Toowoomba City, Queensland

For the former local government area, see City of Toowoomba.

Toowoomba City Toowoomba,  Queensland
Toowoomba City Hall in Ruthven Street
Toowoomba City
Coordinates	27°33′35″S151°57′03″E / 27.5597°S 151.9508°E / -27.5597; 151.9508 (Toowoomba City (centre of locality))
Population	2,321 (SAL 2021) [1]
Postcode(s)	4350
Area	2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	126 km (78 mi) W of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Toowoomba North
Federal division(s)	Groom
Suburbs around Toowoomba City: Newtown North Toowoomba North Toowoomba Newtown Toowoomba City East Toowoomba Harristown South Toowoomba South Toowoomba

Toowoomba City is an urban locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] It is the central suburb of Toowoomba, containing its central business district and informally known as the Toowoomba CBD. In the 2021 census, Toowoomba City had a population of 2,321 people. ^[3]

Geography

The suburb is roughly rectangular, bounded to the north by Bridge Street, to the east by Hume Street, to the south by James Street, and to the west by West Street. ^[4]

Toowoomba railway station is in Russell Street ( 27°33′26″S151°57′07″E / 27.5572°S 151.9519°E / -27.5572; 151.9519 (Toowoomba railway station) ). ^[5] It serves the city of Toowoomba, and is the junction and terminus for the Main Line railway from Brisbane, the Western railway from Cunnamulla, and Southern railway from Wallangarra on the Queensland-New South Wales border. ^[4]

Mort Estate is a neighbourhood in the north-west of the suburb ( 27°33′09″S151°56′49″E / 27.5525°S 151.9469°E / -27.5525; 151.9469 (Mort Estate) ). It takes its name from an 1862 land sale by Thomas Sutcliffe Mort and Henry Mort. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

History

Toowoomba North Boys State School and Toowoomba North Girls and Infants State School both opened in 1869. In 1937, the two schools were combined to form Toowoomba North State School. ^[9]

In 1881, a Baptist Church opened in Toowoomba. ^{[10] [11]}

The Holy Name Primary School was opened on 23 January 1905 by the Sisters of Mercy who were already operating the school at St Patrick's Church (the church is now St Patrick's Cathedral and the St Patrick's school is now known as St Saviours School & College). The Holy Name school was burned down on 4 August 1919, so the school operated from the Mr and Mrs Hannant on the corner of West and Norwood Streets, until the school was rebuilt. Archbishop James Duhig laid the foundation school for the new church and school on 23 November 1919 and officially opened it on 23 January 1921. ^[12]

The Toowoomba City library opened in 2016. The Toowoomba local history library opened in 1999 with a major refurbishment in 2016. ^[13]

Demographics

In the 2006 census, Toowoomba City had a population of 2,281 people. ^[14]

In the 2016 census, Toowoomba City had a population of 2,088 people. ^[15]

In the 2021 census, Toowoomba City had a population of 2,321 people. ^[3]

Heritage listings

Carlton House, 2014

Toowoomba railway station, 2013

There are many heritage-listed sites in Toowoomba City, including:

• 9 Boulton Street: Tawa ^[16]
• 1 Clifford Street ( 27°33′37″S151°56′50″E / 27.5604°S 151.9471°E / -27.5604; 151.9471 (Harris House) ): Harris House ^[17]
• Herries Street: St Luke's Anglican Church ^[18]
• 149 Herries Street: Soldiers Memorial Hall ^[19]
• 152 Herries Street: St Luke's Church Hall ^[20]
• 136 Margaret Street: Toowoomba Post Office ^[21]
• 159-167 Margaret Street: Strand Theatre ^[22]
• 245-253 Margaret Street: Exchange Building ^[23]
• 3 Mill Street: Carlton House ^[24]
• 139 Mort Street: Toowoomba North State School ^[25]
• 145 Mort Street: St James Church ^[26]
• 46 Neil Street: Toowoomba Court House ^[27]
• 50-52 Neil Street: Toowoomba Police Station Complex ^[28]
• 54 Neil Street: Wesley Uniting Church ^[29]
• 56 & 56A Neil Street: Empire Theatre ^[30]
• Russell Street: Men's Toilet ^[31]
• Russell Street: Toowoomba railway station ^[32]
• 2 Russell Street,: Toowoomba Permanent Building Society ^[33]
• 19A Russell Stree: Toowoomba Trades Hall ^[34]
• 112 Russell Street: St James Parish Hall ^[35]
• 120 Russell Street: Clifford House ^[36]
• 126 Russell Street: Kensington ^[37]
• 127 Russell Street: Wislet ^[38]
• 135 Russell Street: Vacy Hall ^[39]
• 251-267 Ruthven Street: Toowoomba Foundry ^[40]
• 269-291 Ruthven Street: Defiance Flour Mill ^[41]
• 381-391 Ruthven Street: Pigott's Building ^[42]
• 386-388 Ruthven Street: Karingal Chambers ^[43]
• 451-455 Ruthven Street: Alexandra Building ^[44]
• 456 Ruthven Street: White Horse Hotel ^[45]
• 541 Ruthven Street: Toowoomba City Hall ^[46]
• corner of West Street, Hill Street and Herries Street ( 27°33′45″S151°56′39″E / 27.5624°S 151.9442°E / -27.5624; 151.9442 (Laurel Bank Park) ): Laurel Bank Park ^[47]

Shopping

Toowoomba City contains two significant shopping centres, presently under the same ownership. Grand Central Shopping Centre, with a GLA of 46,000 square metres (500,000 sq ft), contains the region's only Myer store, as well as a Coles, Target and 145 specialty stores. Garden Town Shopping Centre, across Gowrie Creek and containing a GLA of 12,434 square metres (133,840 sq ft) (2009), contains a Supa IGA supermarket, Best & Less and Lincraft along with 40 other stores. Both are currently owned by QIC, following its acquisition of Garden Town in January 2009 from Aspen Group, they are now being redeveloped to join together via a two level galleria to form one shopping centre. ^[48]

Two smaller centres, the Hooper Centre and a homeware centre, and street shopping along Ruthven Street round out the city centre's retail offerings. There is also a small shopping area on the corner of Ramsay and South streets called Southtown. It contains several eating places, supermarket, newsagent and Post Office.

