#LoveWhereYouWork - Western Downs

• Finding fresh produce is simple when you live in a region whose primary industry is agriculture, whether you shop local or from supermarkets in town including Foodworks, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi.

• The Western Downs is famous for its unique, large-scale events with Council hosting Opera at Jimbour, adding to the region’s five other major festivals.

• It’s not just dinners cooked at home, there’s cafes, restaurants and bars to keep you busy and food trucks which rove the region supplying everything from boutique cheeses to woodfire pizza.

• With no peak hour traffic, long commutes to work and more time for play rather than work, our residents have time to enjoy public recreation facilities including six swimming pools, skate parks and a multitude of new playgrounds and parklands within the region.

• On the shopping front, the Western Downs is serviced by elegant boutiques stocking designer labels and specialty stores stocking everything from soft furnishings to agricultural needs.

• Weekend home improvements (and your Saturday morning sausage-sizzle routine) are made easy too with Bunnings and Mitre 10 in the region as well.

Healthcare on the Western Downs is ever-expanding with hospitals and a range of services in the towns of Chinchilla, Dalby, Jandowae, Miles, Tara and Wandoan.

Each of these character filled towns offers their close-knit community country charm away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Highlights:

• A comprehensive range of medical services throughout the region including allied health; emergency services; intensive care; cancer services; cardiac medicine; mental health services; obstetrics and gynaecology; paediatrics; palliative care; rehabilitation and surgery/surgical subspecialties.
• Additional community services including Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander health programs; community mental health programs; BreastScreen Queensland; child and maternal health; community and home care; community rehabilitation; infectious diseases; oral health; public health; aged care assessment; sexual health; refugee health and women’s health.

Early Years and Education

From nursery age to senior and graduate schooling, the Western Downs is home to exquisite education and child care. Our schools and early childcare centres are a pivotal part of our communities.

Highlights:

• The bigger centres in the Western Downs offer daycare and kindergarten facilities including well-known national chains. Smaller communities utilise neighbourhood centres for playgroup get-togethers and other social events for young families.
  
• Public schools across the region range from small one-room country primary schools to busy multi-class high schools. Our private schools offer quality learning in a Christian environment.
• Children with special needs can continue to grow and reach their potential in the Western Downs with many schools offering places for children with disabilities on a case-by-case basis.

Tertiary Education

School leavers and those looking to upskill have the opportunity to continue their studies closer to home, without needing to make the move to the city.

Highlights:

• Opened in 2025, the Country Universities Centre will give tertiary students in Chinchilla and surrounds a place to study locally and access first-class tertiary education.
• A wide range of skilling options are available through TAFE Queensland’s Dalby and Chinchilla campuses, offering courses across the study area of automotive, engineering, hairdressing, hospitality, early childhood education and nursing.

When it comes to local produce, the Western Downs is famous for beef, pork and lamb. But did you know that Chinchilla is the “melon capital” of Australia? Or that the region produces export quality fish through Condabilla Fish Farm?

Highlights:

• Great cafes and classic pubs are found all across the region.
• Some are destinations in their own right including Urban Paddock, Pips and Cherries and Creek Café.

The Western Downs has an abundance of fantastic parks and gardens, facilities and community centres where the community comes together.

Highlights:

• Spend time in a garden and restore your spirit and senses. From formal gardens at Jimbour House to narratives like the Chinchilla Botanic Parklands, there’s plenty to explore.
• Meet at community centres for club meetings, workshops, arts and crafts, local theatre, special events and more.
• To top it off, Western Downs Regional Council also provides swimming pools, indoor sports centres, campgrounds and a cinema.

Arts and culture on the Western Downs are never forgotten. Dogwood Crossing at Miles is a cultural hub for the Western Downs offering workshops and exhibitions. There are also galleries at Bell, Chinchilla and Dalby.

Highlights:

• The Western Downs region has a variety of artisans who regularly get together for education, and inspiration.

Communities in the Western Downs tend to be active and social – so passionate sporting clubs and communities are huge in our region. Our towns have competitions in a range of sports for both children and adults.

Highlights:

• The variety of sports on offer include rugby league, rugby union, AFL, touch football, cricket, netball, tennis, squash, lawn bowls, gymnastics, dance, pony clubs/horseriding and more.

You want shops? We have shops! Shopping on the Western Downs is anything but boring with a range of large retailers along with beloved smaller boutiques, general stores and local businesses across the region.

Highlights:

• Some of our larger retailers include Bunnings, Aldi, Harvey Norman, K Hub, Supercheap Auto, Ally Fashion and more.

Every region has something that makes it truly unique and in the Western Downs we are proud to invite friends and family to experience a few special places on our doorstep. Visitors always enjoy exploring our towns, meeting locals and learning about the history of the area.

Highlights:

• Our region is home to fun-filled festivals including Dalby’s Delicious & DeLIGHTful, Jandowae Timbertown Festival, Chinchilla Melon Fest, Miles Back to the Bush, Opera at Jimbour and Tara Festival of Culture and Camels.
• Some of our key attractions include Jimbour House, Lake Broadwater, Bunya Mountains, Dingo Fence, The Big Watermelon, Chinchilla Botanic Parkland, Miles Historical Village Museum, Dogwood Crossing, Sunset Way and Wandoan Waterloo Plains.

Understanding a region’s past is important for building its future. The Western Downs is rich in history which is explored and remembered by locals and tourists alike. We’re proud to also celebrate important indigenous significance at places like the Bunya Mountains and its Bush University.

Highlights:

• Learn about our history from the First Peoples through early settlement and beyond at the Miles Historical Village Museum, Dalby Museum and the Chinchilla Museum (including the Cactoblastis Memorial Hall at Boonarga).