Toowoomba City, Queensland

Toowoomba North Boys State School and Toowoomba North Girls and Infants State School both opened in 1869. In 1937 the two schools were combined to form Toowoomba North State School.[3]

The Holy Name Primary School was opened on 23 January 1905 by the Sisters of Mercy who were already operating the school at St Patrick's Church (the church is now St Patrick's Cathedral and the St Patrick's school is now known as St Saviours School & College). The Holy Name school was burned down on 4 August 1919, so the school operated from the Mr and Mrs Hannant on the corner of West and Norwood Streets, until the school was rebuilt. Archbishop James Duhig laid the foundation school for the new church and school on 23 November 1919 and officially opened it on 23 January 1921.[4]

In the 2006 census Toowoomba City had a population of 2,281 people.[5]

The Toowoomba City library opened in 2016. The Toowoomba local history library opened in 1999 with a major refurbishment in 2016.[6]

Toowoomba City contains two significant shopping centres, presently under the same ownership. Grand Central Shopping Centre, with a GLA of 46,000 square metres (500,000 sq ft), contains the region's only Myer store, as well as a Coles, Target and 145 specialty stores. Garden Town Shopping Centre, across Gowrie Creek and containing a GLA of 12,434 square metres (133,840 sq ft) (2009), contains a Supa IGA supermarket, Best & Less and Lincraft along with 40 other stores. Both are currently owned by QIC, following its acquisition of Garden Town in January 2009 from Aspen Group, they are now being redeveloped to join together via a two level galleria to form one shopping centre.[7]

Two smaller centres, the Hooper Centre and a homeware centre, and street shopping along Ruthven Street round out the city centre's retail offerings. There is also a small shopping area on the corner of Ramsay and South streets called Southtown. It contains several eating places, supermakert, newsagent and Post Office.

Toowoomba City is situated at the intersection of the New England Highway and Warrego Highway, and contains Toowoomba railway station (the terminus of the Westlander service) and the city's bus interchange on Neil Street, from which various buses depart for the suburbs.Toowoomba also has a taxi facility available.[8]

Toowoomba North State School is a government primary (P-6) school for boys and girls located on the south-west corner of Mort and Taylor Streets. In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 157 students with 12 teachers (11 full-time equivalent).[9]

Holy Name Primary School is a Catholic primary (P-6) school for boys and girls operated in the Mercy tradition at 188 Bridge Street. In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 154 students with 12 teachers (10.3 full-time equivalent) and 8 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).[10]

The Tooowoomba City library is located at 155 Herries Street. The library is open seven days a week.[11]

The local history library is located at 155 Herries Street.[12] The local history library has a comprehensive archival collection that is of local, state and national significance, including the Robinson Collection named after Toowoomba's first female mayor Nellie E. Robinson.[13] This comprehensive collection contains records from local personalities, businesses and community organizations.

Both libraries are operated by the Toowoomba Regional Council.[6]

The Toowoomba branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 263 Margaret Street and the Toowoomba City Business Women’s branch meets at 161 Margaret Street.[14]

Toowoomba City has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Carlton House, 2014

Toowoomba railway station, 2013

Vacy Hall, 2014

• 9 Boulton Street: Tawa[15]
• Herries Street: St Luke's Anglican Church[16]
• 149 Herries Street: Soldiers Memorial Hall[17]
• 152 Herries Street: St Luke's Church Hall
• 136 Margaret Street: Toowoomba Post Office[18]
• 159-167 Margaret Street: Strand Theatre[19]
• 245-253 Margaret Street: Exchange Building[20]
• 3 Mill Street: Carlton House[21]
• 139 Mort Street: Toowoomba North State School[22]
• 145 Mort Street: St James Church[23]
• 46 Neil Street: Toowoomba Court House[24]
• 50-52 Neil Street: Toowoomba Police Station Complex[25]
• 54 Neil Street: Wesley Uniting Church[26]
• 56 & 56A Neil Street: Empire Theatre[27]
• Russell Street: Men's Toilet[28]
• Russell Street: Toowoomba railway station[29]
• 2 Russell Street: Toowoomba Permanent Building Society[30]
• 19A Russell Street: Toowoomba Trades Hall[31]
• 112 Russell Street: St James Parish Hall[32]
• 120 Russell Street: Clifford House[33]
• 126 Russell Street: Kensington[34]
• 127 Russell Street: Wislet[35]
• 135 Russell Street: Vacy Hall[36]
• 251-267 Ruthven Street: Toowoomba Foundry[37]
• 269-291 Ruthven Street: Defiance Flour Mill[38]
• 381-391 Ruthven Street: Pigott's Building[39]
• 386-388 Ruthven Street: Karingal Chambers[40]
• 451-455 Ruthven Street: Alexandra Building[41]
• 456 Ruthven Street: White Horse Hotel[42]
• 541 Ruthven Street: Toowoomba City Hall[43]