Highfields, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Highfields Queensland
View over Highfields from Mitchell Road Park, looking west towards Gowrie Mountain
Highfields Location in Queensland
Postcode(s)	4352
Elevation	700 m (2,297 ft)
Area	26.1 km2 (10.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	14.9 km (9 mi) N of Toowoomba CBD 143 km (89 mi) W of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Toowoomba North
Federal Division(s)	Groom
Localities around Highfields: Meringandan Kleinton Cabarlah Woolmer Cawdor Highfields Spring Bluff Birnam Blue Mountain Heights Ballard

Highfields is a town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It's a growing community. In 2021, about 8,568 people lived in Highfields.

Geography and Climate

Highfields is located on the Great Dividing Range. This is a large mountain range in Australia. It sits just north of Mount Kynoch. The New England Highway runs through the town.

The town centre has many houses. The areas outside the town are used for farming. Farmers grow crops and raise animals there. Highfields is like a smaller town connected to the bigger city of Toowoomba.

Because it's high up, Highfields has an oceanic climate. This type of climate is usually found further south in Australia.

History of Highfields

The name Highfields likely comes from an old farm. This farm was called the Highfields pastoral run. The area started to develop in the 1860s.

At first, there were many sawmills here. They cut down local trees for timber. Then, a railway line was built. It connected Ipswich to Toowoomba in 1867. This brought many railway workers to the area.

As the trees were cleared, dairy farms began to appear. The first post office opened for a short time in 1866. It had mail service once a week from Toowoomba. It opened again in 1868. In 1877, its name changed to Koojarewon.

Schools in Highfields

The Highfields School opened on January 17, 1870. It first met in the Rising Sun Hotel. The first school building was built in the 1880s. In 1907, the school was renamed Koojarawon. But by the end of 1907, it went back to being Highfields.

Another school, View Glen State School, opened in 1914. It closed ten years later in 1924.

In the early 1960s, Highfields was still a small farming town. Only nine children were at Highfields State School. But then, more houses started to be built. Highfields grew into a satellite town of Toowoomba. By 2014, Highfields State School was one of the biggest primary schools in the area.

Toowoomba Christian College opened on January 30, 1979.

Mary MacKillop Catholic School opened as a primary school in 2003. In 2015, it became Mary MacKillop Catholic College. This was because it started teaching secondary students too.

Highfields State Secondary College opened on January 27, 2015.

The Big Cow

The Big Cow at Kulangoor, before it moved to Highfields

On January 10, 2020, a famous landmark moved to Highfields. It was the Big Cow. It moved to the Highfields Pioneer Village. The Big Cow was built in the 1970s. It was made to attract tourists to a dairy farm. This farm was in Kulangoor.

The Big Cow is one of Australia's "Big Things". These are large statues built to attract visitors. Hugh Anderson sculpted the Big Cow. He also made the Big Bulls in Rockhampton. The Big Cow is seven times bigger than a real Ayrshire cow. It is made of strong concrete. People say it can even survive a cyclone!

After the dairy farm closed, the Big Cow stayed on the property. But it became old and broken. It was restored and reopened in Highfields on September 20, 2020.

Population

In 2016, Highfields had 8,131 people living there. By 2017, it was the fastest growing area in Toowoomba. In 2021, the population grew to 8,568 people.

Education

Aerial view of Highfields State School, 2021

Highfields has several schools for students of all ages.

• Highfields State School is a government primary school. It teaches students from Prep to Year 6. It's located at 10459 New England Highway. The school also has a special education program.
• Toowoomba Christian College is a private school. It teaches students from Prep to Year 12. You can find it at 10852 New England Highway.
• Mary MacKillop Catholic College is a Catholic school. It teaches students from Prep to Year 9. It is located at 75 Highfields Road.
• Highfields State Secondary College is a government high school. It teaches students from Year 7 to Year 12. It's at 10 O'Brien Road. This school also has a special education program. Students are encouraged to bring their own devices (BYOD).

What to Do in Highfields

Highfields has many places for fun and activities.

Community Facilities

The Cultural Centre is a big place for events. It hosts conferences and performances. At the centre, there's an outdoor swimming pool. There's also a large indoor area. This area has courts for volleyball and basketball. It also has a gym.

Right next to the Cultural Centre is the Highfields Library. The library is run by the Toowoomba Regional Council. It is open seven days a week. There is also a skate park nearby.

(from left to right) The Highfields Cultural Centre, Aquatic Centre and Library

The Highfields Sport & Recreation Park opened in 2019. It has many netball courts. There are also fields for different sports and tennis courts. You can find picnic areas and plenty of parking too.

Shopping and Services

Highfields Village is a shopping centre that opened in 2003. It has many useful stores. You can find a hardware store, a bakery, and a supermarket. A tavern also opened there in 2003. The centre also has a pizza place, a post office, a bank, and a hair salon.

The Plaza shopping centre was updated in 2007. It now has a supermarket and a newsagency. There are also banks, takeaway food places, and a hair salon. You can also find a few small shops on the turn-off from the New England Highway. These include a bakery, a deli, a hairdresser, a real estate office, and an auto parts shop.

The Highfields branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 2/10498 New England Highway.

Sports Clubs

Highfields is home to many sports clubs.

• Highfields FC is a football (soccer) club. They have teams for kids as young as Under 6.
• Highfields Eagles is a rugby league club. They have junior teams from Under 7 to Under 16. They also have senior teams.
• Highfields Lions joined the AFL Darling Downs competition in 2010. They have both senior and junior teams.
• The Highfields Redbacks Rugby Union Club is based at Kuhls Road Oval. They have teams from Under 6 to Over 35.
• Highfields & District Railways Bulldogs Cricket Club is the local cricket club. They have teams for kids from Under 7 to Under 16. They also have adult teams.
• Highfields and District Netball Club plays at the new sports park.
• Highfields and Districts Little Athletics Centre operates during the summer months. They use the AFL oval.