Texas

Just over an easy hours’ drive east of Goondiwindi sits the town of Texas, perched on the banks of the Dumaresq River. You’ll find excellent fishing and great camping spots, all set to the backdrop and serenity of rural landscapes.

The Dumaresq River winds through Texas’ gentle hills and crossed by the historic weirs of Bonshaw, Cunningham and Glenarbon, making the Texas area great for fishing, canoeing, four-wheel driving, hiking and camping.

Recognised as one of the top RV-Friendly communities in Australia, the town has put a lot of effort into making visitors feel very welcome.

Texas is also the first official Motorcycle Friendly Town in Australia with many interesting trails for all types of bikes and rider experiences. The Stockman Hotel in Texas even offers free use of a motorcycle cleaning kit to all guests who stay!

The Texas Cultural Centre and Regional Art Gallery is a must-see with regular touring and local exhibitions as well as an outstanding photographic display of the 2011 Floods.

Farming of sheep and cattle is the dominant industry today, with fodder, cotton and horticultural crops adding to the mix. Texas is also home to the largest cattle feedlot in Australia and a silver mine situated in the historic Silver Spur mining area.

The fertile river flats dotted with old tobacco barns act as a reminder of the towns farming history. To learn more about the tobacco industry and more of the area’s rich past, visit the Texas Heritage and Tobacco Museum housed in restored local historic buildings.

Nearby you’ll also find the restored Texas Rabbit Works, a step back in time to when rabbit plagues threatened the existence of rural communities. Believed to be the only rabbit processing works remaining in Australia, the museum stands as an example of true country ingenuity where communities created a thriving economy from a pest problem.

To the east of Texas, you will find the spectacular Glenlyon Dam offering some of the best inland fishing and water activities in Country Queensland. Nearby the Sundown National Park is a brilliant bush walking and bird watching destination.

Population: (approximately) 1,000

EVENTS

The Texas Cup - Held in December ever year, the Texas Cup is perfect for visitors keen to experience genuine bush racing and friendly hospitality. Don your finest for Fashions on the Field or perhaps have a flutter if you’re feeling lucky!

See how things are done in Texas with these events

HISTORY

The McDougall Brothers originally settled on the land around Texas in 1840, however it wasn’t until the 1850s the town was named after a land dispute which resembled one between Republic of Texas and Mexico in the United States happening at the same time and just like that, Texas (Qld) was born.

The town established on the river flats in 1875 and then gradually relocated to the current site after disastrous floods in 1890 and 1921. Some buildings remain on the site of the original town as a reminder of the natural disaster.

The original settlers used the land for cattle with some cropping, but by the late 1860’s Chinese workers began to grow tobacco. The tobacco industry expanded rapidly on the fertile river flats and was a major crop until the later part of the 1900s.

The nearby mining settlement of Silver Spur established in 1893 however, the silver extraction became unprofitable, and the original mine closed in 1913.

From the 1920’s through to the 1940’s a rabbit plague crippled farms across Australia and Queensland was one of the hardest hit states. Where some saw disaster, the residents of Texas saw opportunity – and a vibrant local industry based on trapping and processing rabbits for meat and skins enabled Texas to prosper.

Construction of the Rabbit Works including the associated Freezing Works commenced in 1928 and completed in 1932. Although the operations continued in various degrees until 1992, the vibrant industry declined from the 1950’s. The Texas Rabbit Works, now restored, is the only remaining processing works in Australia.

MUST DO:

• Catch a Murray Cod in the Dumaresq River
• Explore the Texas Rabbit Works
• Experience a genuine Country Race meeting
• Play a round of golf on one of Queensland best “sand green” courses
• Free camp at our award-winning Texas Dumaresq River Campground

MUST SEE:

• Sensational sunsets
• Texas Historical Precinct
• Texas Regional Art Gallery
• Goat Rock
• Magnificent views from Beacon Lookout