Warwick

Geography

The Condamine River meanders from the east to the north-west of Warwick. One of its tributaries, Rosenthal Creek, enters Warwick from the south and enters the Condamine within Warwick.

The Cunningham Highway and the New England Highway jointly enter Warwick from the north, cross the Condamine River, and then turn west within the town close to the Warwick central business district. The Cunningham Highway then continues west towards Goondiwindi, while the New England Highway heads south towards Stanthorpe.

The Condamine River often floods, which can disconnect the northern and southern parts of Warwick and close the highways. Gauges that measure river height are used to provide flood alerts to residents. Low-lying land around the river is mostly used for recreation to minimise the damage caused by flooding with most developed areas at higher levels. Queens Park is a major park based around the river and the highway crossing.

The Warwick central business district is laid out on a grid pattern and lies within one or two blocks of the long main street, Palmerin Street with Grafton Street the major cross-street. The statue of former Queensland Premier Thomas Byrnes is located at their intersection.

History

The Gidhabal (also known as Githabal, Gidabal, Kitabal) language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Southern Downs Regional Council, particularly Warwick, Killarney and Woodenbong extending into New South Wales. The Gidhabal people referred to the area of Warwick as Gooragooby.

The Warwick Green Belt, on the banks of the Condamine River, features a sculpture of Tiddalik the mythical frog that drank all of the fresh water in a renowned Aboriginal Dreamtime story.

Patrick Leslie and his two brothers originally settled in the area as squatters, naming their run Canning Downs. In 1847 the NSW government asked Leslie to select a site on his station for a township, which was to be called 'Cannington,' although the name 'Warwick' was eventually settled on. Land sales were held in 1850, and the first allotment was bought by Leslie.

Warwick East State School opened on 4 November 1850. It is the oldest state primary school still operating in Queensland and celebrated its 175th anniversary in November 2025.

In 1851, the first Presbyterian services were held in Warwick. Land was granted to build a Presbyterian church in 1857 and a slab church was built in 1858.

The telegraph to Brisbane was operating by 1861.

Warwick Central State School opened on 26 July 1865.

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

The 1870s were boom years for this new town. A new Post and Telegraph Office and Lands Office were built in Albion Street in 1870 and 1875. In 1871 the Southern railway line reached Warwick, a brewery was built in 1873, then a cooperative flour mill and brickworks were completed during 1874.

On 29 October 1874, the Sisters of Mercy took over Miss O'Mara's school at the Oddfellows Hall renaming it St Mary's School.

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Warwick had a population of 12,222 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Warwick had a population of 12,294 people.

Facilities

The Southern Downs Regional Council operates a public library in Warwick at 49 Albion Street.

The Condamine Valley branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 76 Grafton Street.

Warwick Wesleyan Methodist Church is at 126 Wood Street (28.2187°S 152.0181°E / -28.2187; 152.0181 (Warwick Wesleyan Methodist Church)). It is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia.

Education

Warwick East State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school at 45 Fitzroy Street (28.2147°S 152.0385°E / -28.2147; 152.0385 (Warwick East State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 217 students with 20 teachers (18 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Warwick Central State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school on the north-western corner of Guy and Percy Streets (28.2177°S 152.0294°E / -28.2177; 152.0294 (Warwick Central State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 281 students with 22 teachers (20 full-time equivalent) and 16 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Warwick West State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school at 17 George Street (28.2211°S 152.0148°E / -28.2211; 152.0148 (Warwick West State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 507 students with 47 teachers (40 full-time equivalent) and 33 non-teaching staff (21 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Glennie Heights State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school at 5–12 Gillam Street (28.2010°S 152.0291°E / -28.2010; 152.0291 (Glennie Heights State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 177 students with 19 teachers (15 full-time equivalent) and 10 non-teaching staff (7 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Warwick State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school at 15 Palmerin Street (28.2103°S 152.0335°E / -28.2103; 152.0335 (Warwick State High School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 884 students with 88 teachers (80 full-time equivalent) and 53 non-teaching staff (38 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

St Mary's School is a Catholic primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school with two campuses, one at 163 Palmerin Street (28.2190°S 152.0319°E / -28.2190; 152.0319 (St Mary's School)) for the younger children and the other for older children at 175 Palmerin Street (28.2217°S 152.0314°E / -28.2217; 152.0314 (St Mary's School)). In 2017, the school had a total enrolment of 324 students with 29 teachers (20 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).

