Discover Roma: Industrial History and Remembrance

Roma offers several ways to explore history and culture: the Big Rig focuses on the early years of Australia’s gas and oil industries, while the Val Harms Roma Saleyards Interactive Centre is dedicated to the livestock industry. There is also a place of remembrance for local men and women who lost their lives in the First World War, and church windows you can take a closer look at during a visit. This gives you the chance to plan a trip around different interests rather than focusing your stay on a single theme.

Gas and Oil History at the Big Rig

The Big Rig Roma takes you through the early years of Australia’s gas and oil industries. The development of these two industries offers a specific way to explore Roma. If you’re interested in industrial history, you’ll find a different focus here from the Val Harms Roma Saleyards Interactive Centre, which looks at the livestock industry.

The Big Rig also includes the 40-metre-high Big Rig Tower. Visitors can climb it by stairs or take the lift. The two options are clearly stated: if you want to climb the tower, you can choose between the stairs and the lift.

The Roma Visitor Information Centre is also located at the Big Rig. It is a central point for information about the Roma region and Outback Queensland. If, alongside exploring industrial history, you’re looking for information about these regions, you can plan to visit the information centre as another stop in Roma.

The Livestock Industry and Personal Remembrance

The Val Harms Roma Saleyards Interactive Centre presents the livestock industry in a theatrical format. This offers a different experience from the industrial history at the Big Rig. If you’re interested in the agricultural side of the regional economy, the Centre provides a distinct focus. The presentation gives you a reason to make the livestock industry a theme of your trip, without conflating it with the gas and oil history.

Another way to explore history is along the heritage-listed Avenue of Heroes on Wyndham Street. Plaques stand beside the individual bottle trees, bearing names for visitors to read. The avenue commemorates local men and women who lost their lives in the First World War. The focus here is on individual names and local remembrance, rather than the development of an industry. If you’re interested in places of remembrance, this is a clearly defined opportunity to engage with this history.

Leadlight and Stained Glass at St Paul’s

During a visit to St Paul’s Anglican Church in Roma, visitors can see 11 leadlight windows and 39 stained-glass windows. The two figures refer to different types of windows and different numbers; both are part of the visit described. If you’re especially interested in church art or glass windows, the church offers a specific cultural focus distinct from the economic and commemorative themes.

More destinations: Tarzali, Warwick, Booie, Banksia Beach, Palm Island, Coomera, Amamoor and Burleigh Heads.

For the broader travel overview: Queensland.