Allora 150 Years Celebration

In July we were fortunate to be able to attend the Allora 150 Year Celebration. This celebration commemorates the town becoming a municipality in 1869, and Allora is known as "The Best Little Town" on the Darling Downs.

We stayed at Clifton Showgrounds, about 10 minutes drive towards Toowoomba, and did day trips to Allora on both the Saturday and the Sunday.

The Celebration included the official opening of Old Shire Chambers and a street parade of the many local clubs and interests.

Pennyfarthings were part of the parade and also had a display including history of the pennyfarthings.

Vintage cars were in the parade.

The vintage cars were later at the park at the end of the main street.

Many displays were spread throughout the town and a bullock crossing demonstration across the Dalrymple Creek to depict how the first settlers came.

Along the main street were 'newer' cars ......

..... and Peter looked inside every one LOL.

There was a handicraft market that also included demonstrations of older crafts such as spinning and here Peter was watching a horse whip being made.

There is also a lovely craft / quilting shop with a conveniently place bench out side for all the hubbies to sit at. 

The area was first explored by Europeans in the early 1840's and sheep stations were established. One pastoral run was Goomburra, run by Ernest Dalrymple and established in 1841. A crossing on the property became a regular stooping place for travellers and by mid 1840's a blacksmiths shop opened and this lead to other stores including an inn to cater for the travellers. A later owner, Patrick Leslie, gave one square mile for the township at the crossing. Surveyed in 1959, the name Allora is based on the the Aboriginal word 'gnarrallah' meaning swampy place or waterhole. The rich soil in the area lead to growing of crops and the establishment of a flour mill. The town became one of the main towns on the Downs and it wasn't until the railway detoured the town that it started to lose its prominence. After some lobbying by prominent residents, a railway line connected the town in 1897. A walking trail around the town with over 30 sites has been initiated by the Allora Historic Heritage Trail.

There are so many lovely old buildings in Allora.

Today Allora township mainly caters for locals and tourists. Of course it is also the home of the author P.L.Travis of Mary Poppins fame. A new venue, well we didn't notice it earlier in the year when we visited, is the Allora Regional Sports Museum which contains a hall of fame including polo players.  

Allora Heritage Weekend happens each year in January, and next year we are not doing Tamworth Country Music Festival or the Parkes Elvis Festival so we may do the Allora Heritage Festival.