Warwick, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Warwick Queensland
From left to right; Warwick Town Hall, St Mark's Church Warwick Post Office, Warwick War Memorial
Warwick Location in Queensland
Population	12,294 (2021 census)
• Density	416.7/km2 (1,079/sq mi)
Established	1850
Postcode(s)	4370
Elevation	477 m (1,565 ft)
Area	29.5 km2 (11.4 sq mi)
Location	130 km (81 mi) SW of Brisbane 73 km (45 mi) S of Toowoomba 60 km (37 mi) N of Stanthorpe 140 km (87 mi) W of Gold Coast 236 km (147 mi) E of Goondiwindi
LGA(s)	Southern Downs Region
County	Merivale
State electorate(s)	Southern Downs
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 24.2 °C 76 °F 10.8 °C 51 °F 692.1 mm 27.2 in
Localities around Warwick: Allan Womina Sladevale Rosenthal Heights Warwick Mount Tabor Rosenthal Heights Morgan Park Canningvale

Warwick (pronounced WORR-ik) is a country town in southeast Queensland, Australia. It is about 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Brisbane. Warwick is the main town for the Southern Downs Region, which is a local government area. The land around Warwick, called the Darling Downs, is great for farming. Because of this, Warwick and the bigger city of Toowoomba are important places for farmers to get supplies and services. In 2021, about 12,294 people lived in Warwick.

Exploring Warwick's Location

The Condamine River flows through Warwick, winding from the east to the northwest. Rosenthal Creek, a smaller stream, joins the Condamine River within Warwick.

The Cunningham Highway and the New England Highway both enter Warwick from the north. They cross the Condamine River and then turn west near the town center. The Cunningham Highway continues west towards Goondiwindi, while the New England Highway goes south towards Stanthorpe.

The Condamine River sometimes floods. This can make it hard to travel between the north and south parts of Warwick. It can also close the highways. River height sensors help warn people about floods. Areas near the river are often used for parks to avoid damage from floods. Queens Park is a large park located near the river and the highway crossing.

Warwick's town center is set up in a grid pattern. The main street is Palmerin Street, and Grafton Street is a major cross-street. A statue of Thomas Joseph Byrnes, a former leader of Queensland, stands where these two streets meet.

A Look Back at Warwick's Past

Second St. Mark's Church of England, Warwick, around 1872. The first wooden church is in the background.

Architectural plans for the "new" hospital in Locke Street, 1888.

Architectural plan of the Warwick Baby Clinic, 1923.

The Gidhabal people are the traditional owners of the land around Warwick. They called the Warwick area Gooragooby.

The Warwick Green Belt, a park along the Condamine River, has a sculpture of Tiddalik. Tiddalik is a mythical frog from an Aboriginal Dreamtime story who drank all the fresh water.

Patrick Leslie and his brothers were early settlers in the area. They set up a large farm called Canning Downs. In 1847, the government asked Leslie to choose a spot on his farm for a new town. It was first going to be called 'Cannington' but was later named 'Warwick'. Land was sold in 1850, and Leslie bought the first piece.

Warwick East State School opened on November 4, 1850. It is one of the oldest primary schools in Queensland.

In 1851, the first Presbyterian church services were held in Warwick. A church was built in 1858.

Warwick Post Office and Telegraph Office, Queensland, around 1876.

A telegraph line to Brisbane started working by 1861. This allowed messages to be sent quickly.

Warwick Central State School opened on July 26, 1865.

Miss O'Mara started a school on January 27, 1867, in the Oddfellows Hall.

The 1870s were a time of fast growth for Warwick. A new Post and Telegraph Office and a Lands Office were built. In 1871, the Southern railway line reached Warwick, connecting it to other towns. A brewery was built in 1873, and a flour mill and brickworks were finished in 1874.

On October 29, 1874, the Sisters of Mercy took over Miss O'Mara's school. They renamed it St Mary's School.

Warwick has had different local governments over the years. It started as the Borough of Warwick in 1861 and is now part of the Southern Downs Region since 2008.

In 1877, 25,000 acres of land from the Canning Downs farm were divided into smaller farms. This land was offered for sale on April 19, 1877.

In 1878, the Queensland Government planned to build a new hospital in Warwick. After some delays, the new hospital in Locke Street finally opened on June 19, 1884.

In 1893, the Sisters of Mercy moved their convent and St Mary's School to the new Our Lady of the Assumption Convent in Locke Street.

The T J Byrnes Monument is a statue of Thomas Joseph Byrnes, who was the 12th Premier of Queensland (like a state leader). It was built from 1901 to 1902 and officially revealed on December 13, 1902. This was a very important event for Warwick.

A Baptist church opened in Warwick in 1912.

Warwick State High School opened on February 1, 1912. It is one of Queensland's oldest high schools.

St Mary's School also grew, adding a high school called Assumption College in 1912. The convent was made bigger in 1914 to fit more high school students.

Lyndhurst State School opened in January 1913, but its name was quickly changed to Mount Gordon State School. It closed in 1985.

On November 29, 1917, an event known as the Warwick Incident happened. This led to the creation of the Australian Commonwealth Police. The Prime Minister, William Morris Hughes, was speaking at the Warwick railway station when someone threw an egg, knocking off his hat. Hughes asked for the person to be arrested, but the local police officer said he didn't have authority over him.

In February 1918, the Church of England High School for Girls opened with over 40 students.

Also in February 1918, the Presbyterian Girls College (PGC) opened. It was a boarding and day school for girls.

In 1918, the Scots College opened for boys. It was a Presbyterian boarding and day school located by the Condamine River.

The Warwick War Memorial was built in 1923, and the memorial gates were added in 1924.

