4 Days on the Goondiwindi Art Trail

Goondiwindi Art Gallery

Day 1: Goondiwindi

Morning

Buckle up, art lovers! It’s time to hit the open road in search of Goondiwindi’s incredible public art.

As you arrive in Goondiwindi on the Cunningham Highway, your first stop is the unmissable giant steel sculptures created by local grazier and sculpture artist Angus Wilson.

The ‘Coat of Arms’, erected in 2014, is a supersized steel sculpture of an emu, kangaroo, Southern Cross star formation and the outline of Australia.

Directly next to it is Angus’ other outstanding installation, ‘Once Upon A Time’ with sky-high floating rustic cars and farm trucks surrounded by a flock of Ibises crafted from scrap steel materials.

Keep an eye out for other works by Angus Wilson during your art-finding expedition, as the talented local continues to add magical pieces to the Gundy landscape in interesting ways.

Next stop on the itinerary are the central laneways stemming from Bowen Lane – where Goondiwindi’s street art scene comes to life. The walls of the CBD play gallery to the annual art festival, Lanescape, but are a feast for the senses no matter when you visit.

Lanescape, held every October, continues to dramatically transform the streetscape of Goondiwindi with mammoth works of public art.

If you’re lucky enough to be here in October, you’ll experience street performances, interactive workshops and foodie delights, plus you’ll be the first to see the newly unveiled creations when the festival takes over town.

Set your GPS to Bowen Lane and take a walk past the Banksy-style stencil works and colourful murals and lane posts. There is an artistic surprise around every corner!

The laneway features works by leading national and international artists including Ian Tremewin, LEANS and Kate Owen, as well as locals and school community groups.

A short walk away is the Holy Trinity Church, with 26 stunning stained-glass windows, 13 of which were created by famous glass artist William Bustard.

After taking in the coloured glass, take a three minute walk to Gunsynd Motor Inn to admire the wrap-around fence mural depicting famous racing horse, ‘The Goondiwindi Grey’, Gunsynd, galloping down the straight.

When artist James Ellis was driving through town he spotted the bare wall, and kindly asked the owners if he could transform it into the much-admired mural you see today.

To finish up the morning, it’s time for a classic pub feed and cold drink at The Victoria Hotel – the iconic 1920’s hotel on the main street.

From horsemen riding in and lassoing bottles straight from the shelves to boats cruising through during the 1956 floods, you know that if these walls could talk, they’d have a lot to say.

Afternoon

After refuelling with a hearty lunch, take in the comfort of the local Goondiwindi Art Gallery, housed in the public library.

Curated exhibitions pop up at the gallery every six weeks, from local projects to professional artists, so there’s always something new to gaze upon.

A wonderful way to spend the late afternoon and golden hour is by the Macintyre River where river breezes meet public art in a natural bush setting.

Located at the end of Marshall Street, the boat ramp toilet block has been adorned with a gorgeous mural of birds and flowers by artist Tia Carrigan.

Can you spot the red-tailed black cockatoo, azure kingfisher and chestnut-breasted mannikin in the painting and in our skies?

Nearby is ‘A Wonderful Bird is the Pelican’ sculpture by Angus Wilson. The wide-winged bird, made from an old water pump, captures a memory of the artist’s childhood, when his mother would read him the poem of the same name before lights out.

Beside the pelican, you’ll find the ‘Macintyre Cod Fossil’ – this fish skeleton is made out of old scrap metal and farming equipment – and makes for a great photo opportunity.

Evening

The country hospitality is warm in Goondiwindi, and a visit to town is experienced best with a night in a quintessential B&B or hotel.

Gumnut Cottage is an indulgent three bedroom Queenslander cottage while the Macintyre Motor Inn is conveniently located near the local shops. The Queensland Hotel is a beautiful heritage pub with newly renovated accommodation quarters and the Best Western Ascot Motor Inn has an onsite restaurant and cocktail lounge so you can enjoy a meal close to home.

Macintyre Cod Fossil Sculpture, Goondiwindi

Day 2: Goondiwindi

Morning

Rise and shine and start your day the right way with avo and feta smash or the big breakfast at Cascades Restaurant.

For coffee connoisseurs, you can’t beat our various cafes such as The Larder with fresh brews, house-made granola and blooming flower bunches for sale.

Family-owned and operated paddock-to-rack textile company Goondiwindi Cotton is a must-visit for those who love their fashion as much as they love their art.

From Goondiwindi Cotton take a ‘Farm and Town Tour’ where you can get a firsthand look at the working cotton farm ‘Alcheringa’ and see the process of how this is transformed into garments for their fashion house in town.

For lunch, O’Sheas Royal Hotel or The Queenslander Hotel offer a range of steaks, schnitzels and pub food while Laurenz Café or Gather 4390 serve scrumptious salads, cakes and international flavours.

