Toowoomba Queensland | |||||||||
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Coordinates | 27°34′S 151°57′E / 27.567°S 151.950°E | ||||||||
Population | 142,163 (2021 census)[1] (16th) | ||||||||
• Density | 195.118/km2 (505.35/sq mi) | ||||||||
Established | 1849 | ||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4350 | ||||||||
Elevation | 691 m (2,267 ft)[2] | ||||||||
Area | 728.6 km2 (281.3 sq mi)[1](2021 urban) | ||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||
Location | |||||||||
LGA(s) | Toowoomba Region | ||||||||
County | Aubigny | ||||||||
State electorate(s) | |||||||||
Federal division(s) | Groom | ||||||||
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Toowoomba (/təˈwʊmbə/ tə-WUUM-bə, nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar'[3]) is a city in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia.[4] It is 132 km (82 mi) west of Queensland's capital, Brisbane. The urban population of Toowoomba as of the 2021 census was 142,163,[1] having grown at an average annual rate of 1.45% over the previous two decades.[5] Toowoomba is the second-most-populous inland city in the country after the nation's capital, Canberra.[6] It is also the second-largest regional centre in Queensland,[7] and is often referred to as the capital of the Darling Downs. It is the council seat of the eponymously named Toowoomba Region.
Toowoomba is one of the oldest inland cities in Australia, having been founded in 1849 on the lands of the Giabal and Jarowair.[8] Toowoomba's centre streets were named after the history of the House of Stuart, and the city later became the viceregal summer retreat of Queensland's governors. It was the scene of several major events during Australia's Victorian period, such as the War of Southern Queensland and Battle of One Tree Hill, and during the Federation period becoming a major artistic and cultural centre with the emergence of the Austral Society.
A cathedral and university city, Toowoomba is known for its preserved Victorian-era and traditional Queenslander architecture, historic churches and gardens, food and coffee culture,[9] street art and laneways, and numerous nature trails. The city experiences a distinct four seasons and is home to festivals including the Carnival of Flowers. Toowoomba is also a centre of higher learning in the country and its institutions include the University of Southern Queensland. Prominent landmarks include Queens and Laurel Bank Park, the Empire Theatre, St James' Palace, and Mt Meewah. The surrounding region of the Darling Downs is known for its rolling hills and pastures, agricultural produce, and historic homesteads.