Articles by Sam Kirby
MEET. . . BRONTË
FIRST THINGS FIRST, CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE OF YOUR STORY? I am a proud Toowoomba girl, having spent most of my childhood and high-schooling growing up here, and returned about 7 years ago after my husband (Jake) and I left our corporate jobs in Brisbane, in search of a slower, more gentle home base. Jake and I have been together for almost 14 years, with our smiley little Freddie joining our family last year. Jake (and now Freddie) are my safe place, my heart, and my home.
Women of Strength Turns 10 with Taryn Brumfitt
Ok, real talk. When was the last time you did something just for you? Not the school run, not the work drinks you couldn’t get out of. Something actually for you (We thought so). Lucky for you, Women of Strength is turning 10, and it’s throwing a party you don’t want to miss. On Saturday 7 November, the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation takes over the Oaks Hotel for its big night of the year. Leading the evening is Taryn Brumfitt, 2023 Australian of the Year and the woman behind the Body Image Movement.
SAGE & BUTLER - The Field Guide
ABOUT / We'll be the first to say it - it's almost criminal it's taken us till now to feature this East Toowoomba institution (and an institution it is).
The Travelling Film Festival returns to Toowoomba
This October, the Travelling Film Festival (TFF), Australia’s longest-running travelling film festival, returns to Toowoomba with eight films direct from the Sydney Film Festival. Screening at BCC Cinemas Toowoomba Strand from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, this year’s lineup brings together prize-winners from Cannes, Toronto and Sydney, including both the Palme d’Or and Grand Prix winners, plus two Australian short films.
Beneath The Fringe — The Field Guide
Let's be honest: before you've actually met a Highland cow, you probably think you have a sense of them. You've seen them on Instagram. You know about the hair. You've liked a photo or two, maybe saved one or three. You are not, you tell yourself, someone who is going to get a little emotional about a cow. And then the gate opens. What hits you first is the hair. All of it.
A Day in the Life: Dr Liam Dunn
There is a curtain in that theatre. The parents are on one side - awake, talking, waiting. The surgical team are on the other. At one point, I found myself ducking around it to check on the mum, before turning back to the other side of that curtain — to a scene that most people never witness, and one I will never forget. Two entirely different realities, separated by a piece of fabric. It is, in the most literal sense, the miracle of modern medicine.
At Home with. . . Diane Tate
Can you tell us a little about yourself, what you do, and how did you find yourself here in the Toowoomba region? We have been fortunate to live in Toowoomba for the past 11 years. We moved here from Shanghai, China, and directly before that, Sydney and London. We came to Toowoomba for work opportunities, and we have never looked back. Toowoomba has been the perfect place to raise our family of six. I'm a librarian, and my husband works as a professor. You lived in China for many years.
Queensland Fringe Is Coming To Toowoomba. And Yes, It's Actually A Really Big Deal.
We don't say this often, but friends... this is kind of a big deal. Toowoomba is about to host its first-ever Queensland Fringe festival -- and the line-up is a seriously stacked call-sheet of international and national artists. Jim Jefferies. Vanessa Amorosi. Dami Im. Wes Carr, Sue Ray, and a slew of other artists. One weekend. The Empire Theatre. August 6 and 7.
UNO MÁS - The Field Guide
ABOUT / There's always going to be big shoes to fill when you take over a space from one of Toowoomba's most-loved dining rooms - especially one with a cult reputation. And yet Uno Mas - Spanish for "one more" - has slipped into 517 Ruthven Street with the quiet confidence of somewhere that knows exactly what it is - bringing that same spirit of creativity and care but to something altogether its own.
The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize 2026
When people think of Toowoomba's cultural scene, poetry probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. We know the city for its gardens, festivals, theatres and growing food scene. And yet for almost three decades, one of Australia's biggest and most respected poetry competitions has been quietly drawing entries from across the country, judged anonymously, awarding thousands of dollars in prize money, and celebrating voices from every corner of Australia.
Meet the Locals. . . The Good Dozen
Tell us a little about yourselves. We’re a first-generation farm just outside Crows Nest. Brooke grew up in Gayndah, where her father managed a citrus farm, and she’s now a teacher. Trent grew up on the Mornington Peninsula and had a family property near Bonnie Doon. He’s been a paramedic in Queensland for more than a decade. We met the old-fashioned way - at the pub in Bargara.
