General News
22 January, 2026
Honouring the past and the present
A busy long weekend is coming up with the Allora Heritage Weekend across Saturday and Sunday paying tribute to a diverse range of things from our past and Australia Day celebrations on Monday taking time out to recognise those who contribute in many ways to making our local district a great place to live, work and play.
The annual Allora Heritage Weekend will bring its usual huge array of old machinery and vehicles to the Allora Showgrounds.
Main features of the 2026 festival will include Case and Caterpillar tractors, English trucks, along with English motorcycles, the rugged Land Rover in the vehicle section and a collection of International engines.
There will also be a range of antiques on show.
As always a highlight of the two days will be the grand parades when a varied collection of the equipment on display takes a run around the main ring at the showground.
The gates will swing open early - 6am on each day - and that also signals the start of the Swap Meet on both days.
The organising committee has retained entry at $10 per adult with children admitted free of charge.
The event is expected to draw a large crowd, with visitors coming from north and south of the border.
Toowoomba Region
Australia Day will be held under the auspices of the Toowoomba Regional and Southern Downs Regional Councils.
In the Toowoomba Region, the main event is always held in Toowoomba.
This is when regional winners of the annual Australia Day Awards are usually named and presented with their awards.
The Toowoomba event is held at Picnic Point parklands and this year will begin at 8.30am.
Other centres hosting Australia Day celebrations in the Toowoomba Region are Cambooya, Pittsworth, Oakey, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Highfields, Crows Nest and Yarraman in the far north.
At Clifton the day will begin at 7am and run for three hours in Pioneer Park.
The Clifton Scout troop will raise our national flag ahead of a free breakfast which will be accompanied by entertainment.
The Australia Day awards ceremony to recognise local citizens and organisations who have made their mark in the district, will commence at 9am.
Cambooya’s Australia Day event will take place at the local Recreation Grounds on Lucy Street.
It is scheduled to start at 7.30am on Monday and will continue until 9.30.
The day will kick off with entertainment, free face painting, a free barbecue breakfast and coffee van prior to the formalities and award presentations from 8.15am.
At Pittsworth the event starts at 7.30am with a barbecue breakfast and runs until 11am.
Recipients (already announced) will receive their awards from 9am.
Southern Downs Region
On the Southern Downs, just one major event takes place each year.
In 2026 the celebrations in this region get away from the main centres of Warwick and Stanthorpe and will be staged at Allora.
This year’s event will welcome up to 24 new citizens of Australia and will honour outstanding individuals from the region who have demonstrated exceptional service and leadership within the community with the presentation of the Southern Downs Citizen of the Year Awards.
The event will be held in the Allora Community Hall on Herbert Street.
The Citizenship Ceremony will start at 9am and from 10 o’clock the Southern Downs Citizen of the Year Awards will be announced.
From 11am a traditional Aussie Morning Tea will be provided to those in attendance.
Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton said the occasion is an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be Australian while celebrating the region’s diversity and achievements.
“Australia Day is about recognising our shared values, welcoming new citizens and honouring local heroes who make our community stronger,” she said.
