Toobeah

The Toobeah Camping Reserve is part of the Toobeah township which comprises around 600 acres of land that was once part of Welltown Station. In 1906 a scheme was proposed to extend the South Western Railway network from Goondiwindi to Dirranbandi. During the course of this planning a township was proposed 48km west of Goondiwindi.

This town was a market town and was hoped to be a profitable part of the rail network or at least Toobeah was painted in such a way to help sell the project. 350 people camped in the Toobeah Camping Reserve while the rail line crossed through the flood plain. People from China, Australia, England, South Africa, United States of America Australia, Ireland and Europe along with Aboriginal people of various tribes worked on the railways construction and camped along the Yarrilwanna Creek in Toobeah.

People lived in the Toobeah Camping Reserve from around 1908 until 1964 when the Toobeah School closed down. Since that period the reserve has still been camped on by the passing traffic, at times drovers and Cameleers but most commonly people fishing and camping for recreation.

The Toobeah Camping Reserve still has the remains of the fettlers camp’s along the Yarrilwanna Creek, as well as the towns water supply which is located in the Yarrilwanna Creek and is commonly known as the Pump Hole. The Pump Hole is serviced by a weir which is in the Weir River on Winton Station which is home to a lagoon which the Gamilaraay once camped at.

Winton Station also had established bora rings which were used for a ceremonial purpose in conjunction with the Winton Lagoon. The Pump Hole itself has been dredged out at to provide water for the growing township and has been enjoyed for its fishing, swimming and camping opportunities.