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
Eagles Nest Camp. Built in 1929. One of the only known camps of its kind in Queensland. Sitting quietly in Toowoomba's own backyard for nearly a century - and, not unlike the archaeology program that has been uncovering it, hiding in plain sight all along. 1929 - the year the world changed. The Great Depression had arrived, and with it, unemployment, displacement, and desperation on a scale Australia had never seen. It had emptied men from their lives. Work disappeared. Families fractured.
ADAM GILCHRIST LANDS AT GEORGE BANKS TO LAUNCH EL ARQUERO TEQUILA
'll admit upfront: most of my experience with tequila has come from bottles with little hats on them. . . memories of much younger years, and probably not my finest of hours. . .
Music in the Hangar brings live jazz and the Stephen Henry Quartet to Jimbour House this June
Music in the Hangar at Jimbour House on Sunday 7 June is that kind of afternoon. One of Queensland's most significant historic homesteads, Jimbour has been standing since the 1870s - and if you've been lucky enough to catch Opera at Jimbour in previous years, you'll already know what live music here can feel like. With Opera at Jimbour not running in 2026, this is your best chance to experience it this year.
PNAU STILL CHASING THE NEXT GREAT SOUND, 25 YEARS ON
For a band that started out hunting through the Trading Post for cheap second-hand synths, Pnau’s rise from Sydney teenagers to internationally recognised electronic music pioneers still feels surreal, even to founding member Peter Mayes. Ahead of the group’s upcoming tour and the release of its seventh studio album AhhCade, Mayes reflected on more than 25 years of music, collaboration and reinvention. “We were those kids that were always in the studio,” Mayes said. “It literally consumed us.
KORNERD - The Field Guide
ABOUT / Full of the bold, crunchy, sweet-spicy flavours that make Korean cuisine so irresistible - Kornerd (a play on 'Korean - Nerd' and the fact that the restaurant was originally destined for a corner location of a nearby intersection) opened in Margaret Street in late 2025, and has very quickly become known for its addictive Korean fried chicken and flavour-packed menu.
RISE OF THE BATHHOUSE
As a former Melbourne girl, each year I make the all-so-familiar pilgrimage back to visit friends and family, eat my way through Lygon Street, and catch up properly with the people I miss. In fact, there’s a standing joke that I fly south for the winter (which never fully made sense as it’s arguably colder than here). But whenever I do, there’s one thing we almost always make time for. Somewhere between dinner plans and wandering the city, someone will suggest the bathhouse.
At home at Tallowood
Set amongst wide paddocks and winding garden beds, Barb Somervaille’s home feels less like a finished garden and more like a living canvas - one that has slowly evolved over years of observation, patience and creativity. An artist by training and a gardener by instinct, Barb has spent decades shaping the landscape around her home, Tallowood, into a sprawling, informal garden that reflects both the beauty and unpredictability of the Australian countryside.
UniSQ Biennial Art Award Returns for 2026
Art prizes have long played an important role in shaping Australia’s contemporary art landscape. Beyond the prize money itself, they offer something equally valuable; visibility, momentum, validation, and a chance for artists to place their work into a broader cultural conversation. Established in 1989, the UniSQ Biennial Art Award has evolved into an important platform for contemporary Australian art, continuing to champion both established and emerging artists from across the country.
FLICKERFEST 2026 — The Field Guide
Saturday 16th May 8:00pm - honor our unique identity and culture with the Best of Australian Shorts.
FIRE & FEAST - The Field Guide
The upcoming Fire & Feast at Bunnyconnellen is exactly that - elemental, but refined. An immersive fire-dining experience built around flame, seasonality and a shared table, led by Chef Jerome Dalton (Dalton Catering) and his Fire Dome. It’s where this style of dining really comes into its own. The dinner leans into a three-course, shared-table experience.
