Goomeri: Memorials, Rail Trail and Pumpkin Festival

Goomeri brings together memorials and historic trails with the Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail and the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival. These offer very different ways to plan your trip: you can get to know the town through its commemorative heritage, plan an activity on the Rail Trail or time your visit to coincide with a festival date. The details below will help you choose the focus of your stay in Goomeri.

Memorials in different forms

At Goomeri’s main intersection, the stepped foundation of the Goomeri War Memorial Clock Tower forms a traffic island. The clock tower is 74 feet tall and is one of the few memorials of this kind in Queensland. Unusual decorative features also give the memorial a distinctive appearance.

The Goomeri Hall of Memory opened in 1926 to commemorate people from the district who served in the First World War. The dedication was later extended to include all those who served in subsequent wars. Its significance differs from that of a single monumental memorial: the Hall of Memory is a comparatively rare form of First World War memorial in Queensland because it also served recreational purposes. This means you can discover two forms of commemoration in Goomeri: the clock tower at the intersection and a building that combined remembrance with recreational use.

History along the Heritage Trails

The Goomeri Heritage Trail takes you to historic places in town. Signs explain the history of each stop; some are located in original buildings. Unlike a single memorial, the trail links several historic places and explains their individual backgrounds. A heritage trail map is available for the Goomeri “Town of 1911” Heritage Trail.

The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail

The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail is an 88-kilometre recreational trail along the former Kingaroy Branch Railway Line. It runs between Kilkivan, Goomeri and Murgon on a natural track. The section between the three towns is suitable for mountain bikers and walkers, and in some parts for horse riders. The 88-kilometre length refers to the Rail Trail as a whole; the suitability information applies to the section between Kilkivan, Goomeri and Murgon. This distinction lets you separate the total length from the specific usage information for this section.

Pumpkin Festival and local information

The Great Australian Pumpkin Roll is the highlight of the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival. The program also includes a Heritage and Outback street parade, market stalls and food trucks. If you’re planning to visit Goomeri for the festival, check the dates before your trip.

The Goomeri Visitor Information Centre is located at 41 Moore Street, Goomeri, Queensland 4601. In the town centre, Goomeri Bakery serves freshly baked baguettes, fruit tarts, pastries and coffee; offerings may change.

Discover more destinations: Hamilton Island, Traveston, Dalby, Clairview, Boonah, Maryvale, Gin Gin, Fletcher.

For the main travel overview: Queensland.