HISTORY OF TOOWOOMBA
adapted from Toowoomba City Council website www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au
The earliest township in what is now the immediate Toowoomba area was Drayton, a small trading and service settlement, at a gully where the tracks of the early bullock teamsters met.
Land at a nearby swamp was surveyed in 1849 as the Drayton Agricultural Reserve. Town blocks between the east and west swamps were surveyed in 1853 and became Toowoomba. Early urban development of Toowoomba was in James Street which carried the traffic from the Toll Bar on the range en route to Drayton and beyond.
Bulls Head Inn Drayton
Toowoomba’s history can be traced back to 1816 when English botanist and explorer Allan Cunningham arrived in Australia from Brazil where he had been searching for native trees and plant life that would be suitable for the Australian climate. Photo: Neil Street looking south.
In June 1827, he was rewarded for his many explorations when he discovered four million acres of rich farming and grazing land bordered on the east by the Great Dividing Range and situated 100 miles west of the settlement of Moreton Bay (later to become Brisbane). Cunningham named his find Darling Downs after Sir Ralph Darling, Governor of New South Wales.
It was not until 13 years later when George and Patrick Leslie established Toolburra Station 56 miles south-west of Toowoomba that the first settlers arrived on the Downs. Other settlers quickly followed and a few tradesmen and businessmen settled and established a township of bark-slab shops called The Springs which was soon renamed Drayton.
Towards the end of the 1840s Drayton had grown to the point where it had its own newspaper, general store, trading post and the Royal Bull’s Head Inn which was built by William Horton and still stands today. Horton is regarded as the real founder of Toowoomba, although he was not the first man to live there.
Early in 1849 Horton sent two of his men, William Gurney and William Shuttlewood, to cut away reeds in a marshy swampland area a few miles away that nobody from Drayton ever visited. When Gurney and Shuttlewood arrived they were surprised to find a pitched tent among the reeds. The tent’s owner was bush worker Josiah Dent who was the first man to live in “The Swamp”. Photo: Ruthven Street
City of Toowoomba
This extraordinary news was the main talking point in Drayton for weeks and people became interested in developing The Swamp as useful farming land. Plans were drawn for 12-20 acre farms in the swamp (later to be drained and become the foundation for the establishment of Toowoomba) in the hope of attracting more people to the area to support the land and build up the town. Two years later people began purchasing the land but not new settlers. The new farm holdings attracted buyers from Drayton
There are several theories how the name Toowoomba was derived. One is that it derived from the aboriginal word for swamp which is Tawampa as the Aborigines had no “s” in their vocabulary.
Another theory is that the aboriginal interpretation for “reeds in the swamp” Woomba Woomba was used as the original source, or even that the word Toowoomba was taken from the aboriginal term for a native melon “Toowoom” or “Choowoom” which grew plentifully in the township. Drovers and wagon masters spread the news of the new settlement at Toowoomba. By 1858 Toowoomba was growing fast. It had a population of 700, three hotels and many stores. Land selling at £4 an acre in 1850 was now £150 an acre. To read more go to: www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au
15 Responses
Rob Brazier
Carmel, thanks for the interesting theory on Toowoomba’s early days. But you seemed to have left Thomas Alford and his wife completely out of the frame. Information I have gleaned from various sources is that he established the first business house in Drayton, a trading post and renamed the area from “The Springs” to “Drayton”…some years before Mr Horton built the Bulls Head. He later moved to the Swamp
And there seems to be some discussion that the native melons or paddy melons were not indigenous to Australia, but were introduced…from either Spain or Africa.
We have the melons growing out here around Jandowae and always called them Paddy Melons.
I am not critciizing your efforts, as I also write history in a local magazine out this way. I am presently writing about the early days of the Darling Downs, and rely more on stories than actual facts….more entertaining to read.
It seems the more I check for facts about those times the more contradictions I find.
So I am checking as many theories as I can find and making uneducated guesses to where the truth lies.
As a story teller I reserve that right. We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t enjoy, would we?
I would appreciate your reply and any info you might have to support your theory.
Regards, Rob Brazier
Carmel
Dear Rob, Thank you for adding some interesting information regarding the early settlers of our Toowoomba area. I am no historian though I am always fascinated by people’s stories and encourage anyone who will listen to document all they remember/know about their families. We do seem to have lost so many personal stories. Isn’t it interesting how people have different interpretations of particular events.
I admire your efforts and I imagine once you start to delve into archives and the history of what interests you it can become quite addictive. I know for me I was obsessed with learning all I possibly could about the Arabian horse.
My thanks again and all the best I can tell by your post how much you love what you do.
Kindest regards
Carmel
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Anne Lockwood
I hope you can help me.
My great grandparents were German immigrants to Queensland in 1878 going to a place called “Kennedy Town”. My grandmother was born there, but it said “Toowoomba” on her birth certificate. Can you tell me what Kennedy Town was, was it part of Toowoomba? I can’t find any record of it after long searching. They had both died by 1891 and I am hunting details of their lives. Can you help me?
Thanks (in advance)
Anne Lockwood
Carmel
Hi Anne, Give me a week or so and I will see what I can find out for you. Carmel
Carmel
Hello Anne,
I contacted Dr. Gail Lipke a well-known local historian who told me that there’s a Kennedy street near Harlaxton in Toowoomba near the old Griffith foundry. Possibly a little community resided in the tiny workers cottages that could have been named “Kennedy Town” after the person who owned the foundry. These names that no longer exist may have been names to simply identify these communities. It would account for Toowoomba being on your grandmothers birth certificate.
