One of Australia’s favourite destinations is the magnificent city of Toowoomba in South-East Queensland. Perched atop of the Great Dividing Range about 100 kilometres west of Brisbane, Toowoomba is known as the “Garden City” in honour of its inspiring parks and gardens, not to mention its spectacular views to the coast. Each September the world converges on Toowoomba for the “Garden Festival”, a week of events and festivities centred around the gardens and parks of this aptly named “Garden City”.

May 2023 and the “Garden City” lived up to its name, as host city Toowoomba turned on the perfect weather for a week of activities and festivities at the 2023 Australian Caravan Club Queensland State Muster.

The location for the muster was the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland Showgrounds at Glenvale on the outskirts of the city. The perfect location with terraced level grassy sites and all facilities at hand, including a fire pit area for mandatory happy hour get-togethers, as well as the magnificent Glenvale Room and Grandstand complex for all our Muster functions.

The ‘Fridge on the Ridge’.

Members and their RVs began arriving on the Sunday, and by Monday the site was filling up as attendees from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria began arriving. The Muster Organising Committee, convened by local branch, the ACC Toowoomba Trekkers, skilfully guided arriving RVs to their sites and helped with park-up and set-up.

This first Monday was arguably the only day when the weather wasn’t at its best, with strong winds making setting up awnings and tarps quite a challenge, This was followed by a chilly night that  well and truly justified packing the extra doona.

Tuesday morning beamed bright and sunny. A truly brilliant first full day of the Muster, celebrated with hot coffee and a complimentary breakfast in the Glenvale Room. This was our first real chance to catch up with our ACC friends.

At 8.00 am Peter Byrne, President of the Toowoomba Trekkers welcomed ACC members and introduced Geoff McDonald, Deputy Mayor of Toowoomba to officially open the 2023 Queensland State Muster. Geoff provided an overview of this thriving region of SE Queensland before officially welcoming us to, as he jokingly termed it, ‘the Fridge on The Ridge’ which brought laughs and a round of applause from an appreciative audience.

Spectacular gardens are just the start.

Toowoomba and the surrounding area has so much to offer visitors, from beautiful gardens – many the finest in the country – magnificent vistas from the top of the Great Dividing Range, as well as heritage buildings and historic villages.

A 10.00 am start saw members departing for the Highfields Pioneer Village Tour, home to a unique collection of buildings and relics honouring Australian pioneering history. Also on offer, self-drive tours to see the magnificent parks of Toowoomba – Queens Park, Newtown Park and the Queensland State Rose Garden, and Laurel Bank Park and Gardens. The Japanese Gardens too were definitely on the must-visit list.

 The first evening, friends met at happy hour around the fire pit to watch the sun go down in traditional ACC style – folding chair, plate of nibblies, cold beer, glass of wine and friendly banter, sharing the first muster day’s adventures around the fire with friends. The Australian Caravan Club is famous for our great musters, and the Toowoomba State muster proved to be no exception. Great friends, great activities, great location and perfect Toowoomba weather set the scene for one fantastic week.

As was to be the norm, our second full day started with tea and coffee in the Glenvale Room, followed at 9.00 by a presentation by Western Weights on RV weights and measures. Then a tagalong trip to the Oakey Aviation Centre, showcasing Australian aviation. Happy hour at 4.00 followed by movie night in the Glenvale room. BYO popcorn!

Up bright and early for a 6.45am start on Thursday morning for the Tunnels and Mountains Tour. At 9.00pm, ‘Notes from the Board’ in the Glenview Room. ACC Marketing Director Rod McCulloch presented an overview of what is happening and what is planned at ACC National Board level. Craft during the morning or self-drive tours to the War Museum, the Cobb & Co Museum, the Downs Steam Train Tourist Railway and Museum, or Laurel Bank Park. Late afternoon, something really special with Line Dancing and the Ukulele Ensemble setting the Glenvale Room on fire. Then, to speed things up a little, Trivia in the evening. By now, we were really starting to get into the spirit of this Muster!

There is just so much to see around the city and region, a rich pastoral history and our muster organisers, the Toowoomba Trekkers knew just where to look. Historic Glengallen Homestead and Rudd’s Pub where you can step back in time to the home of Aussie radio classic Dad and Dave on their ’selection’. At 5.00pm, Camp Oven Evening where we learned how to cook up a damper, courtesy of Toowoomba Trekkers’ Peter Byrne.

The Club for all RVers.

9.00am Saturday, the traditional Muster photo, a group shot of all of us waving madly in the grandstand. Definitely one for the pool room! Nothing beats a genuine country Farmer’s Market and Toowoomba is no exception. The best of local country craft and produce. In the evening, the Muster Dinner with music and dancing. A chance to let our hair down, celebrate a great State Muster, win myriad fabulous raffle prizes, and thank you to our Muster organisers for a fantastic week of activities before hitching up on Sunday morning and heading home. Or on to our next RV adventure.

Sincere thanks to Peter Byrne, Tess Schultz, and the Toowoomba Trekkers team for a great muster.

 If you’d like to know more about the Australian Caravan Club, please do not hesitate to contact me on 0421 326 186 or via this website at: www.goctheplanet.com

You can also check out the Australian Caravan Club at: www.australiancaravanclub.com.au

Photo Gallery

Main Image: Over 350 ACC members – getting ready to muster!

• The Royal Agricultural Society Showgrounds welcomed us.
• Opening ceremony welcome from the Toowoomba Council.
• Magnificent Toowoomba architecture.
• Chilly evenings, warm red wine.
• A series of informative RV information sessions.
• Happy Hour is an ACC tradition.
• The amazing Cobb & Co Museum in Toowoomba.
• Dinner is served!
• The sun never sets on an ACC muster.