Chinchilla Qld 4413 (Pop 4 000)

Chinchilla is an interesting South East Qld service township 290 km n-w of Brisbane. It sits on the Warrego Hwy between Dalby and Miles and is a thriving agricultural centre producing a quarter of Australia’s watermelons. Pastoralists arrived in 1840s and the town was named after the Aboriginal word ‘jinchilla’ for the native cypress pines. Chinchilla boasts an excellent transport museum and pioneer cemetery. Boonarga Cactoblastis Hall (8 km east) is dedicated to the South American insect that helped eradicate the out-of-control prickly pear cacti in 1920s. Chinchilla Weir (10 km south) popular watersports area. Melon Festival (Feb - odd-numbered years), Polocrosse Carnival (July), Mardi Gras (Nov).

Accommodation:
Chinchilla has 4 motels, 3 hotels, a farmstay and 3 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Warrego Hwy. Tel (07) 4668 9564.