Allora in Southern Queensland is known affectionately as the ‘best little town on the Downs’. It recently celebrated its 150th birthday and the locals didn’t just throw a party, they threw a festival!
The festival was over two days and visitors came from far and wide to enjoy the fun. As well as being 150 years old, Allora is noteworthy for other reasons.
PL Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, spent her childhood in Allora and the house she grew up in still stands and can be visited.
The Allora region has also seen plenty of its young sportsmen and women go on to become sports stars. Examples are football legends Wayne Bennett and Shane Webcke and Australian netball captain Laura Geitz.
To honour them, locals have created the Allora Regional Sports Museum, which is open on Sundays and by appointment.
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There are many wonderful towns to visit in the Darling Downs region. Just north of Toowoomba, locals have created the High Country Hamlets brochure.
It features everything visitors need to create a getaway of their own. There are accommodation options, restaurants, cafes and farms where people can stop in and try the freshest produce.
A great accommodation option is Ravensbourne Escape. It has 11 luxury chalets and studios, perfect for a weekend escape in the cool mountain air. Also on site is The Woods Café and function centre which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A popular stop for drivers following the brochure is Macbeth Farm.
Visitors can pull up at the farm gate and place some money in the honesty box to collect the freshest rhubarb you’ll find anywhere.
A great place to dine is Emeraude Bistro.
It was opened by Amanda Hinds, who previously owned Indulge Café in Bundaberg that won the Brisbane Times People’s Choice Café of the Year multiple times.
To wash down all the terrific food on the menu, a fun place to visit is Crows Nest Soft Drink. It was created in 1903 and offers a big range of soft drink flavours, all made on site.
The High Country Hamlets brochure can be found at businesses in the region and more information is on the Facebook page.
