Darling Downs and South West, QLD
About the Darling Downs and South West region
This Queensland region is located in south-east and south-west of the state, between 125 and 1,000 kilometres west of the Brisbane CBD. Toowoomba is the largest city in the region, located approximately 90 minutes drive west of Brisbane, but it is also full of quintessential country towns including Stanthorpe, Chinchilla and Kingaroy, among others.
The region encompasses a total land area of nearly 400,000 km² and is predominantly rural, with land used largely for agriculture (particularly sheep and cattle grazing, and cotton and wheat growing, with some fruit and vegetable growing.) Other important industries that use land include oil and opal mining, gas production, forestry and viticulture.
The region is the traditional home of dozens of different Aboriginal groups. We invite readers to learn more about the traditional owners of the land via the Indigenous languages map of Queensland.
Local councils
Queensland's Darling Downs and South West region includes 10 municipalities: Balonne Shire, Bulloo Shire, the Goondiwindi Regional Council area, the Maranoa Regional Council area, Murweh Shire, Paroo Shire, Quilpie Shire, the Southern Downs Regional Council area, the Toowoomba Regional Council area, and the Western Downs Regional Council area.
Climate information
The weather in the Darling Downs and South West region can be a couple of degrees cooler than the Queensland average, with daily maximum temperatures averaging 28° C in summer and 17° C in winter.
Toowoomba is located 700 m above sea level, on the crest of the Great Diving Range, so the locality also reports some slight frosts in winter.
Population
The estimated resident population of the Darling Downs and South West region was 273,829 as of June 2019.
Education
Higher education facilities are provided at TAFE Queensland South West (Chinchilla, Dalby, Roma, Toowoomba and Warwick Campuses), University of Southern Queensland (Toowoomba Campus, Queensland College of Wine Tourism and USQHub@Stanthorpe)
There are also numerous primary and secondary schools. The Darling Downs and South West region features:
- 156 primary schools
- 22 secondary schools
- 27 P-10/12 schools
- 3,571 teachers, and
- 42,449 students
Employment and local businesses
The Darling Downs and South West region’s Gross Regional Product was $22.37 billion in the year ending June 2019, growing 1.4% since the previous year.
The largest industry by employment is healthcare and social assistance, followed by agriculture, forestry & fishing, education, and construction.
The region boasts more than 30,000 local businesses, offering 140,000 local jobs.
Housing
As of June 2018, RDA Darling Downs and South West had a median house valuation of $318,034. This is $140,326 lower than the Queensland median.
The region also had a median weekly house rental of $300, $95 below Queensland's median.
Events
Where: Toowoomba, QLD
When: Annually, in September
What: This floral festival has been going strong since 1949, and is one of Queensland's most iconic regional events. The event attracts crowds from all across Australia and beyond — in 2019, almost 300,000 visitors were recorded. Over the course of its 10-day run, visitors to the carnival can stroll through Toowoomba's flower-laden public gardens, watch light shows, listen to live music, shop at local markets and of course attend its most important event: the Grand Central Floral Parade.
Where: Goondoowindi, QLD
When: Annually, in February
What: Despite its rather ominous name, this dynamic festival is all about testing your limits in a range of sporting events while enjoying Goondoowindi's legendary community spirit and hospitality. There's truly something for everyone at this event. It offers charity runs and kids' activities that the whole family can get involved in, but also an epic long-course triathlon known as the 'Hell of the West', which draws competitors from all around the world and is widely considered to be Queensland's toughest triathlon.
Where: Stanthorpe, QLD
When: Biannually, from late February to early March
What: This fun-filled festival celebrates the harvest of produce from Queensland’s Granite Belt Region. Visitors can discover local food and wine through a host of delightful events, whether they want to watch the grand parade, cheer on the Grape Crushing Championship, compete in the golf, or test their fitness in the Storm King Dam Bike Ride or the Mt Marlay Marathon. For those who want something a bit more relaxing, there is also a Food, Wine & Cultural Fiesta, an enormously popular Italian Long Lunch, shopping at local markets and much more!
Additional Information
Darling Downs and South West has 10 subregions. Use the list below or the map above to learn more about individual subregions.