Slade School opened on January 30, 1926. It was operated by the Bush Brotherhood. In 1977, it joined with St Catherine's Anglican School. The school closed in 1997. In 2013, the site was bought by the Warwick Christian College, which started operating there in 2014.

Warwick Baby Clinic, 1932.

The Warwick Baby Clinic officially opened on February 21, 1930. These clinics were built to help prevent diseases in young children. The Warwick clinic was the 15th of its kind in Queensland.

During World War II, the 2/12th Army General Hospital used the Scots College buildings. The school moved to a different location during this time.

Warwick West State School opened on January 31, 1956.

Glennie Heights State School opened on January 25, 1960.

The current Warwick Public Library opened in 1964. It was updated in 1999.

St John's Anglican Church from Thane moved to Warwick around 1968. It is now located at Mile End Park and still operates as St John's Anglican Church.

In 1970, the Presbyterian Girls College and The Scots College joined together. They formed a school for both boys and girls called Scots PGC College.

On February 5, 1981, The School of Total Education was started in Warwick by Vijayadev Yogendra. This school focuses on helping children grow spiritually and emotionally, as well as physically and intellectually.

St Mary's School opened its Upper Campus in 2002 for older children.

In 2007, Warwick Christian College was founded.

Warwick's Schools and Learning

Warwick has many schools for different ages:

• Warwick East State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It also has a special education program.
• Warwick Central State School is another government primary school for Prep to Year 6. It also offers a special education program.
• Warwick West State School is a government primary school for Early Childhood to Year 6. It has a special education program too.
• Glennie Heights State School is a government primary school for Prep to Year 6. It includes a special education program.
• Warwick State High School is a government secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It also has a special education program.
• St Mary's School is a Catholic primary school for Prep to Year 6. It has two campuses, one for younger children and one for older children.
• Assumption College is a Catholic secondary school for Year 7 to Year 12.
• The Scots PGC College is a private school for students from Prep to Year 12. It is for both primary and secondary students.
• Warwick Christian College is a private school for Prep to Year 11. It also has a special assistance campus.
• The School of Total Education is a private school for Prep to Year 12.

Staying Connected in Warwick

Warwick has local newspapers like the Warwick Daily News and the Warwick and Southern Downs Weekly.

The radio station 4WK started in May 1935. It now broadcasts from Toowoomba.

Warwick also has a Community Radio Station called 'Rose City FM'. It started in 1995 and is run by local volunteers. You can listen to it on 89.3 MHz or online.

Sports and Fun in Warwick

Warwick has several sports teams:

• A rugby union team that plays in the Darling Downs Rugby Union competition.
• The Warwick Cowboys, a rugby league team that plays in the Toowoomba Rugby League.
• The Warwick Redbacks, an Australian rules football club that won their first championship in 2014.

Warwick has also hosted a local Parkrun event since 2013, which is a free weekly 5km run.

Places to Visit in Warwick

• The Pringle Cottage Museum complex, run by the Warwick Historical Society, shows what life was like in the past.
• Glengallan Homestead is a historic house you can visit.
• Warwick Art Gallery displays local and visiting art.

Special Events in Warwick

Warwick hosts many exciting events throughout the year:

• Warwick Agricultural Show (March)
• FEI Eventing World Cup (May)
• Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival (July)
• The "Rose Bowl" Polocrosse Carnival (August)
• Warwick Trots (Harness Racing) on Father's Day (September)
• Warwick Cup (Horse Racing) (October)
• Warwick Rodeo (October)
• Rose Festival (October)

Warwick's Weather

Warwick has a warm, wet climate, but it's a bit cooler than the coast because it's higher up. Summers are hot, and winters are mild with cold nights. It gets about 662.4 mm (26 inches) of rain each year, mostly in summer. Frost can happen in winter.

The highest temperature ever recorded was 42.2°C (108°F) on February 11, 2017. The lowest was -7.7°C (18.1°F) on July 8, 1995.

Famous People from Warwick

Many notable people have connections to Warwick, including:

• Francis Andersen, a scholar of the Bible, was born in Warwick.
• Wayne Bennett, a famous rugby league player and coach, grew up and played in Warwick.
• Anna Bligh, a former Premier of Queensland, was born here.
• Lee Bodimeade and Dean Butler, both hockey players, were born in Warwick.
• Thomas Joseph Byrnes, a former Premier of Queensland, represented Warwick in government.
• Matt Campbell, a racing car driver.
• Charles Chauvel, a filmmaker, was born in Warwick.
• Cyril Clowes, a lieutenant general, was born here.
• Delissa Kimmince, a cricketer and Australian rules footballer, was born and raised in Warwick.
• Dion Leonard, an ultramarathon runner and author, grew up in Warwick.
• Patrick Leslie, one of Warwick's first settlers.
• Alan Marshall, a cricket player, was born in Warwick.
• Mervyn Meggitt, an anthropologist, was born here.
• Arthur Morgan, a former Premier of Queensland, was born in Warwick.
• Paul Neville, a politician, was born in Warwick.
• Adrienne Pickering, an actress, was born in Warwick.
• Chris Pickering, a musician, was born and raised in Warwick.
• Barry Reilly, a rugby league player, was born in Warwick.
• Russell Skerman, a Supreme Court Judge, went to school in Warwick.
• Mark Steketee, a cricket player from Warwick.
• Duncan Thompson, an Australian rugby league player and coach, was born in Warwick.
• Elizabeth Catherine Usher, a speech therapist, grew up in Warwick.
• William Webb, a judge, went to school in Warwick.

Sister Cities

Warwick has a sister city relationship with Whakatāne, New Zealand, since 1994.

Images for kids

• 

  Second St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Warwick