The Naming of Toowoomba

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Category: History

Published: 23 May 2014

Last Updated: 07 November 2017

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Toowoomba City Library's Local History Library

476 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350

Phone +61 7 4638 7766

There are many theories regarding the naming of Toowoomba. The theories known are summarised below. For further information please refer to the sources at the end of this brochure.

When Toowoomba was first discovered, it was known as the 'Drayton Swamp' and was often referred to as 'The Swamp'. It is believed that Aborigines trying to say 'The Swamp' pronounced a word sounding link 'Tawampa', which easily becomes Toowoomba.

A second version features a letter to the Toowoomba City Council from Stelle Rudd claiming that his father told him that in 1848 he first saw Toowoomba and in 1849, attached to JC Burnett, he assisted to lay it out. He believed that it was derived from the native name of 'Toogoom' because of the reeds that grew here.

A third versionand a widely accepted theory of the use of Toowoomba's name comes from Mrs Alford, wife of James Alford, on of the first businessmen in both Drayton and Toowoomba. It is believed that Mrs Alford asked the natives what they called the area. The replied 'Woomba Woomba' meaning 'the springs and the water underneath'. The Alford's realised that two woombas would not be a suitable name for their house and store but by using TOO which is also a type of plural it would become Toowoomba.

In 1875 W.H. Groom wrote an account of Toowoomba, stating the name 'Toowoomba' derived from an Aboriginal word meaning 'great in the future' however he gave no source to this information.

The fifth theory came from a botanist by the name of Archibald Meston. In 1895 Meston wrote a book titled "A Geographical History of Queensland", which included his explanation of the name "Toowoomba".

"Toowoom" or "Choowom" was the local blacks' name for a small native melon (Cucumus pubescens) which grew plentifully on the site of the township. The terminal "ba" is equal to the adverb "There", so the whole word means "melons there", and to an Aboriginal it meant "the place where the melon grows".

This melon still exists and can be found growing in the Balonne and Warrego areas as well areas closer to Toowoomba however there is no evidence that the melons grew in or near the Toowoomba swamps.

The sixth version came from a man called Enoggera Charlie who wrote his story in the Sydney Morning History. He claimed when he was looking for work as a tar boy, he had camped overnight near the Toowoomba Swamp. Questioning an old shepherd sage of the naming of the Toowoomba Swamps he was informed that near the junction of the East and West Swamp there was a log with the inscription informing tramps the way to a well-known homestead where there was a certainty to rations. The inscription read 'To Woombrah'.

At around the same time that Enoggera Charlie wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald another man by the name of Ardlaw Lawrence put forward his theory. He suggested that the name Toowoomba may be an Anglicised version of the 'Boowoomga' which meant 'thunder' in the dialect of the Upper Burnett and Gayndah tribes. However he could give no reason for the name being transferred to the Darling Downs.

Writing in a pamphlet in 1899, George Essex Evans wrote that the name Toowoomba meant 'meeting of the waters' however this was again written without authentication.

Controversy surrounds the various theories of the naming of Toowoomba. Opinions vary and verifying the theories is difficult with some theories having little if any written evidence ti support them. In the final analysis though, Toowoomba became "Toowoomba" regardless of which theory is correct.

Entertainment

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Category: Entertainment

Published: 02 July 2013

Last Updated: 07 November 2017

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Toowoomba offers a range of activities both in the city and the surrounding areas with choices to suit every occasion.

From the various festivals and events held throughout the year, including The Carnival of Flowers, Royal Toowoomba Show, Australian Gospel Music Festival, Farmfest and AgShow, to the countless cafes, restaurants, antique stores and art galleries, there is certainly an activity to suit everyone's taste.

Some of Toowoomba's most well known attractions include:

. Cobb & Co Museum . Heritage Railway Station . Bulls Head Inn . . Empire Theatre . Regional Art Gallery . Twilight Horse Racing . . . Picnic Point . Japanese Garden

Visits to surrounding areas will reveal more attractions, including:

. Danish Flower Art . The Cuckoo Clock Centre . Spring Bluff . Jondaryan Woolshed, other museums, gardens and nurseries, and a variety of historic pubs.

