mm33

I've lived in Toowoomba for almost two years now. Previously I've lived in the Blue Mts (NSW), Sydney, Brissy for a few years, Sunshine coast, Alice Springs, Overseas.

Toowoomba could be the most boring place I have ever lived.

Let me be clear, it's not all bad.

Everything is quite central. There are lots of supermarkets, a small little uni that is more like a Tafe, lots of doctors/pathology places etc. Heaps of churches and lots of fields where people play sport, if that's your thing.

You can do most things you need without having to travel for a long time. So in some ways life is easier than living in a capital city/regional area. Honestly, that's probably the best thing about Toowoomba.

Housing is cheap relative to the capital cities. But the place is being subdivided into units, and it seems that there aren't many houses left with any character (I know this is happening across Australia).

Traffic is absolutely intense in peak hours. Surprisingly so for a regional city.

The weather is something of a mixed bag. Winters are chilly, summers are hot. There is almost always a breeze blowing.

Queens park is lovely, and probably the nicest spot here.

Sadly, the place is very conservative. I didn't realize how much, or I probably never would have come here. People are generally very straight, and there is absolutely zero culture (don't let anyone fool you, there is absolutely nothing).

Perhaps the worst thing is that people aren't very friendly. Its not that they are rude, but they simply aren't interested in conversation beyond a trivial natter about the weather or sport. It seems to me that most people here already have their social networks and simply aren't interested in meeting new people.

Don't expect to come here and meet worldly people or folk who can engage in any kind of intellectual conversation.

Interestingly, the few people I have made friends with are also from other places (interstate/overseas). They've also expressed how difficult it has been to make friends in Toowoomba. So it seems I'm not alone in my sentiments.

It really seems that people here are fulfilled by going to church a couple of times a week, playing sport and shopping feverishly in the local shopping centres.

I have never got any sense of community at all during my time here. The city itself generally lacks life. There are often alot of cars on the main street, but not many people or energy. There is no vibe, no spark and the place feels stagnant.

There is zip, nada, nothing for someone a little outside the norm to do. Very little in the way of culture, music, entertainment.

If this place had a bit more culture, it might be kinda cool. But it has the enduring remnants of a 1950's Australia mentality that it doesn't seem to want to shake off.

Thankfully, there is a bit of ethnic diversity here, especially around the uni. So hopefully Toowoomba will grow and change in future years.