About Kingaroy

Kingaroys "Best For Service" in Real Estate

Kingaroy is the regional capital and main commercial centre of the South Burnett region of Queensland and is located 200km north-west of Brisbane and 160km north of Toowoomba. Kingaroy is the hub of the South Burnett Regional Shire.

Kingaroy infrastructure and facilities services the area population that amounts in number surpassing 35,000.

Kingaroy is located along the Bunya Highway and is essentially accessible for residence from other major towns, and the greater south east with people cashing in and moving to a more affordable and comfortable lifestyle – yet one that can have you at the beach or Brisbane within a couple of hours

Kingaroy has the most cosmopolitan feel of any South Burnett township but it's still a relaxed, friendly and informal country town at heart. It has the typical low-humidity semi-alpine climate of all South Burnett townships and is surrounded by extensive (and very picturesque) farmlands interspersed with low rolling hills. The Booie Range lies immediately north-east of the town and the Bunya Mountains about 55km to the south-west.

Kingaroy derives its name from a Wakka Wakka aboriginal word for 'Red Ant' (Kingaroori) because of a unique species of ants found in the area which have adapted to the natural colour of Kingaroy's distinctive rich red soils.

With a heritage strong in agriculture, Kingaroy has developed and matured into a centre that enjoys economic stability heralded from diverse industry such as coal mining, power generation, quarry materials manufacturing, gemstone, cheese and wine, and tourism becoming the core of the economy over the past two decades.

Kingaroy is also the home of the Tarong Power Station, Tarong North Power Station, Tarong Coal mining, Swickers Bacon Factory, Peanut Company of Australia and the soon to be opened Kunnoon Coal & Cougar gasification plant and many other growing business.

The CBD area of the township is dominated by the Peanut Company of Australia's twin peanut silos. The Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre and Kingaroy Heritage Museum are both located directly opposite the peanut silos in the town's Heritage Precinct, which is made up of a collection of historic buildings ranging from Carroll's Cottage (the first building constructed in Kingaroy) through to the Carrollee Hotel and the Shire's earliest Council chambers.

Kingaroy has a vibrant sporting, cultural and social life and is home to an art gallery and several local craft outlets as well as a range of well-maintained and attractive parklands.

The town has two lookouts (at nearby Mt Wooroolin and Apex Park in Fisher Street) which provide striking panoramic views across the area.

Major annual events include the Wine and Food In The Park Festival (held each March); the 3-day Kingaroy Show (held each May); the Burrandowan Picnic Races (held at Burrandowan on the outskirts of the Shire, also each May); the Kingaroy Peanut Festival (held each September); the two-day Taabinga Spring Music Festival (each October); and the Christmas Carnival (each December)

History

Rural settlement of the area dates back to 1843 when one of the first selections was made at Burrandowan (west of Kingaroy) by squatter and Explorer Henry Stuart Russell. Even through Russell was reputedly the first European to realise the potential of the South Burnett, it was Simon Scott of Taromeo (now Blackbutt) and the Haly brothers of Taabinga who brought the first flocks of sheep to the area in the late 1850s.

Attractions & Services.

Kingaroy itself is the largest town in the South Burnett and the region's commercial centre, offering all the services, shopping facilities and many of the industries generally expected in much larger centres.

The town has its own hotels, motels, caravan parks, bed and breakfasts and cabins; and a range of restaurants, fast food outlets and petrol stations (including 24-hour petrol stations).

Kingaroy also has an aerodrome a few kilometres from the centre of town and is regularly served by major bus lines.

Industry & Agriculture.

Traditionally, Kingaroy has always been the centre of Australia's peanut and navy bean industries but since the early 1990s it has also developed into the South Burnett's rapidly-expanding wine industry. Several wineries are located either in or very close to the town.

Sports and Culture

Kingaroy has a vibrant sporting, cultural and social life and is home to an art gallery and several local craft outlets as well as a range of well-maintained and attractive parklands.

Major annual events include

The Kingaroy Trail Ride held since 2009 at "Minmore" 36km from Kingaroy on the Burrandowan Road
The Kingaroy Show - held each May
The Burrandowan Races - held each May
The Kingaroy Christmas Carnival - held each December
The Kingaroy Bacon Festival - held each August
Kingaroy Food & Wine Festival - held each March at the Memorial Park