The regional wineries Governor's Choice, Gowrie Mountain Estate, Jimbour, Highfields Wines, Rangemore Estate, Preston Peak, Rimfire Vineyards and winery, Vale View and Wedgetail Ridge Estate are all within easy travelling distance of the city.

If you would like to hold an event or conference in Toowoomba, or want to know more about any of Toowoomba's Festivals or Events, please go to the Visitors page.

Climate

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Category: Environment

Published: 02 July 2013

Last Updated: 20 April 2019

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Toowoomba is renowned for world class gardens, attractive parks and tree-lined streets. Positioned on the Great Dividing Range at an altitude of more than 700 metres means that Toowoomba experiences a mild and pleasant climate for most of the year.

Climate

Toowoomba's climate is characterised by a dry winter and wet summer with four distinct seasons. Much less humidity is experienced in Toowoomba when compared with its coastal neighbours.

Summer day averages range from 16.6 to 27.6 (degrees Celsius), and winter day averages range from 5.3 to 16.3 (degrees Celsius).

Toowoomba's monthly average weather:

 (Source: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology).

For more information about Toowoomba's weather, visit the Facts & Figures page. If you would like to know the current temperature in Toowoomba, go to www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au.

Parks and Nature

With more than 240 public parks and gardens, and more than 6,300 hectares of open space, Toowoomba really is Queensland's Garden City. Be amazed as Mother Nature showcases an unrivalled display of dazzling beauty.

In spring the gardens are an extravaganza of colour as the City celebrates the Carnival of Flowers. January's long warm days bring out the summer blooms and the city is once again a sea of vibrant colour. Autumn is marked by the red and gold foliage displays of the many deciduous trees, and winter allows the crisp clean air to invigorate and refresh the spirit.

For more information about our beautiful parks visit the Toowoomba City Coucil's website: www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au.

There are an amazing array of bush walking trails throughout Toowoomba. From the more challenging hikes through escarpment parks and mountain ranges, to a stroll through the well-paved parks and bikeways - all recreational needs are catered for.

For more information about our pathways and walks, visit the Toowoomba City Council's website: www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au.

Employment

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Category: Economy

Published: 02 July 2013

Last Updated: 07 November 2017

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Toowoomba's labour force numbered 47,900 in December 2003, with 60% being employed on a full-time basis. Unemployment levels have been traditionally lower than the Queensland average: 5.7% in December 2003.

The largest industry employers are retail trade (17.8%); health and community services (13.3%); manufactoring (12.2%); and education (11.1%).

Professional employment was the most prominent occupation (18.2%) followed by clerical, sales and service workers (17.7%) and tradespersons and related workers (13.3%).

For more statistics about Toowoomba's employment, please visit the Facts & Figures page.

Education

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Category: Education

Published: 02 July 2013

Last Updated: 07 November 2017

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Education in Toowoomba is second to none, with Toowoomba having one of the highest ratios of education services per head of population in Australia. The city's educational establishments currently serve 26,000 students.

Serviced by many government and non-government schools, a TAFE and the University of Southern Queensland, education is an important industry and subsequently an important economic driver for the city.

Childcare

Toowoomba has an extensive range of Childcare centres in Toowoomba. For more information, please visit www.candk.asn.au.

Primary and Secondary Education

For a full listing of schools in Toowoomba, please download the following PDF document: Toowoomba Educational Institutions.pdf (46KB).

University of Southern Queensland

Approximately 22,000 students are enrolled at USQ including 5,500 international students from more than 100 nationalities. Of the enrolled students, around 5,000 study on-campus.

USQ has the fifth largest enrolment of international students in Australia due to its distance education expertise, English language courses and university bridging courses.

The university contributes more than $61 million annually to the regional economy and was awarded the 2000/2001 University of the Year - Good Universities Guide for 'developing the e-university'.

For more information about USQ, visit: www.usq.edu.au

Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE

There are eight campuses spread throughout the Darling Downs and South West Queensland.

Courses include: arts and media; building and construction; information technology and engineering; specialist studies in horticulture and agriculture; and hospitality.

For more information about the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE, visit: www.sqit.tafe.net