Blog


Want to know what to get up to and all the best spots when visiting Chinchilla? Read through our handy articles today for helpful information!

Time to Remember - ANZAC DAY 2018

Comment

Time to Remember - ANZAC DAY 2018

Anzac Day is a time for the community to come together to remember and recognise the service and sacrifice of members of the Australian Defence Force.

On Wednesday 25 April, the Western Downs will be commemorating Anzac Day with dawn services and commemoration services across the region.

The Chinchilla Dawn service will commence at 5:55am at Fuller Place on Heeney Street, followed by a Commemoration March at 10:45am and Commemoration Service at 11am.

If you would like to attend one of the many events across the Western Downs, click here to find the closest event to you.

Comment

Where for art thou?

Comment

Where for art thou?

Every year the major art galleries across the Western Downs come together and host the Annual Western Downs Regional Artists’ Exhibition. It is a space to showcase Western Downs artists, and helps them to raise their profiles beyond the regions borders.

Total prize money of the competition is an amazing $2150, and all paintings are available for sale during the exhibition.

This year, artists are encouraged to explore the values of light and shade, any subject, with no limits – no light, low light, directional light, 2D or 3D work. The possibilities are endless, monochromatic or a myriad of colours.

Artists may submit up to four artworks.

Each work must be accompanied by a completed entry form.

Submitted works will be selected by the exhibition curator, who will also award the prizes.

All artists who submit work will be represented in the curator’s exhibition selection.

A full colour, professionally-presented exhibition catalogue will document the exhibition and include a curatorial essay.

Entries must be received by Monday 2 July
Fees $25 per entry (non-refundable)

Opening Night and Presentation of Prizes from 5.30pm on Saturday 22nd September at Lapunyah Art Gallery, Chinchilla.

Exhibition runs from Monday 24th September until Wednesday 24th October at Lapunyah Art Gallery, Chinchilla.

Please read the Conditions of Entry carefully.

Kings Park Accommodation proudly supports all local initiatives that bring the community together, and we look forward to attending the event exhibition in September.

Comment

Adopt a Tree in Chinchilla and Surrounds

Comment

Adopt a Tree in Chinchilla and Surrounds

Why More Trees?

As boring as it may seem compared to solar panels and hybrid cars, planting trees is one of the most powerful and affordable ways to make a personal difference for the environment. And it’s a fun and educational activity to do with kids, too.

As we learned in primary school science, trees are essential to life. They create the very air we breathe and filter air pollution.

Trees also build soil and help soak up stormwater before it can create a flood, and they offer energy-saving shade that reduces global warming and creates habitat for thousands of different species. 

Most importantly, trees sequester carbon, helping to remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the air, which cools the earth. In fact, a mature canopy tree absorbs enough carbon and releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings!

You really can’t go wrong by planting trees!

So Adapt a Tree – It’s Good For Everyone

The Western Downs Regional Council is bringing more trees to the streets for their popular Adopt a Street Tree program in 2018.

Council’s Adopt a Street Tree program is open to all towns (that includes Chinchilla) across the Western Downs and it’s FREE to register your interest.

Registrations for this year’s planting program are now open and will close Friday 16 March 2018.

Register your interest by calling 1300 COUNCIL or filling out our online form.

Kings Park Accommodation just registered our interest to adopt a tree, why don’t you give it a go too.

Comment

Beginners Guide to Campdrafting

Comment

Beginners Guide to Campdrafting

Campdrafting is a uniquely Australian horse sport that puts the skills of both horse and rider to the test, and is a great test of how good a cattleman you truly are. Campdrafting involves two main stages firstly "The Camp" or cutout yard where the rider selects his beast, separates it from a mob and works it, and "The Course" or arena, where the rider guides his beast in a pattern. Campdrafts are judged by a single judge on horseback. 

Before you even think about beginning to campdraft, you need to ensure that both you and your horse are up to the job. 

Riders need to be very competent and confident and should have some experience working cattle. A horse will preferably have had experience working cattle. Horses should have the ability to turn on their back legs, stop and start quickly similarly to a cutting horse. Indeed, many cutting horses, or, more commonly cutting bred horses, often make fine campdrafters, providing they have the speed to keep up with a beast in the arena. The most common breed used for campdrafting is the Australian Stock horse, closely followed by the Quarter horse, however almost any smart horse with a bit of cattle sense can make a campdrafter.

Practice, visit a campdraft, talk to some experts.

You and your horse need to practice, practice and practice before you enter your first competition. Be a spectator at local Campdrafts and watch what they do and take some notes. Ask to speak with the winners on the day, and get their winning advice and tips. Watch You Tube clips when you can't get out on your horse.

Go to a small campdraft first. 

So, you're all set, you've got an idea what to do and you're at your first draft. It's probably best if you go to a small local one for your first time. The competitors will tend to be more friendly and it is a lot more fun, even if the cattle are often more difficult.

The perfect event for your first Campdraft is the Landmark Chinchilla Encouragement Draft & The Big Show Camp Horse Challenge.

This campdraft is run by the Chinchilla A & P Association Campdraft Committee for the purpose of giving young riders, maiden horses and new competitors the opportunity and the experience of competing at a Campdraft.

This year's event will be held on Saturday 3 rd & Sunday 4th March 2018

For more details on this event and registration information visit their facebook page

For spectators and family wanting to encourage these beginner Campdrafters, come stay with us for the weekend. Think of Kings Park Accommodation as your home away from home. Call us today to book.

Comment

Fossicking with the family

1 Comment

Fossicking with the family

Fossicking is an ideal activity for families. You get to spend time together out in the open air and everyone can take part, you can even take the family dog. You can turn your day into a treasure hunt where the kids will love the digging, searching for their own piece of treasure, and stopping to have a picnic on site.

Chinchilla is a fascinating place to start your family fossicking adventure! First stop is a visit to the Chinchilla Tourist and Visitor Centre where you can get all the information you need, and if you don’t already have a fossicking license you can purchase one there. You will also need to purchase admission to the site you want to visit. Tickets are $5 per person per site.

The petrified wood in Chinchilla dates back to the Jurassic period (140-180 million years ago). Petrified wood occurs when the trees are covered by massive amounts of volcanic ash and buried in a lava or a mud flow.

There are two privately owned properties – Gaske and Bell – where you can fossick but you do need a QLD fossickers license and your admission ticket. You will also need to bring your own equipment.

Chinchilla petrified wood is world renowned for its colour and hardness – you can also see some beautiful products created from local wood at the visitor centre. You can also buy pieces of petrified wood in the shop if you have no luck at the fossicking site.

So bring the family and stay with us at Kings Park Accommodation for your fossicking weekend. We have special fossicking rates, so give us a call today.

1 Comment