Climate
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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:
| Temp Max (C) | Temp Min (C) | Rain (mm) | Rainy Days) | |
| Jan | 27.6 | 16.7 | 132.1 | 8.2 |
| Feb | 26.6 | 16.6 | 121.1 | 7.0 |
| Mar | 25.5 | 15.4 | 94.6 | 7.5 |
| Apr | 22.9 | 12.3 | 61.9 | 5.3 |
| May | 19.6 | 9.1 | 58.4 | 5.3 |
| Jun | 16.9 | 6.3 | 56.8 | 4.8 |
| Jul | 16.3 | 5.3 | 52.0 | 4.7 |
| Aug | 17.9 | 6.0 | 39.5 | 4.2 |
| Sep | 20.9 | 8.5 | 46.7 | 4.6 |
| Oct | 23.7 | 11.5 | 72.2 | 5.8 |
| Nov | 26.0 | 13.8 | 89.5 | 6.6 |
| Dec | 27.5 | 15.7 | 120.0 | 7.8 |
All figures are mean monthly. Date range covered is 67 years (between 1931-1998). (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 Bureau of Meteorology website.
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.
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 beautiful parks visit the Toowoomba Regional Council website.
Employment
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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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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 Children & Kindergarten.
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 enrollment 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 please visit University of Southern Queensland website.
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 please visit TAFE QLD - Darling Downs & South West website.
Health
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Health Care Facilities
Toowoomba boasts a comprehensive range of health and allied community services which, as well as providing an essential service to the community, forms an important element of the local economy.
Extensive health facilities include three hospitals (two of them private), a stand-alone surgical centre and an inpatient mental health facility. These hospitals provide the community with approximately 500 beds, 10 operating theatres and four day surgeries. In addition to this, Toowoomba is home to around 60 specialists with others visiting from Brisbane.
For more information about Toowoomba's hospitals, please visit the relevant websites: St Andrew's Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital, Queensland Health (Toowoomba Base Hospital & Baillie Henderson) or Toowoomba's Surgicentre.
As would be expected in a region of this size, many community based organisations provide a variety of services to the aged, infirm and disabled. The Toowoomba Hospice provides palliative care for the terminally ill and their families.
Healthy Activities
Toowoomba offers every opportunity for the sports lover, so no matter what your passion, age or level of fitness there is plenty of scope for those keen to achieve balance in their lifestyle.
With an abundance of playing fields, indoor arenas, aquatic facilities, clubs and associations, Toowoomba offers plenty of opportunities to partake in a variety of sporting and leisurely activities.
For more information about recreational and sporting activities that Toowoomba has to offer, visit the Toowoomba Regional Council website.
Alternatively, for more information about Toowoomba's parks, bush walks and cycle ways, please visit the Local Environment section.
Housing
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Beautifully renovated heritage homes are a feature of Toowoomba. In newer residential areas there are many styles and sizes to choose from in a variety of bushland, parkland or estate settings.
Housing prices provide a nice surprise when compared to prices in metropolitan areas with the median house price being $228,500 (Dec 2004) and a three bedroom home rental being $200.00 per week (Dec 2004). Added to this, Toowoomba is consistently rated amongst the lowest in Queensland for retail costs in all groups.
Commuting time between home and business is minimal compared to metropolitan areas, delivering many advantages - cost savings to business, easy access to suppliers and local customers and increased staff productivity.
A trip across Toowoomba could be expected to take about 15 minutes, and if you decide to reside in an outlying rural area, 25 minutes commuting time would be average.
For more information about real estate in Toowoomba please visit the Real Estate Institute of Queensland website.