Apparently there were lots of these tiny houses built for the workers by the owners of larger companies in town. Little railway cottages were also built for workers by contracted railway workers of the time. Vacy Hall and other big historical homes in Toowoomba that were owned prominent business men also built lots of tiny shacks for the workers. These were people consigned or referred to the bosses or the superiors.
The Toowoomba & Darling Downs Family History Society http://tddfhs.org.au/ may be able to help you further.
Telephone: 07 4634 7377
Hope that the information helps a little.
Kindest regards
Carmel
sandy hanson
Hi Carmel,
I am looking at my family history and my 3times great grandparents (Mary nee Kennedy and William Samuels) lived in this district, with my 3xgreatfather actually working at the Inn you write about. My 93 year old cousin once removed is also writing about this and that is where I got my info from. Mary was a Kerry Girl who is written about in the book The Kerry Girls. Earl Grey financed a group of poor irish girls to be brought to Australia in 1849-50 to balance the sexes a bit and bring up the standards in the colony!! Very interesting reading. My old cousin is writing a book about it with an Australian perspective. She is a wonderful lady and wrote a great family tree book for us 35 years ago, which was her first. thanks for the info here and maybe after this isolation we may come to Toowoomba and further search. regards Sandy Hanson
Patricia Raciti
Hi Carmel,
I can see how helpful you have been to others and therefore wonder if you are able to be of some assistance.
My fathers family or so I believe had a farm ( maybe a dairy farm) near Drayton. My father had 8 siblings. His parents names were Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Volker born 1868 to 1943 possibly aka Voelker and Catharina Frederica Heuser born 1875 to 1944.
I am trying to locate where the farm may have been and any obituaries etc. Any other information would be welcome. Thankyou
Carmel
Dear Patricia, Yes both my husband and I recognized the name Volker. There is a Volker road in Drayton. If you go on Google Maps and type in Volker Road, Drayton, Queensland it should come up. The Volker’s owned a Red Poll cattle stud farm on Mt Rascal Road. (My husband did some excavation work for an elderly Mr Volker on a property he owned down in Hell Hole Creek. (terrible name) This would have been in the 1990’s and the two gentlemen, brothers he thinks were possibly in their eighties.) Don feels the Mt Rascal block was a sizeable amount of land, which if you look at the Google map the land may have been the big block across to the Drayton Connection Road. He may have milked the Red Polls as they are a dairy breed of cattle. Gail Lipke who is a friend and a Heritage Consultant is easily found either on Facebook below or Google her and she may have more information for you.
Trust this a little help and giving you something to go on with.
Kindest regards
Carmel
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I am the principal heritage consultant at CMPA a heritage management practices. Practicing in built and natural environment. University degrees in the …
Shirley Chambers
Hello Patricia, I have a Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Folker in my family tree. He is the son of Johannes Volker (my G Grandfather). Some of Johann’s sons remained as “Volker” and some changed their names to “Folker” for reasons unknown to me. The info I have about Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Folker is that he was known as Bill Folker 1883-1958, and he farmed in the Middle Ridge area of Toowoomba. He married Catherine Annie Schelberg and their children were Eric Roy Stan Ruby and Joyce.
This info dosen’t exactly fit your info, so I’m not sure if it’s the same one.
Thank you Carmel for allowing this conversation to be aired on your website.
I am happy to be contacted by email to continue this conversation.
Carmel
My pleasure Shirley always happy to assist, if I can. Family history can be difficult at the best of times. All the very best. Carmel
Alyssa Spratt
Hi Carmel, Im Ester Dorothy Shepered (maiden name) Volkers great grand daughter Alyssa. Im 15 and trying to trace back the Volker Family Tree and I have only gotten as far back to Carl or Karl Fredrich Volker, birth date 15/12/1821, death date 10/04/1902. Along with his wife, Christine Maria Dorothea Markoff (maiden name) Volker, birth date 15/2/1820, death date 4/10/1910. Just messaging to see whether you can help me trace back further with this information, I have already discovered Christine Maria Dorothea Markoff (maiden name) Volker’s parents but cant seem to find any information on Carl or Karl Fredrich Volkers parents.
Sincere regards,
Alyssa
Serena Taylor
Hello Carmel ,
I am wanting to find any and all information on the extended Butler family . My grandfather and I’m led to believe , all of his 10+ siblings were born in the same house in Drayton.
I have also been told that where the current Twb showgrounds are was once a Butler Farm
I hope to travel to TWB one day and research as much as I can .
My great great grandfather’s name was Sydney Edward Butler and his wife Maud Beatrice Butler nee Smith. She was born 26/1/1888 in Townsville .
I am truly grateful if you can help , even to lead me in the right direction to gain more information.
Kind regards
Serena Taylor
Carmel
Hi Serena, I’m certainly far from a historian but my husband remembered that when we arrived in Toowoomba the Toyota dealer in town was called Butlers Toyota. We moved to Toowoomba in 1988. We moved in early 2020. The name was been changed before we left so I imagine it was sold and the name changed to Toowoomba Toyota. As far as the Smith name goes there were Smiths at Wellcamp just behind the Toowoomba showgrounds. I think they sold the farm and built a new house on a smaller lot in the same area. We think this Wellcamp farm was the family farm. That’s about all I can help you with other than mentioning Dr. Gail Lipke a well-known local historian, she may be able to offer some help.
All the best and with kindest regards, Carmel
John Davis
Hello, Carmel.
I understand Josiah Dent married Letitia Baxter, who was apparently the first white woman born in the Darling Downs. This is only verbal from my family.
Arthur Huey Davis (“Steele Rudd “) left some descendants, but do you know any details? I’m verbally told there’s a link with my grandparents.