4 Historical Things You Need To Know About Roma Queensland
There is something about the fabulous outback life in Roma Queensland. With it located just half-day drive from Brisbane (or a 1-hour plane ride), Roma has a lot to offer as a place with a rich history. But it’s somewhat of a mystery to those who have never been to this beautiful place. All over Roma Queensland, you’ll find culture, fun activities, and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. Follow along to see the 4 historical things you need to know about Roma before visiting!
1. Natural gas was discovered in Roma
Roma Queensland was the first place in Australia to discover on-shore natural gas. With that said, The Big Rig in Roma is the place to be when one wants to know more about Australia’s oil and gas industry. It’s called The Big Rig because of its 1929 vintage steam-powered drilling rig on the site. In The Big Rig, there is a museum that takes you through the history of oil, gas, and energy in Australia. It allows a self-guided or guided tour with the Roma Rigger taking you through historic rigs and mining equipment. There is also a night show that brings the audiences along to learn more about the trials and triumphs of early industry men and women in Roma.
2. Roma Saleyards is the largest cattle selling place in Australia
In 1969, the Roma Saleyards were built with timber yards and a large capacity of 3,000 cattle. And in recent years, there is around 270,000 cattle sold through the yards each year. You can join a free guided tour where local graziers can teach you all about the local cattle industry and watch cattle sales. The Roma Saleyards Interpretive Centre is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. And the cattle sales are held every Tuesday but it’s subject to change.
3. Roma Court House as a heritage-listed court house
Follow Roma’s Historic Walk to see the Roma Courthouse where Harry Redford (alias Captain Starlights) was on trial for stealing 1,000 cattle and driving them to South Australia. The court house’s original structure from 1873 was replaced with its current building in 1901. This was still considered a monumental building and has been listed as a heritage building. Today, the Roma Court House is still used as a working court house.
4. Bottle trees were planted in the war memorial and heroes avenue
No trip to Roma is complete without visiting 93 bottle trees on Heroes Avenue. The bottle trees were planted to commemorate the men of Roma who died in WWI. The first bottle tree was from back in 1918 and it was to pay tribute to Lieutenant Corporal Norman Saunders who was killed in France in 1916. It’s located outside the Post Office (it’s near the corner of McDowell and Wyndham streets) and has been known as the “Tree of Knowledge”.
Next time when you’re in Queensland, make sure to visit these beautiful historical attractions in Roma! For more information about places to check out in Roma as well as accommodation, visit our blog and our website!