Darling Downs and South West Schools
- Government Schools
- Independent Schools
Combined
- Allora P-10 State School ALLORA QLD 4362
- Bell State School BELL QLD 4408
- Boggabilla Central School BOGGABILLA NSW 2409
- Cecil Plains State School CECIL PLAINS QLD 4407
- Charleville School of Distance Education CHARLEVILLE QLD 4470
- Crow's Nest State School CROWS NEST QLD 4355
- Cunnamulla P-12 State School CUNNAMULLA QLD 4490
- Dirranbandi P-10 State School DIRRANBANDI QLD 4486
- Inglewood State School INGLEWOOD QLD 4387
- Injune P-10 State School INJUNE QLD 4454
- Jandowae Prep-10 State School JANDOWAE QLD 4410
- Killarney P-10 State School KILLARNEY QLD 4373
- Millmerran State School MILLMERRAN QLD 4357
- Mitchell State School MITCHELL QLD 4465
- Mungindi Central School MUNGINDI NSW 2406
- Quilpie State College QUILPIE QLD 4480
- Quinalow Prep-10 State School QUINALOW QLD 4403
- Roma State College ROMA QLD 4455
- Roma State College - Middle Campus ROMA QLD 4455
- Surat State School SURAT QLD 4417
- Tara Shire State College TARA QLD 4421
- Texas P-10 State School TEXAS QLD 4385
- Wallumbilla State School WALLUMBILLA QLD 4428
- Wandoan State School P-10 WANDOAN QLD 4419
- Yarraman State School YARRAMAN QLD 4614
Primary
- Amiens State School AMIENS QLD 4380
- Applethorpe State School APPLETHORPE QLD 4378
- Augathella State School AUGATHELLA QLD 4477
- Back Plains State School BACK PLAINS QLD 4361
- Ballandean State School BALLANDEAN QLD 4382
- Begonia State School BEGONIA QLD 4487
- Biddeston State School BIDDESTON QLD 4401
- Blackbutt State School BLACKBUTT QLD 4314
- Bollon State School BOLLON QLD 4488
- Bonshaw Public School BONSHAW NSW 2361
- Boomi Public School BOOMI NSW 2405
- Bowenville State School BOWENVILLE QLD 4404
- Brigalow State School BRIGALOW QLD 4412
- Broadwater State School BROADWATER QLD 4380
- Brookstead State School BROOKSTEAD QLD 4364
- Bungunya State School BUNGUNYA QLD 4494
- Bunker's Hill State School WESTBROOK QLD 4350
- Burra Burri State School BURRA BURRI QLD 4413
- Bymount East State School BYMOUNT QLD 4455
- Cambooya State School CAMBOOYA QLD 4358
- Charleville State School CHARLEVILLE QLD 4470
- Chinchilla State School CHINCHILLA QLD 4413
- Clifton State School CLIFTON QLD 4361
- Condamine State School CONDAMINE QLD 4416
- Cooyar State School COOYAR QLD 4402
- Dalby South State School DALBY QLD 4405
- Dalby State School DALBY QLD 4405
- Dalveen State School DALVEEN QLD 4374
- Darling Heights State School DARLING HEIGHTS QLD 4350
- Drayton State School DRAYTON QLD 4350
- Drillham State School DRILLHAM QLD 4424
- Dulacca State School DULACCA QLD 4425
- Dunkeld State School DUNKELD QLD 4465
- Emu Creek State School EAST GREENMOUNT QLD 4359
- Eromanga State School EROMANGA QLD 4480
- Eulo State School EULO QLD 4491
- Fairview Heights State School WILSONTON QLD 4350
- Freestone State School FREESTONE QLD 4370
- Gabbinbar State School CENTENARY HEIGHTS QLD 4350
- Geham State School GEHAM QLD 4352
- Glen Aplin State School GLEN APLIN QLD 4381
- Glenmorgan State School GLENMORGAN QLD 4423
- Glennie Heights State School WARWICK QLD 4370
- Glenvale State School GLENVALE QLD 4350
- Goombungee State School GOOMBUNGEE QLD 4354
- Goondiwindi State School GOONDIWINDI QLD 4390
- Gowrie State School GOWRIE JUNCTION QLD 4352
- Greenlands State School GREENLANDS QLD 4380
- Greenmount State School GREENMOUNT QLD 4359
- Grosmont State School GROSMONT QLD 4419
- Guluguba State School GULUGUBA QLD 4418
- Haden State School HADEN QLD 4353
- Hannaford State School HANNAFORD QLD 4406
- Harlaxton State School HARLAXTON QLD 4350
- Harristown State School HARRISTOWN QLD 4350
- Hebel State School HEBEL QLD 4486
- Highfields State School HIGHFIELDS QLD 4352
- Jennings Public School JENNINGS NSW 4383
- Jimbour State School JIMBOUR EAST QLD 4406
- Jondaryan State School JONDARYAN QLD 4403
- Kaimkillenbun State School KAIMKILLENBUN QLD 4406
- Karara State School KARARA QLD 4352
- Kindon State School KINDON QLD 4390
- Kingsthorpe State School KINGSTHORPE QLD 4400
- Kioma State School KIOMA QLD 4498
- Kogan State School KOGAN QLD 4406
- Kulpi State School KULPI QLD 4352
- Leyburn State School LEYBURN QLD 4365
- Lundavra State School LUNDAVRA QLD 4390
- Maryvale State School MARYVALE QLD 4370
- Meandarra State School MEANDARRA QLD 4422
- Meringandan State School MERINGANDAN WEST QLD 4352
