Five things to do in Dalby and surrounds
List
By Michael Gosman
All roads lead to Dalby. Well, the Warrego, Moonie and Bunya Highways do.
Built on the black soil plains of the northern Darling Downs, this lively little town has rich history waiting to be explored.
If you’re due for a trip to Queensland Country, put Dalby on your must-visit list and tick off these five country activities.
1. Live like a lumberjack
Photo by Jandowae Timbertown Festival Via FB
Jandowae, 50km north-west of Dalby, has a rich agriculture and timber history. Once boasting three sawmills, the town is now home to the annual Jandowae Timbertown Festival, celebrating the best of the timber industry.
The event includes street markets, rodeos, whip-cracking, yabbie races, bush poetry and a ute and car show. Don’t miss it on the 12-14 of June in 2020.
2. Pioneer life
Take a look into the past and get your heavy machinery fix at the Dalby Pioneer Park Museum, home to Queensland’s largest collection of working tractors and big toys, like an 1800s working thresher, a 1930s model reaper and binder and a pre-war hay baler.
Open 7 days from 8am to 5pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $25 for families.
3. Woolly good time
Photo by The Woolshed at Jondaryan Via FB
Just 30 minutes up the road from Dalby you’ll find the state’s oldest operating woolshed in Jondaryan.
Visit the Jondaryan Woolshed and learn about the region’s rich farming history with a guided tour of the station’s historic buildings, machinery and equipment.
Grab lunch or morning tea at the onsite Damper Hut Café. Admission prices are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.
You can also stay on-site in an authentic shearers quarters, or splurge on a cottage or cabin instead.
4. Timeless beauty
Photo by @japheth.bas.photos
For over 150 years, Jimbour House has stood out for its magnificent design and manicured gardens.
The sandstone designed house is one of a kind in Queensland and was built in 1876 on the site of the former Jimbour Station.
The heritage-listed residence lies a short 25-minute drive north of Dalby. While the inside of the house is open only for special events, visitors can tour the gardens which are open daily.
5. Where the wild things are
Photo by @sammieobrien
The Darling Downs Zoo at Pilton, located about 1.5 hours from Dalby, is the only zoo in Queensland where you can see African lions, white lions and a pygmy hippopotamus.
And don’t forget the snakes, meerkats, giraffes, camels, emus and ostriches as well.
The zoo emphasis conservation and has preservation programs in place for some of the rarer animals, like the Sumatran tiger and bilbies.
Open daily from 9am to 4pm. Admission prices are $38 for adults and $24 for kids.
