Warwick The Early Years

"1849 to 1900"

With the pulse of settlement becoming stronger every day, the New South Wales Government saw the advantage of forming a town on part of the Canning Downs run, and decided that Mr. Patrick Leslie should select the site for same. This Mr. Leslie did at the end of 1847, choosing that portion familiarly known as the Pocket, because on the present site of Warwick his brother George had a sheep station. On submitting the proposed site to the Government of New South Wales, they instructed Mr. Christopher Rolleston, the newly appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Darling Downs, to approve of the selection, or suggest another. As a result, the present site of Warwick was chosen. This done, it was proposed to call the new town "Canningtown," but that name did not meet with any favour, and the recommendation of Patrick Leslie and his friend Arthur Hodgson and C. Rolleston was, to call it "Warwick." Which suggestion the New South Wales Government accepted. Mr. J.C. Burnett, Surveyor, was instructed to make the first design, which he did, and submitted it in May 1849, and the Government's approval was notified in the Government "Gazette" the same year - Folio 1708. Burnett made the actual surveys of selections 1 to 19 in April 1850, and of subsequent section by A.F. Wood and G.L. Pratten in 1857 and 1859, respectively. The development of the town was rapid. A store was established in 1848 before the town was even surveyed and by 1862 a state school had been completed. Cobb & Co started running a coach to the township in 1865 and by 1871 the railway from Ipswich had reached the town.

Blacksmith
Mr. E Anderson owned the first blacksmith's shop. Shortly after this, William Craig erected a blacksmith and wheelwright's premises at East Warwick.

First Stores.
George Walker, a storekeeper and bookkeeper for Colin Campbell at Glengallan, built as bark store opposite to where the Glengallan Shire Council office once Stood.

First Inn
John Collins and H. Kirby had erected the Horse and Jockey Inn at the corner of Palmerin and Victoria streets.

The Warwick Brewery
The Warwick Brewery was situated in Victoria Street close to the Condamine River.

Warwick's First Homes
The Slad huts back in the 1850's bare little resemblance to the grand Queenslander homes that are common in Warwick of today.

Warwick's School
In 1862 the Warwick East State School was erected making it the oldest school to be built in the state, and one of the few school buildings in Australia, which dates back to the 1860s.

Warwick's Churches
Warwick has many historical Churches, as one would assume beginning the first town in the State.

Pringle Cottage
'Pringle Cottage' (1869) at 81 Dragon Street which was built by John McCulloch, a Scottish builder, in the style of Scottish cottages of the time. It was a school for many years and has recently become part of the Warwick and District Historical Society Museum. The Pringle Cottage complex also includes an old General Store and a shepherd's hut. The museum has an interesting collection of memorabilia from the local area.

The Court House
The Court House 1885, On the corner of Fitzroy and Guy Street.

Warwick's First News Paper
In January 1868 a newspaper press started rolling for the first time in Warwick.

The Town Hall
The Town Hall (1888) in Palmerin Street was also constructed from local sandstone. It can lay claim to being one of the oldest local authority buildings in Queensland and is distinguished by a large and elegant clock tower.

Police Station
The Police Station (1890)

Hotels Of Warwick
There are many grand old hotels full of history and nostalgia within the Town

Post Office
The Warwick Post Office, was completed in 1897