About Dalby

The bustling Town of Dalby is picturesquely located on the Myall Creek just to the east of the junction with the Condamine River and south west of the Bunya Mountains. Dalby is on the Warrego Highway, 80 km west of Toowoomba and 2½ hours west of Brisbane. The Warrego Highway (a national road) joins Brisbane to Darwin. The Bunya and Moonie Highways start from Dalby.

With a population in excess of 11,000 people, it is the major town in the Western Downs Regional Council which in an amalgamation of the Dalby, Wambo, Tara, Chinchilla, Murilla and Taroom shires.

With cotton, grain (cereal and feed), cattle, pigs and sheep production, the local economy depends heavily on the rural sector.

The Dalby economy has been enhanced in recent years with the influx of workers for the burgening energy sector (coal and coal seam gas). Kogan Creek power station has been completed at Kogan and 2 gas powered power stations near Kogan. Pipelines are underway to transfer coal seam gas from this area to the Curtis Island liquid natural gas port at Gladstone. 2 New coal mines (one at Wandoan and one at Miles) in the shire will also have an effect on the economy.

Green energy is not forgotten with a proposed $98 million solar boost project to assist the Kogan Creek power station supplies. A bio refinery is also operating at Dalby and is producing ethanol fuel for the Queensland market.

Dalby has also a strong retail section with the newly constructed Dalby Shoppingworld with Big W, Woolworths and numerous speciality shops. Dalby also features a Coles, Target Country and many speciality shops in the main retail area of town.

Dalby also is at the forefront of industry with locally produced machinery going Australia and world wide (Simplicity Air Seeders, Dingo Mini Diggers to name a few).

Education is catered for with 2 State Primary Schools, State High School and 2 Private Schools (P-12).

The Western Downs Regional Council prides itself on its parks and gardens with the main street (Cunningham Street) in the ongoing process of beautification. Thomas Jack Park is a green oasis and great for children and barbecues.

For the culturally minded, Dalby has an art gallery, a movie theatre, antique dealers, easy access to Toowomba and the Empire Theatre which holds performances by world class entertainers.

Sport is well catered for with the numerous sporting clubs operating in Dalby (Golf Club, Tennis Club, Rugby Union and Rugby Leage, cricket, soccer, racing, netball and 3 gymnasiums.

Despite its small population, Dalby has plenty to offer for everyone with culture, sport, commerce and industry all playing a part in the local life.

Dalby is positioned in the Surat Basin, an area gaining a huge status around Australia and the World with huge reserves of coal and gas.