Community & Business
16 October, 2025
Toowoomba Region to welcome visitors from across the nation for Heritage Rose Conference
The Heritage Roses in Australia (HRIA) Conference is being held from 17th to 20th October, and although it is based in Toowoomba, we can expect to see nearly 100 people visiting our district in the next fews days on a tour of some of the best gardens in the Region.
The volunteers who have been responsible for organising the Conference are HRIA National Secretary and Linthorpe resident Julie Lack (Conference Coordinator), Pittsworth gardening icon Penny McKinlay (Tour Organiser) and committee member Tiffany Bignold (Registrar).
These ladies have worked tirelessly to organise various garden tours for the duration of the event.
The Conference begins tomorrow, with two buses scheduled to collect the HRIA delegates from Brisbane Airport.
A visit to Leonie and Terry Kearney's 'Rosevale Homestead', which is perched in the foothills of the D'Aguilar Ranges overlooking Lake Samsonvale, will be the first stop before the tour continues on to Toowoomba, where the delegates will stay for the duration of the Conference.
On Saturday, a visit to the State Rose Garden in Newtown will bring great delight, as it is home to more than 2,000 species of roses, including a collection by famous Australian rose breeder, David Ruston.
The tour then heads north to visit the garden of former Pittsworth resident and owner of The Springs Home and Garden Centre in Toowoomba, Ashley McEwan, at 'Lochroy' in Cabarlah.
The final stop of the day will be at 'Emaho' at Ravensbourne, owned by James and Barbara McGeoch, who operate an extensive tree farm, specialising in native species which are distributed nationwide.
On Sunday, the tour focuses on the Southern Downs with visits to Michael and Rosie Kenny's 'Rivoli' near Allora, and Sue Hoffman's English-style garden at 'RiverRun Homestead' at Killarney.
Lunch will be at Peter and Colleen Lindor's property 'Melrose' on the edge of Killarney,.
That will be followed by a visit to Annette and Mark Russell's garden, home to 185 roses.
The final day of the Conference will see the delegates travel to the western region.
The first stop will be at the historic 'Harrow Homestead' at Cambooya, which is situated on a gentle rise, overlooking a 10 acre garden which features a huge rose arbour and a myriad of trees.
Before lunch, there will be a stop at Julie Lack's large cottage style garden in the Linthorpe Valley which has been home to heritage roses including Teas, Chinas, Noisettes, Hybrid Musks, and Polyanthas, for over thirty years.
After a quick drive-by McKinlay's Nursery in Pittsworth, the tour will continue on to Hamish and Jackie Bligh's property 'Condamine Plains' which has been in owned by the Bligh family for five generations.
The final garden visit of the Conference will be 'Yarrin' at Jondaryan, home of Peter and Margaret Duff.
Peter and Margaret have created a garden that is filled with abundance and variety, from roses and perennials to trees and shaded retreats.
Farewell drinks will be enjoyed back in Toowoomba at Kingfishers Café before the HRIA members return home.
