Goondiwindi

Sitting peacefully on the banks of the Macintyre River at the junction of five major highways, Goondiwindi hugs the border of New South Wales and Queensland.

It is the perfect place for travellers to stay a while and embrace regional Australia at its best. With an interesting history, great food and warm country hospitality – it’s no wonder Goondiwindi is one of Queensland’s fastest growing rural communities.

Home to around 6,000 locals, but servicing approximately 15,000, the town’s neat tree-lined streets, well-maintained public buildings, sporting facilities and relaxed town centre are a good measure of the community spirit and civic pride you will find here.

Country hospitality shines, and that naturally extends to welcoming travellers to join in the activities, events and festivals and the local way of life.

Photographers often turn their lenses to the heritage buildings, birdlife, wildflowers and country landscapes.

You’ll find a range of accommodation here and once you are settled there’s boutique shopping, gourmet dining, and so much more to do around town and beyond. Marshall and Herbert Streets offer a terrific range of shopping experiences with everything from gifts and homewares to quality clothing stores. Marshall Street is home to many cafés where you can indulge in good coffee, country-style cakes and baked goods as well as tasty light meals.

On a self-guided walk around town, you’ll find the recently refurbished Victoria Hotel, built in the era of Queen Victoria and then added to in the 1920s. You can’t miss this old dame – a sturdy building of brick and timber, with a criss-cross of dark panelling and white lattice on its facades, stained glass windows and doorways, crowned by an ornamental (and slightly off-kilter) tower. An eye-catching building indeed: an architectural cocktail of Victoriana and Jazz Age, with a dash of Early Colonial.

Be sure to drop by the Gunsynd Statue located near the original Border Bridge. The statue commemorates the famous ‘Goondiwindi Grey’ – a racehorse who was bought for a measly $1,300 by four partners with the aim of winning a local bush race. The Grey went on to win 29 races including the Cox Plate and the four big mile races: The Doncaster, The Epsom, The George Adams and The Toorak in one season. At the new Civic Centre in Marshall Street, the Gunsynd Memorabilia Tribute displays photographs and information about this champion stead. You’ll find the Visitor Information Centre in the same building.

Looking for history that leaps off the pages and not hidden behind glass? Pay a visit to the Customs House Museum, sitting at the original border customs point before federation. Today this authentically restored building and its magnificent cottage garden house holds a rich and colourful collection of mementos from yesteryear. Also in the grounds is Martha’s Cottage, built in 1875.

Primary production and agribusiness are a vital part of the Goondiwindi local economy. You can gain an appreciation for living on the land by joining Goondiwindi Cotton’s three-hour guided bus tour of Goondiwindi town, a cotton gin, a working cotton farm and discover the Goondiwindi Cotton fashion house.

Connecting with nature is a precious part of life here – and bird watchers will find an amazing array of birdlife in the local area. Twitchers – be sure to pick up the special birdwatching brochure from the Visitor Information Centre.

There are many parks and gardens where you can relax and breathe the fresh country air. We’d recommend packing a picnic and take your time enjoying the Botanic Gardens of the Western Woodlands.

Early birds can catch the Macintyre at her best on an early morning walk, and she’s equally as beautiful on a sunset stroll. If you’re looking for a bit more horsepower with your water views, enjoy waterskiing and other water sports at the Natural Heritage and Water Park.

EVENTS:

The Goondiwindi social calendar is quite a busy one with many not-to-be-missed events. Save the date for:

Hell of the West Triathlon - In February the town plays host to the not for the feint-hearted, self-explanatory, Hell of the West Triathlon.

Goondiwindi Picnic Races – in early April each year, thousands of well-dressed racegoers attend the ‘Picnics’, as it is referred to by locals and visitors alike. A key event in the region’s calendar, it’s a day packed with entertainment and quality country hospitality.

Gundy 500 Off Road Rally - August hosts the high-speed action of the Gundy 500 – over 100 rally race cars flock to the region for off-road racing at its finest.

Horse Sporting Events - In August you can explore an extensive range of horse sporting competitions, including Polo, Polocrosse, Horse Racing, Show Jumping and Pony Clubs. Throughout the year, Goondiwindi hosts several Race meetings, which are a chance to mix with the locals.

Gourmet in Gundy - If you are visiting in September, make sure to time your stay to coincide with the cultural celebration - Gourmet In Gundy. The annual festival features the best of local food, wine, art and music. The weekend is full of sporting and cultural events and is a true community get-together.

Plucked Duck Bachelors and Spinsters Ball - Mark your diary for September for the Plucked Duck B&S Ball. It’s a shindig you will only find in the country.

Mark your calendar for these Goondiwindi events

HISTORY:

What’s in a name? Goondiwindi was aptly named from the aboriginal word “Goonawinna”, which means “The Resting Place of the Birds” – and you only need to walk along the river to see the birdlife by name and nature.

Early Australian explorer, Alan Cunningham, discovered the Macintyre River during an expedition in 1827, wherein he named the river after Captain Peter Macintyre who had provided Cunningham with horses and drays for the expedition.

Years before Goondiwindi existed as we know it, three grazing properties - Callandoon, Umbercollie and Old Goondiwindi- joined at a spot near where the town now stands.

Food and mail for these remote unfenced runs came by bullock team from Maitland in New South Wales. Rather than return without a load, the teamsters would turn their bullocks out to graze and would take any jobs offering on the stations, until enough wool had been sheared to provide them with back loading to Maitland. The owners of the three properties allowed the teamsters to camp on the river, where the runs met. Gradually the tents and makeshift huts gave way to small cottages, until by 1862 several people had settled permanently at the camping site.

By the 1870s, the tiny settlement had acquired a store, courthouse, blacksmith shop, Chinese market garden, boarding house and even a private school – and Goondiwindi was born. For many years after the establishment of the town, there was no bridge over the river and goods or people coming from New South Wales were pulled over in a punt. A wooden bridge was constructed between the period 1875 and 1878, which was replaced with the present structure in 1914. Goondiwindi was first proclaimed a Municipality on 20 October 1888.

MUST DO:

• Explore a working Cotton Farm and be treated to a country morning tea with the Goondiwindi Cotton Tour
• Visit the charming Customs House Museum
• Stretch your legs on the River Walk beside the Macintyre River
• Picnic in Botanic Gardens
• Enjoy many activities including water skiing at the Natural Heritage and Water Park
• Compete in the Hell of the West Triathlon

MUST SEE:

• The original 1914 Historic Border Bridge connecting NSW and QLD
• Have your photo taken with the famous ‘Goondiwindi Grey’ Statue
• The restored Art Deco Cinema /Theatre
• Enjoy sunset over the Macintyre River
• See Jacarandas in full bloom in late spring