What is open on this Good Friday Public Holiday
Acai Bros | 7am - 9pm The Baker's Duck | 7am - 4pm The Dairy Bakehouse | 8am - 12pm Fritz Pasta | 4pm - 8pm George Banks | 4pm - Late Ground Up | 7.00am - 2pm Junktion Coffee House | 8am – 2.30pm + 5pm - 8pm Loulaki | 6.30am–11:00 pm + 12–2.30pm + 5–9 pm 95 Mary Street | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm The Providor @ Sunday Merchant | 7.00am - 11am Quarter Acre Cafe | 6am – 12pm The Rock | 10am – 10pm Sage & Butler | 6.30am - 2pm Shelfield Coffee Brewers | 7am - 12pm Sleepless City - Stenner Street | 7am -...
Cult-Favourite Acai Brothers drops on the Northside
Opening its doors as only the second Queensland location for Acai Bros, this new northside addition is already building momentum - and if early signs are anything to go by, it’s about to slot neatly into your weekly routine. For owner Tracey, the journey to opening day has been almost two years in the making. After time spent in Brisbane, she and her husband found themselves drawn to the brand - not just for what was on the menu, but for what it stood for. “We’d been looking for a while,” she says.
‘& Juliet’ Brings a Pop-Fuelled Twist to Shakespeare’s greatest play. — The Field Guide
What if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? That is the simple but brilliant premise behind & Juliet, the exuberant musical arriving in Toowoomba this March, turning one of literature’s most tragic love stories into a bold and joyful second act. Created by the Emmy Award-winning writer behind Schitt’s Creek, the show flips Shakespeare’s ending on its head and imagines Juliet choosing a completely different path.
UNDER THE COUNTRY SKIES. — The Field Guide
There is a particular kind of luxury that belongs only to the country. The quiet kind. The kind that settles into the folds of the land at sunrise and lingers long after dark. The kind you feel more than you see. At FigTree, on a soft rise just outside Pittsworth, that luxury lives in every moment. Morning begins slowly here. Light spills across the plateau, unhurried, catching the tops of the grass and the long, stretching shadows of the two grand fig trees that watch over the property.
Danny Bhoy: Dear World… — The Field Guide
Internationally adored Scottish comedian and crowd favourite Danny Bhoy returns to Toowoomba this February 25 with Dear World… - follow-up to his cult-favourite 2015 show Dear Epson… Observational, reflective, and sharply funny, expect part stand-up, part theatre, and entirely Danny Bhoy - turning everyday moments into something brilliantly hilarious. It’s a format Bhoy has made his own. Less pacing the stage chasing punchlines, more pulling up a chair and taking the audience with him.
At home with. . . Ben Walker — The Field Guide
Q. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF? I’m a real estate and commercial photographer, born and raised in Toowoomba. I love golf, travelling, good coffee and finding new breakfast spots around town. My partner Adriana and I have two dogs, Chiino the snag and Rigga the staffie, who are basically our kids. Life is pretty much work, dogs, coffee, golf, repeat. Q. WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? I am up at 4.30 or 5am and head straight for the Coffee.
Char House - The Field Guide
ABOUT | Opening in October, new-kid-on-the-block Char House brings a new dynamic to the city’s dining scene - a modern dining experience, part steakhouse, but with unmistakable French flair. Confident and grounded. Built around the theatre of live-flame cooking and a menu that leans into flavour, craft, and connection. The result? Food that feels refined yet relaxed - bold, balanced, and with a genuine sense of enjoyment on the plate.
At home with. . . Cathy Penton — The Field Guide
Step inside Cathy Penton’s world and you’ll find more than a home - you’ll find a life woven with family, history and handmade detail. For over two decades, Cathy has made a living as a creator of gorgeous things, designing for magazines, running a retail store, and creating her own range from her home in Meringandan.
Meatstock returns in 2026, and tickets are already on sale. — The Field Guide
After the heartbreaking weather-related cancellation earlier this year (ahem, cheers for that Cyclone Alfred *insert eye-roll*) - Meatstock is officially making its triumphant return to Toowoomba, and it’s shaping up to be huge. Mark your calendars for Friday 10 April and Saturday 11 April 2026, because the Showgrounds will once again transform into a smoke-filled, music-fuelled, adrenaline-packed celebration of barbecue culture, live entertainment and classic Meatstock chaos.
