27/08/2026
Today, under beautiful blue skies and springlike weather, the Thursday walkers strolled around the streets and parks of Highfields.
Highfields forms part of the traditional lands of the Jarowair and Gaibal peoples. European settlement began in the 1840s with the land being used mainly for cattle grazing. Then in the 1860s the region developed more intensely around timber getting, resulting in the construction of several sawmills.
In 1867, the completion of the Ipswich to Toowoomba railway bought in more workers, with many of them later settling in the Highfields district and establishing dairying farming and crop growing industries on the land that had been previously cleared of timber.
The first school in Highfields was opened in 1870 inside the Rising Sun Hotel, marking the formal start of the township.
The first dedicated school was built in 1877-1878.
The following year saw the construction of the Christ Church Lutheran Church, serving a community where almost half the farming families were of German heritage.
Up until the 1980s, Highfields remained a quiet, rural town, before the subdivision of residential land resulted in significant changes to the landscape. The 1990s saw rapid growth with both residential and commercial expansion.
Today the town, 12km north of Toowoomba on the New England Highway, boasts 2 supermarkets, many specialised art, craft and food outlets, the Highfields Pioneer Historical Village, multiple schools both private and public, beautiful parklands and walking tracks and great community facilities, including the Cultural Centre, library, and the Aquatic centre.
To complete a wonderful morning, the walkers enjoyed coffee and cake at the Danish Flower Art Gourmet Cafe where one of our favourite treats is any one of the large variety of delicious scones made on the premises.
Maureen McHugh
Photos: Lesley Walker