- Middle Ridge State School MIDDLE RIDGE QLD 4350
- Miles State School MILES QLD 4415
- Mingoola Public School MINGOOLA NSW 4380
- Monogorilby State School MONOGORILBY QLD 4626
- Moonie State School MOONIE QLD 4406
- Morven State School MORVEN QLD 4468
- Mount Tyson State School MOUNT TYSON QLD 4356
- Mungallala State School MUNGALLALA QLD 4467
- Murray's Bridge State School MURRAYS BRIDGE QLD 4370
- Newtown State School NEWTOWN QLD 4350
- Nobby State School NOBBY QLD 4360
- Oakey State School OAKEY QLD 4401
- Pilton State School PILTON QLD 4361
- Pittsworth State School PITTSWORTH QLD 4356
- Pozieres State School POZIERES QLD 4352
- Ramsay State School RAMSAY QLD 4358
- Rangeville State School RANGEVILLE QLD 4350
- Rockville State School ROCKVILLE QLD 4350
- Roma State College - Junior Campus ROMA QLD 4455
- Severnlea State School SEVERNLEA QLD 4380
- Southbrook Central State School SOUTHBROOK QLD 4363
- St George State School ST GEORGE QLD 4487
- Stanthorpe State School STANTHORPE QLD 4380
- Talwood State School NORTH TALWOOD QLD 4496
- Tannymorel State School TANNYMOREL QLD 4372
- Teelba State School TEELBA QLD 4423
- Thallon State School THALLON QLD 4497
- Thargomindah State School THARGOMINDAH QLD 4492
- The Gums State School THE GUMS QLD 4406
- The Summit State School THE SUMMIT QLD 4377
- Thulimbah State School THULIMBAH QLD 4376
- Toomelah Public School BOGGABILLA NSW 2409
- Toowoomba East State School EAST TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Toowoomba North State School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Vale View State School VALE VIEW QLD 4352
- Wallangarra State School WALLANGARRA QLD 4383
- Warra State School WARRA QLD 4411
- Warwick Central State School WARWICK QLD 4370
- Warwick East State School WARWICK QLD 4370
- Warwick West State School WARWICK QLD 4370
- Wellcamp State School WELLCAMP QLD 4350
- Westmar State School WESTMAR QLD 4422
- Wheatvale State School WHEATVALE QLD 4370
- Wilsonton State School WILSONTON QLD 4350
- Withcott State School WITHCOTT QLD 4352
- Wyandra State School WYANDRA QLD 4489
- Wyreema State School WYREEMA QLD 4352
- Yangan State School YANGAN QLD 4371
- Yelarbon State School YELARBON QLD 4388
- Yowah State School YOWAH QLD 4490
- Yuleba State School YULEBA QLD 4427
Secondary
- Centenary Heights State High School CENTENARY HEIGHTS QLD 4350
- Charleville State High School CHARLEVILLE QLD 4470
- Chinchilla State High School CHINCHILLA QLD 4413
- Clifton State High School CLIFTON QLD 4361
- Dalby State High School DALBY QLD 4405
- Dalby State High School - Bunya Campus DALBY QLD 4405
- Goondiwindi State High School GOONDIWINDI QLD 4390
- Harristown State High School HARRISTOWN QLD 4350
- Highfields State Secondary College HIGHFIELDS QLD 4352
- Miles State High School MILES QLD 4415
- Oakey State High School OAKEY QLD 4401
- Pittsworth State High School PITTSWORTH QLD 4356
- Roma State College - Senior Campus ROMA QLD 4455
- St George State High School ST GEORGE QLD 4487
- Stanthorpe State High School STANTHORPE QLD 4380
- Toowoomba State High School MOUNT LOFTY QLD 4350
- Warwick State High School WARWICK QLD 4370
- Wilsonton State High School WILSONTON HEIGHTS QLD 4350
Special
- Clifford Park Special School NEWTOWN QLD 4350
- Toowoomba West Special School NEWTOWN QLD 4350
Combined
- Agnew School - Toowoomba TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Border Rivers Christian College GOONDIWINDI QLD 4390
- Border Rivers Christian College GOONDIWINDI QLD 4390
- Chinchilla Christian College CHINCHILLA QLD 4413
- Dalby Christian College DALBY QLD 4405
- Darling Downs Christian School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Downlands College TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Fairholme College TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Highlands Christian College TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Mary MacKillop Catholic College HIGHFIELDS QLD 4352
- Our Lady of the Southern Cross College DALBY QLD 4405
- St John's School ROMA QLD 4455
- St Joseph's School STANTHORPE QLD 4380
- St Mary's College TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- St Mary's School GOONDIWINDI QLD 4390
- St Mary's School GOONDIWINDI QLD 4390
- The Glennie School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- The School of Total Education WARWICK QLD 4370