Swing to Grant Wishes: X-Golf’s Starlight Swing Brings Joy Beyond the Green — The Field Guide
To mark the fundraiser, X-Golf has reimagined the iconic Pirates Island Golf Course with a full Starlight redesign, working with their Korean manufacturer and the Starlight Children’s Foundation to create something bright, fun and immersive. Think cheerful colours, playful visuals and little moments of magic woven through the round - all crafted to bring the Starlight spirit to life. This year’s campaign is also fundraising in honour of Lottie, a brave young girl navigating serious illness.
The Empire Opens Expressions of Interest for a New Restaurant Operator — The Field Guide
If you’ve ever dreamed of running a restaurant in one of Toowoomba’s most iconic buildings, this might just be the moment the universe taps you on the shoulder. In a rare opportunity for the precinct, The Empire is inviting Expressions of Interest for a new restaurant operator and catering partner - the first time this role has been opened since 1997.
Santa’s Arrival is getting a Snowy Makeover at Grand Central — The Field Guide
Thursday 13 November | From 4pm | Grand Central This year, Grand Central is reimagining its annual Tree Lighting event as a full-blown Winter Wonderland for Santa’s Arrival, turning Central Square into a Christmas dreamscape filled with snow, live entertainment and festive cheer. From 4pm, the square will be buzzing with Christmas markets, local school performances, and roaming entertainers bringing the holiday spirit to life.
Possum & Bloom - The Field Guide
ABOUT / Part café, part florist, part boutique - Possum & Bloom is a love letter to community, coffee, and creativity. It’s the dream of a barista-turned-baker-turned-florist, Emerald Michael, who pulled all her passions into one space, creating somewhere that feels both familiar and fresh. The name itself a nod to her Nan, "Possum" (her nickname for her Nan) and "Bloom" a tribute to the florals at the heart of the business.
Studio Art Trail — The Field Guide
Every piece of art begins somewhere - a quiet studio, a kitchen table, a converted garage - places most of us will never see. Rooms that smell of turpentine and hum with radios, scattered with fabric scraps, coffee cups gone cold, and sketches taped haphazardly to any available wall space. Places that hold the mess, the chaos, the making - the real beginnings of creativity. It’s where the magic happens.
Rosabella Threads — The Field Guide
Just when Dianne Tatham thought she’d finished raising children, she found herself, once-again, up at night bottle-feeding babies. Only now, her babies had hooves, curls, and were surprisingly prone to bleating. For locals Dianne and her husband Peter, who have been running their Angora goat stud at their Merritts Creek property just north of Toowoomba for nearly two decades, kidding season is both a joy and a juggling act.
Tonic Bar & Lounge — The Field Guide
ABOUT / The latest arrival on the city’s after-dark scene, Tonic Bar & Lounge, comes from the team behind Cork & Lever - and it’s already adding a fresh new layer of style and energy. Taking over the space that once housed 4 Brothers Brewing, this sleek lounge blends laidback vibes with elevated drinks, delicious eats, and just the right amount of late-night buzz. The result? It’s equal parts social and stylish - the kind of place where you can sip, snack, and still hold a conversation.
At home with. . . Bec Statton — The Field Guide
“We needed something that would carry us through the teenage years and possibly beyond,” Bec says. When the property came up, off-market, [and] a little out of budget, but ticking all the right boxes - they didn’t hesitate. “We fell in love with the garden, the character, the concrete kitchen bench,” and as Bec says, “the rest is history." The house is a Queenslander - full of charm, with high ceilings, generous proportions, and the kind of character that can’t be replicated.
Polo on the Downs — The Field Guide
The history of polo itself stretches back more than 2,000 years, and as with all great things, its precise origins are somewhat . . .hazy.Most agree it was first played in ancient Persia (in what is now the Middle East) - part military training exercise, part royal pastime - before then spreading across Asia, and over the centuries, making its way to India, where British colonial officers encountered it in the 1800s and brought it back to England.
A Truffle Affair — The Field Guide
Truffles, a type of fungi that grow underground near the roots of specific trees, are highly prized for their intense aroma and rich, earthy flavor, making them a gourmet delicacy and fetching in-excess of three thousand dollars per kilogram. What's surprising about this, is that we are in Ballandean, in Queensland, skeptically considered too far north and lacking the conditions needed for truffles to successfully grow.