Communications

Newspapers in Warwick include the Warwick Daily News, the Warwick and Southern Downs Weekly and the Southern Free Times. Former newspapers include the Warwick Argus which was published from 1879 to 1919, the Warwick Argus and Tenterfield Chronicle and the Warwick Examiner and Times. Radio station 4WK was established in May 1935. Its coverage was gradually extended to Toowoomba, Pittsworth, Millmerran, Clifton, Allora, Stanthorpe, Crows Nest, Highfields, Dalby, Oakey, Tara, Goondiwindi, Boonah, and Esk. It now broadcasts from Toowoomba.

Warwick's Community Radio Station started transmissions in 1995 as 'Rainbow FM' and had the callsign 4CCC. The callsign was later changed to 4SDB by the ACMA and the name of the station was changed on 1 January 2019 to 'Rose City FM' to reflect its Warwick roots. It operates as a continuous service by a team of local volunteers. The operating body is incorporated as the "Warwick Community FM Radio Inc." It transmits on 89.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 2000W (2000W ERP) from its antenna on the outskirts of Warwick; the program is broadcast from its studios at 41C Wallace Street, Victoria Park, Warwick. Rose City FM previously operated and transmitted from the building that had previously housed the Rosenthal Shire Council in Willi Street, Warwick from 1995 until 2022.

The station has the support of the Southern Downs Regional Council and the Warwick community as well as many listeners online that listen through its Internet stream from its website.

Sport

Warwick has a rugby union team which compete in the Darling Downs Rugby Union competition. The Warwick Cowboys, coached by one-time champion NRL coach Phil Economidis, play in the Toowoomba Rugby League.

Warwick has an Australian rules football club, the Warwick Redbacks competing in the AFL Darling Downs competition since 1999, the Redbacks won their first premiership in 2014.

Warwick has hosted a local Parkrun event since 2013.

The Warwick Polocrosse Club is based in neighbouring Morgan Park on the south-east edge of the town. It has seven playing fields and two practice fields with seating for up to 2,500 spectators.

Attractions

The Pringle Cottage Museum complex operated by the Warwick Historical Society

Glengallan Homestead

Warwick Art Gallery

Heritage listings

Warwick has many heritage-listed buildings, including those listed on:

the Commonwealth Heritage List

98 Palmerin Street: Warwick Post Office

the Queensland Heritage Register

List of sites on the Queensland Heritage Register in Warwick

Events

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) (Darling Downs Harness Racing Club at Allman Park Racecourse) Father's Day, September

Warwick Cup (Thoroughbred Horse Racing) (Warwick Turf Club at Allman Park Racecourse) October

Warwick Rodeo (October)

Rose Festival (October)

Climate

Warwick experiences an altitude-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with hot summers and mild, relatively dry winters with cold nights. Annual precipitation averages 662.4 millimetres (26.08 in), with a summer maximum. The town is slightly cooler and less humid than the proximate southeast Queensland coast due to its elevation; consequently, frost is present in winter. Record temperatures have ranged from 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) on 11 February 2017 to −7.7 °C (18.1 °F) on 8 July 1995. The climate bears similarities with Richmond, an inland suburb of Sydney.

Notable people

Notable people with a connection to Warwick include

Francis Andersen, Australian scholar in the fields of biblical studies and Hebrew, born in Warwick

Wayne Bennett, rugby league player and coach, raised in and played rugby league in Warwick

Anna Bligh, 37th Premier of Queensland, born in Warwick

Lee Bodimeade, hockey player, born in Warwick

Dean Butler, hockey player, born in Warwick

Thomas Joseph Byrnes, former Premier of Queensland, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Warwick

Matt Campbell racing car driver

Charles Chauvel, filmmaker, born in Warwick

Cyril Clowes, lieutenant general, born in Warwick

John Harward, scholar of ancient Greek and translator of Plato. Retired here in 1915.

Delissa Kimmince, cricketer and Australian rules footballer, born and raised in Warwick

Dion Leonard, ultramarathon runner and international bestselling author, grew up in Warwick

Patrick Leslie, pioneer settler in Warwick

Alan Marshall, cricket player, born in Warwick

Mervyn Meggitt, anthropologist, born in Warwick

Sister cities

Whakatāne, New Zealand, Since 1994