- The SCOTS PGC College WARWICK QLD 4370
- The SCOTS PGC College - Lock Street Campus WARWICK QLD 4370
- Toowoomba Anglican School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Toowoomba Christian College HIGHFIELDS QLD 4352
- Toowoomba Grammar School EAST TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Warwick Christian College WARWICK QLD 4370
Primary
- Concordia Lutheran College - Concordia Primary Campus TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Concordia Lutheran College - Martin Luther Primary Campus TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Glenvale Christian School GLENVALE QLD 4350
- Holy Name Primary School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Maridahdi Early Childhood Community School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Mater Dei Primary School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- Sacred Heart Primary School CUNNAMULLA QLD 4490
- Sacred Heart Primary School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- St Anthony's School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- St Finbarr's School QUILPIE QLD 4480
- St Francis de Sales School CLIFTON QLD 4361
- St Joseph's Primary School MUNGINDI NSW 2406
- St Joseph's School CHINCHILLA QLD 4413
- St Joseph's School MILLMERRAN QLD 4357
- St Joseph's School TARA QLD 4421
- St Maria Goretti School INGLEWOOD QLD 4387
- St Mary's School WARWICK QLD 4370
- St Mary's School - Upper Primary Campus WARWICK QLD 4370
- St Mary's School CHARLEVILLE QLD 4470
- St Monica's School OAKEY QLD 4401
- St Patrick's Primary School MITCHELL QLD 4465
- St Patrick's School ALLORA QLD 4362
- St Patrick's School ST GEORGE QLD 4487
- St Saviour's Primary School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- St Stephen's School PITTSWORTH QLD 4356
- St Thomas More's Primary School TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
Secondary
- Assumption College WARWICK QLD 4370
- Australian Industry Trade College - Toowoomba TOOWOOMBA CITY QLD 4350
- Concordia Lutheran College TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- St Joseph's College TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- St Saviour's College TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
- St Ursula's College TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
Special
- Warwick Christian College - Canningvale Road Campus WARWICK QLD 4370
- Warwick Christian College - Glengallan Road Campus WARWICK QLD 4370
- Youth and Community Learning Centre TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
Darling Downs and South West Housing
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Houses in Darling Downs and South West
The price of a house in Darling Downs and South West ranges from around to $3,800,000.
A typical house in has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & parking for 3 cars.
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Apartments in Darling Downs and South West
The price of a apartment in Darling Downs and South West ranges from around $194,000 to $1,200,000.
A typical apartment in has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & parking for 1 car.
Darling Downs and South West Census Information
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Dwelling Type
What types of residential properties are available in Darling Downs and South West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Tenure Type
Which residential properties in Darling Downs and South West are owned, mortgaged or rented out?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Change in Residence
Did people in Darling Downs and South West change address in the last year?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Working Population
What age groups are most strongly represented in Darling Downs and South West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Top 5 Industries
What industries do people in Darling Downs and South West work in?
- Health care and social assistance
- Agriculture forestry and fishing
- Education and training
- Retail trade
- Construction
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Family Size
How many people live in a household in Darling Downs and South West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP
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