Synopsis
Originally known as The Swamp, there are various possible origins for Toowoomba: 1. Thomas Alford ( - ) storekeeper at Drayton, named his house and shop Toowoomba in 1852, using Aboriginal (?) word indicating swamp. 2. In 1857, Toowoomba was used as a place name during New Year's Day celebrations by Thomas Mathewson ( - ), Thomas Allen ( - ), William Henry Groom (1833-1901) politician, publicist and newspaper owner, and John Groom ( - ), claiming it was an Aboriginal name indicating place where water sits. 3. Archibald Meston (1851-1924) journalist, explorer and public servant, from 1870 claimed the origin was Aboriginal choowoomba indicating place of melon (Cucumis pubescens). 4. Thomas Davis ( - ) claimed derivation from toogoomba, indicating place where reeds grow. 5. Alfred George Stephens (1865-1933) literary critic, editor and publisher, in 1892, claimed origin from toowoom indicating berries place. 6.Frederic Slater ( - ) in 1934, suggested toogoom/toogoon (Yandukal language) indicating white man, with toogoolmba=many white men. 7.James Tolmie (1862-1939) newspaper proprietor and politician, suggested it was simply an Aboriginal attempt to pronounce the English "The Swamp". Refer M. French. Conflict on the Condamine. Toowoomba, 1989, pp.121-31.
Named and bounded by Queensland Place Names Board 1 June 1981. For details of various explanations of name origin, refer entry for Toowoomba as a populated place. Named and bounded by the Minister for Natural Resources 21 July 2000. Name changed by the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines 26 August 2005 by the omission of the hyphenated name Toowoomba-City and insertion of the name Toowoomba City. Locality re-gazetted by an Amendment Notice published in the Government Gazette on the 5 April 2012 due to the council amalgamations under the Local Government Reform Implementation Act 2007.
Population
Median House Price
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Postcode
4350
