Dalrymple Creek, Allora, Qld – is a free overnight rest area, close to road and highway. There’s water in the creek, picnic tables and shelter, toilet, swings, bins, plenty of shade in this pet friendly pretty park.
We had no problem with road noise, but were awakened by a late arrival. I took the path beside the creek, and looked up to find a lot of bats! There are a couple of plaques to read – the dedication of the parkland to Eric Ireland and about the wooden water trough, which has been on display here for 30 years.
Dalrymple Creek, Allora, Qld – is a free overnight rest area, close to road and highway. There’s water in the creek, picnic tables and shelter, toilet, swings, bins, plenty of shade in this pet friendly pretty park.
We had no problem with road noise, but were awakened by a late arrival. I took the path beside the creek, and looked up to find a lot of bats! There are a couple of plaques to read – the dedication of the parkland to Eric Ireland and about the wooden water trough, which has been on display here for 30 years.
Donated by the Duff family, the 1200 gallon wooden trough was built by Jack Busiko and Bill Blocksidge in 1948 as a birthday present to Watty Stark for his cattle yard in Ellinthorpe. The trough was cut from a dead blood-wood tree in the Pechey State Forest, taking two days make, and the process is explained.
Thanks Allora for the free site, the showgrounds are also available for budget camping, with more facilities.
As we drove around town, Heatley pointed out his first school, and where three of his aunties and Mum grew up. We took a photo outside the church our daughter was christened – there are Gilmores aplenty in the district.
You’ll also find a Mary Poppins connection – as the author of the book, Helen Lyndon Goff moved to Allora from Maryborough, Queensland when she was three. Her father, Travers Robert Goff, was a bank manager in Allora. Originally the Australian Joint Stock Bank, it is now Mary Poppins Manse with guided tours by appointment – complete with the original vault.
It was lovely to see Mim Rogers at the Allora Advertiser, Heatley worked with Mim at the Toowoomba Chronicle in the 90s. Mim and Ted own several local newspapers and it was great to hear the newspapers were thriving. Newspapers like theirs are a community essential.

Across the road, is a lavender filled PL Travers Park and monument.
We are not quite in the sunflower season – Allora and the Darling Downs’ yellow fields are a beautiful backdrop for photos. We filled up the fridge with Allora beef sausages and drove onto our next stop of Clifton.
Find Allora Rest Area and showgrounds in the Camps 11 book or the #CampsAustraliaWideApp
@campsaustraliawide #campsaustraliawide
Order your newly released Camps 11 book today!
Simply enter the code:Â ordercaw11 and save up to $27!
BUY NOW
Download the Camps App for iPhone/iPad or Android