For the rest of the afternoon, jump in the car and take a road trip to these art hotspots:

• The McLean Street water tanks ‘Celebration Mural’ was painted to engage and inspire Indigenous community artists from both the Bigambul and Kamilaroi people. The word ‘Goondiwindi’ is believed to stem from the Aboriginal word ‘Goonawinna’ and translates as ‘the resting place of the birds’, and this mural depicts Goondiwindi’s special relationship with birdlife through the brolga, emu, totem and waterhole.

• The Big Cod is a whopping 6.5m tall fibreglass Murray Cod at Redmond Park. Sure to impress any fishing fan!

• The Levee Bank Monument, on the corner of McLean and Macintyre Street, is a steel monument that wraps around the Tree of Knowledge, a traditional meeting place for locals during a flood.

• To see the day out, the Goondiwindi Sandstone Pillars on McLean Street, glow in the setting sun. The pillars represent the relationship the township has with the river and the intricate designs focus on water birds and stylised rain.

Evening

Spend the night enjoying the local hospitality and restaurants or resting in your accommodation after a busy day.

GrainCorp Silos, Yelarbon, Goondiwindi Region

Day 3: Goondiwindi to Texas via Inglewood

You’re practically a local now, so pick your favourite café for breakfast or head to a new spot you haven’t yet tried to sample our fresh produce.

Set on 25 hectares on the outskirts of town, Goondiwindi Botanic Gardens is home to matured natives, a large pond for wildlife and another of Angus Wilson’s sculptures ‘Botanicus Coranavus 20’, a large tree stump sprouting steel flowers, and Jonathan Crowther’s ‘Botanica’, a carved sandstone leaf.

Back in the car, it’s time to hit the open road to the Graincorp Silos at Yelarbon, one of the biggest silo artworks in Australia – roughly the size of a football field!

Set against a backdrop of spinifex country, ‘When The Rain Comes’ mural conveys a sense of optimism and hope for the future, while showcasing the history of the community.

The eight silo artwork, created by Brisbane artist Brightsiders, depicts the scene of a young boy with a paper boat, symbolising the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the town’s industries, past and present.

Half an hour drive away you’ll find the tiny town of Inglewood and lunch options at Albert Street Bakery or the Inglewood Coffee Shop and Tea Garden. Munch on baked goods, homemade meals and scones with a milkshake or coffee to accompany.

Alternatively, CC Café at the Green Up Meeting Place is located just outside of Inglewood on a 10-acre property with an artisanal café, seasonal menu and plant-like sculptures hanging from the ceiling. In September, the café comes alive with an annual showcase event of food, music, wine tastings and live demonstrations.

Afternoon

The Old Commercial Hotel in Inglewood has a mural depicting a crop of tobacco and tobacco growers in the artist James Ellis’ signature style. The mural highlights the importance of growing tobacco to the people of Inglewood, Texas and Yelarbon during the 1950s and ‘60s.

Nearby, the Macintyre Mural is in recogitition of the Macintyre Wind Farm Project, which at the time of construction (2022) was the largest onshore wind farm in the southern hemisphere with 180 turbines. Artist Michele Hollister has crafted scenes that celebrate the wide-open spaces, local Bulloak Jewel Butterfly population and the wind turbines in the countryside.

Visit Lions Park afterwards to see the sun dial which was presented to the community to commemorate the 100 years of the Australian federation.

Heading further south about 35 minutes, you’ll arrive in the town of Texas, perched on the banks of the Dumaresq River.

If visiting in September, be sure to plan your travels around the Texas Country Music Festival, a three day event mixing traditional and contemporary country music and bush poetry.

Overnight:

Rest your head at one of Texas’ accommodation options, such as The Stockman Hotel, a classic country pub, or the Texas Motel, offering clean and comfortable stays.

A stockman’s beef burger or steak from the grill are highlights on the menu at the Stockman Hotel for dinner.

‘Turning Things Around’ Water Tank Mural, Texas, Goondiwindi Region

Day 4: Texas

Waking up in Texas, you’ll be able to smell the fresh breakfast wraps, eggs benedict and coffee wafting from Rustic on High café. Next door is a curated local arts and crafts shop and across the road is a souvenir shop to pick up a memento of your holiday.

In the main street, visit the ‘Spirit of Texas’ sculpture which was commissioned following the devastating 2011 floods to represent the community’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity. The rusted steel sculpture was influenced by the large amount of water birds that appeared after the flood and represents a phoenix.

The Texas Art Gallery is the cultural hub of the town and showcases the latest exhibitions, while nearby the Texas Cottage Industries store sells a range of locally made creations from homewares, bags and baby wear.

The last stop before lunch is a visit to the ‘Turning Things Around’ water tank mural by artist Brightsiders. In one section, a young girl holds a miniature Cyprus Tobacco Barn and flower, while the other section two figures sit back to back united by the wagon wheel.

In the final section of the mural is a man working on an old bit of machinery and his Akubra hat perched on top of the machine, a nod to the rabbit works and the fur they once provided for the iconic hats.

Afternoon

Before heading home, enjoy one last pub meal at a venue of your choice and reminisce on the art trail moments and memories captured during your holiday.