"Not just the City of Flowers - Love the Trees" Toowoomba by pedroswift

Famous for its annual September Carnival of Flowers, Toowoomba is located an hour and a half's drive west of Brisbane which makes it easily accessed during a day trip by road.

Derivation of the name"Toowoomba":
The derivation of the name Toowoomba is ambiguous, though the most widely accepted theory is that it's more or less a pronunciation of the Aboriginal word for 'The Swamp'.

Toowoomba's origin dates back to 1827 when Allan Cunningham, an English explorer discovered a vast expanse of rich farming land which he named the 'Darling Downs' after then Governor of New South Wales, Sir Ralph Darling. A settlement formed at a place called 'The Springs' but a drought in 1850 saw residents move to 'The Swamp' located a few miles to the north east. One of the re-settlers was Thomas Alford. In 1852, he established a house and shop which he named ' Toowoomba'. (according to the official Australian place names study site there are other guesses about the derivation. )

• Pros:Well laid out city of Flowers
• In a nutshell:Tree-scapes everywhere