Fraser Coast Tourist Information
Fraser Coast Tourist Information
Toogoom & Torbanlea
Situated on the mouth of Beelbie Creek and the shores of Hervey Bay, about 20 kilometres from Hervey Bay township, Toogoom is a popular spot for fishing. There is good fishing both in the creek and on the bay, with excellent mudcrabs to be found at certain spots on the creek. Both the creek and the bay are also great for watersports, including sailing, sailboarding and canoeing.
Toogoom features idyllic picnic spots, offering prime positions to view the more than 90 species of birds which inhabit the area. Two of Toogoom's landmarks are the Toogoom Trading Post, an old-style general store that sells everything from petrol to bait and Goody's Seaside Inn, with indoor and outdoor eating areas to savour the ocean views.
The peaceful village of Torbanlea lies beside the Bruce Highway, 20km north of Maryborough and 34km north west of Hervey Bay. More than 100 years of the district's coalmining history is on show at the Torbanlea Pioneer Village and Mining Museum, recreating the days when 94 mines in the region produced some of the finest steaming and coking coal in the world. A highlight of a visit to the museum is a trip down a recreated mine shaft.
The museum has been built on the site of a railway siding which served the original mining township, relocated to its present site in 1910, and the original Burrum railway station building is located in the grounds. The original miner's cottage is also still standing. A general store, bottle collection, vintage fire engine and Model T Ford bus are also on display.
Visitors to Torbanlea can also experience the atmosphere of a country race meeting at the Torbanlea race track, when residents from throughout the district flock to the small town. Several race meetings are held throughout the year.
