the real Toowoomba, it pays to ask a local. Why? Because they’re the ones who bring life to the city’s broad streets, bridging the past and shaping its future.
Jenny and Tony O’Reilly agree wholeheartedly. As owners of Quest Toowoomba, a beautiful property that blends the heritage-listed former church that houses its reception with a contemporary apartment hotel extension at the rear, they understand how important it is for travellers to have that local connection. To experience, not just to stay.
The couple relocated from Brisbane last year and quickly embraced the local way of life. Every Saturday you’ll see Jenny strolling through Queens Park, stopping to exercise the dog in the off-leash area of what she says is one of the most beautiful parks she’s found, then stocking up on fresh, local produce at the Cobb+Co Museum farmers’ market.
“There really is just so much to see and do now,” Jenny says. “They call it the ‘Garden City’, but I think it’s the ‘Gourmet City’ too. We have some amazing cafes, microbreweries and rooftop bars like The Brewhouse and Santé Cocktail Bar … there are also wineries only a short drive away. We’re quite spoiled.”
With that in mind, now is a perfect time to shine a light on the treasures of Toowoomba – through the eyes and experiences of its locals. This article will “pay it forward”, with one local sharing a hidden gem, recommending another to share theirs, and so on.
From where to watch a show to quenching your thirst …
Although a devoted foodie, Jenny says it’s the Empire Theatre that has stolen her heart.
“We have a beautiful art deco theatre,” she says. “They have some fantastic shows and it’s just so easy. My girlfriends will come from Brisbane to see a show. You can always find a park and there are great restaurants next door. It’s cheaper than Brisbane, too.”
Just a few doors down from Quest is Jenny’s go-to pub: Fitzy’s. Owner Brad Fitzgibbons has lived in Toowoomba for 20 years and believes the city is really starting to come of age.
Cork & Lever wine bar has a local reputation for its creative cocktails and all-Australian gin collection
“The culture and diversity of Toowoomba never ceases to amaze me,” he says. “There are some cool hidden bars around town too. Some of the best are Cork & Lever, and Bodega, which is like a dive bar that you find through a hidden door. It’s quite quirky.”
… to secret gardens and your morning coffee
Peacehaven Botanic Park, just a stone’s throw out of town, in Highfields, is Fitzgibbons’s pick for a hidden gem. Despite his two decades in Toowoomba, he only discovered the park about six months ago. However, it’s fast become a family favourite and he feels its gardens and walking trails celebrate everything that’s great about life in Toowoomba.
Peacehaven Botanic Park is Fitzgibbons’s pick for a hidden gem
Micha Whitley at Cork & Lever wine bar, which has a local reputation for its creative cocktails and all-Australian gin collection, is also a big fan of the great outdoors. Her hidden gem is Boyce Gardens, which she describes as an oasis tucked away in the suburb of Mount Lofty.
The relaxed lifestyle and bustling hospitality scene drew Whitley to Toowoomba 12 years ago, but she feels the biggest reason to visit is the community.
“There are so many reasons I love living in Toowoomba but the most noteworthy is the people,” she says. “There is very much a sense of community and connection here.”
Adding to the city’s colour palette is Stephen Payton, owner of the social enterprise cafe Banter Coffee Kitchen. As well as making a great coffee, Banter offers employment opportunities to local migrant and refugee communities and provides a gallery exhibition space.
An artist himself, Payton says: “Toowoomba is brimful of talented artists and young go-getters that, in recent years, have committed to staying here longer rather than migrating to Brisbane, a Toowoomba-born cliche. Moreover, the offerings for exhibitions, shows and screenings have never been brighter.”
And don’t miss the art scene
Speaking of art, it would be remiss to not explore Toowoomba’s incredible street art scene, which bloomed in 2014 and has since transformed the city streets into a riot of colour. Bank Lane, Duggan Street and Searles Walk are just a few of the vibrant canvases.
Ready to take a trip to Toowoomba? There’s no time like the present. And remember, if you need any other recommendations, from restaurants to wineries and hiking trails, just ask a local. They’ll always steer you in the right direction.
