Historic Allora

Allora is a historic town on the Darling Downs, not far from Clifton. The history of the town dates back to 1859. We visited Allora twice while we were staying at Clifton. The first time was after the RACQ Historic Car Display in Warwick and we took the inland road, rather than the highway, to visit the Jumpers and Jazz in July 'Meet the Makers' at the Allora RSL Club. Crafters had stalls set up. We did buy some hot chilli tomato sauce that was made locally at the Frog and Swallow Cafe. We were going to have late lunch at the cafe, but it was closing - maybe another time. We had a walk around the streets, some trees were decorated.

Allora is the town where author Helen Lyndon Goff (P.L.Travers of Mary Poppin's fame) spent some of her early years. On the corner of Herbert and Drayton Streets there is a monument to Mary Poppins.

A little further up Herbert Street is the house where Helen Goff lived with her family. Her father being a bank manager, this is the old bank building and residence, now known as Mary Poppins House.

The name Allora comes from the Aboriginal word meaning place of swamp. It was originally part of the Goomburra run originally owned by Ernest Dalrymple and Patrick Leslie.

Wayne Bennett, coach of the Broncos once lived in Allora.