Organic Pollution Monitoring: 15 Years of Innovation in UV Fluorescence
For over 15 years, Chelsea Technologies has been at the forefront of developing innovative fluorometers for real-time water quality monitoring. Through cutting-edge sensor technology, academic collaboration and securing competitive grants, we have played a pivotal role in advancing the use of tryptophan fluorescence as a key indicator of organic pollution and bacterial activity in aquatic environments.
Creative Mornings Makes it’s Big Return — The Field Guide
From secret garage artists to established names, from vibrant horticulturists to international innovators—Creative Mornings is officially making its long-awaited return to Toowoomba after a five-year hiatus. A space where creativity, conversation, and coffee collide, this global movement is all about bringing creative-minded people together to create a space for converstion, engagement and inspiration, all before the workday begins.
MelonFest ‘25: Juicy, Sticky, and Totally Worth the Road Trip. — The Field Guide
If (like us) you’ve ever wanted to see a small town turn into full-blown melon mayhem, this one is probably for you. The Chinchilla Melon Festival – aka Australia’s juiciest, most ridiculous festival – returns this weekend, bringing with it a whole lot of ‘slippery, seed-spitting, and seriously fun’ chaos to the Western Downs. Held every two years, this legendary event transforms the self-proclaimed Melon Capital of Australia into a playground of pink pulp.
JOYS OF SUMMER - The Field Guide
If you've ever been around me at the turning of the season (specifically, early December), you'll know that I adore Summer. You are, in fact, almost guaranteed to hear me, a skip in my voice, spruiking its praises. . . because Summer in Toowoomba is my favourite time of the year. I know, we’re supposed to say Spring.
The Conquering Skin Cancer Film — The Field Guide
It’s no secret that Australians have a love affair with the sun. From zinc-covered cricketers to endless beach days, it’s an essential part of our identity. But beneath the golden glow lies a sobering reality—Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world. The silver lining? (if you can call it that). Most cases are entirely preventable.
Toowoomba’s Tastiest Band Serving up Biscuit Beats at ConCon — The Field Guide
Hamish and Andy—Australia’s comedy legends and podcasting power duo—know how to bring the laughs. From unforgettable radio pranks to their smash-hit podcast, they’ve turned everyday Aussie humor into an art form.
Spotlight: Lannah Dunn — The Field Guide
If playing dress-up with her mother's jewellery collection as a child was a pretty good tip-off that jewellery would play a significant role in Lannah Dunn's future; it was growing up surrounded by women who instilled in her a love for art, history, and the performing arts - that really set it on fire. ‘Not just was jewellery something of beauty to wear, or behold.
Made to Move | Exhibition — The Field Guide
An exhibition led by local artist Nadine Reynolds, featuring collaborative pieces with fifteen emerging young artists, “Made to Move” blends vibrant paintings, detailed drawings, and embroidered silk works, creating a shared artistic dialogue between generations. Reynolds, celebrated for her acrylic paintings on silk, honours the creative vision of these young artists by bringing their expressive pieces to life on this rich medium.
Recipe: Mandarin Gin Spritz — The Field Guide
A zippy & herbal update to the classic Spritz. This recipe showcases the tart & earthy elements of rooibos tea and the slight sweetness of Mandarin, without dulling the bold dry gin. The Soda water brings effervescence and heightens the botanicals of the gin, making for a long and thirst-quenching springtime cocktail. The perfect Aperitivo for the warming months. A great option if you’re hosting a party and an easy way to impress your guests.
Christmas Bunnies Have Arrived at Grand Central (and They’re Kind of Adorable) — The Field Guide
According to Grand Central’s Marketing Manager, Julie Thompson, the Grand Bunnies are all about adding some lighthearted holiday fun to the experience. “It’s a way to bring a little surprise and joy to the season,” she explains. And it seems to be working—everyone passing by is snapping bunny-inspired selfies and scanning for prize entries. The Grand Bunnies will be stationed throughout Grand Central until Christmas, and they’re not the only holiday happenings in the mix.
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