Transport

Toowoomba railway station, 2013

Toowoomba City is situated at the intersection of the New England Highway and Warrego Highway, and contains Toowoomba railway station (the terminus of the Westlander service) and the city's bus interchange on Neil Street, from which various buses depart for the suburbs. Toowoomba also has a taxi facility available. ^[49]

Education

Toowoomba North State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls on the south-west corner of Mort and Taylor Streets ( 27°33′23″S151°56′55″E / 27.5565°S 151.9487°E / -27.5565; 151.9487 (Toowoomba North State School) ). ^{[50] [51]} It includes a special education program. In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 157 students with 12 teachers (11 full-time equivalent). ^[52] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 142 students with 11 teachers (10 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent). ^[53]

Holy Name Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 188 Bridge Street ( 27°33′02″S151°56′48″E / 27.5506°S 151.9467°E / -27.5506; 151.9467 (Holy Name Primary School) ). ^{[50] [54]} It is a Mercy tradition school. In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 154 students with 12 teachers (10.3 full-time equivalent) and 8 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent). ^[55] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 140 students with 11 teachers (10 full-time equivalent) and 9 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent). ^[53]

There are no secondary schools in Toowoomba City. The nearest government secondary schools are: ^[4]

• Toowoomba State High School in Mount Lofty to the north-east
• Centenary Heights State High School in Centenary Heights to the south-east
• Harristown State High School in neighbouring Harristown to the south-west

Libraries

The Tooowoomba City library is located at 155 Herries Street. The library is open seven days a week. ^[56]

The local history library is located at 155 Herries Street. ^[57] The local history library has a comprehensive archival collection that is of local, state and national significance, including the Robinson Collection named after Toowoomba's first female mayor Nellie E. Robinson. ^[58] This comprehensive collection contains records from local personalities, businesses and community organizations.

Both libraries are operated by the Toowoomba Regional Council. ^[13]

Community groups

The Toowoomba branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 263 Margaret Street and the Toowoomba City Business Women’s branch meets at 161 Margaret Street. ^[59]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Toowoomba City (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
2. "Toowoomba City – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 48075)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 November 2019.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Toowoomba City (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
5. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
6. "Mort Estate – neighbourhood in Toowoomba Region (entry 39128)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
7. "Advertising". The Darling Downs Gazette And General Advertiser . Vol. IV, no. 189. Queensland, Australia. 9 January 1862. p. 2. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023– via National Library of Australia.
8. "Mort Estate, Toowoomba". www.toowoomba.org. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
9. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
10. "Queensland Baptist churches by date of erection/opening". Baptist Church Archives Queensland. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
11. "1881 Toowoomba". Baptist Church Archives Queensland. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
12. "History". Holy Name Primary School. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
13. "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
14. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Toowoomba City (Toowoomba City) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Toowoomba City (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
16. "Tawa (entry 601301)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
17. "Harris House (entry 650237)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
18. "St Lukes Anglican Church (entry 601878)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
19. "Soldiers Memorial Hall (entry 601297)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
20. "St Lukes Church Hall (entry 600866)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
21. "Toowoomba Post Office (former) (entry 600847)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
22. "Strand Theatre (entry 600849)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
23. "Exchange Building (entry 601319)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
24. "Carlton House (entry 601308)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
25. "650024". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
26. "St James Church (entry 601298)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
27. "Toowoomba Court House (entry 600848)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
28. "Toowoomba Police Station Complex (entry 601710)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
29. "Wesley Uniting Church (entry 601695)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
30. "Empire Theatre (former) (entry 600978)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
31. "Men's Toilet, Russell Street, Toowoomba (entry 601381)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
32. "Toowoomba Railway Station, Honour Board and Railway Yard Structures (entry 600872)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
33. "Toowoomba Permanent Building Society (former) (entry 600859)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
34. "Toowoomba Trades Hall (entry 602768)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
35. "St James Parish Hall (entry 600856)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
36. "Clifford House (entry 600857)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
37. "Kensington (entry 601322)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
38. "Wislet (Former Wesley Hospital) (entry 601324)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
39. "Vacy Hall (entry 600858)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
40. "Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (entry 601300)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
41. "Defiance Flour Mill (entry 601306)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
42. "Pigott's Building (entry 600861)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
43. "Karingal Chambers (entry 600862)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
44. "Alexandra Building (entry 601317)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
45. "White Horse Hotel (entry 600863)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
46. "Toowoomba City Hall (entry 600865)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
47. "Laurel Bank Park (entry 650083)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
48. Leasing Information Services. "Garden Town Shopping Centre, Toowoomba, Queensland" . Retrieved 4 June 2011.
49. Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) (March 2011). "Toowoomba/Highfields/Crows Nest bus network" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 March 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
50. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
51. "Toowoomba North State School". Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
52. "2015 School Annual Report" (PDF). Toowoomba North State School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
53. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
54. "Holy Name Primary School". Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
55. "2016 Annual Report" (PDF). Holy Name Primary School, Toowoomba. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
56. "Toowoomba City Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
57. "Local history library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 2 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
58. "Robinson, Nellie Elizabeth (1915-1992)", Trove, 2009, archived from the original on 22 August 2023, retrieved 24 October 2014
59. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.