Heritage Treasures of the Toowoomba Region 2013 6791801HeritageTreasuresOfTheToowoombaRegion2013 | Page 30

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Part G
Future
Aspirations
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T
oowoomba is the major educational centre on the Darling
Downs, with many state and private primary and secondary
schools, some with boarding facilities. It also contains a leading centre
for technical education and a major university.
Some of these have a tradition stretching more than a century.
Others such as the University of Southern Queensland, although
more recent, have become an integral part of the Toowoomba
regional community.
The Farm
For many years this open space bounded by Beech Lane,
Taylor and Mort Streets has been associated with the adjacent
school, formerly Mort Estate School and more recently North
State School. Today ‘The Farm’ is a park administered by the
Toowoomba Regional Council.
The surrounding Mort Estate was Toowoomba’s first
residential development dating from 1862.
It is believed ‘The Farm’ was used as a horse paddock by
school children and later for sporting activities.
An archaeological dig by lecturers and students from the
University of Southern Queensland recorded an early well
on the site.
G2
Silver Ceremonial Trowel
On Thursday afternoon, 4 August 1875, His Honour Justice
Lilley used this trowel to lay the foundation stone of Toowoomba
Grammar School. It is silver-plated and bears the hallmark of
Atkin Brothers of Sheffield. The hand-engraved trowel with its
worked bone handle was returned to the school by the Lilley
family in 1955. It was used by the Governor of Queensland, Sir
Colin Hannah, when he officially unveiled the foundation stone of
the school’s Centenary Hall dining room in 1975. The occasion
marked 100 years since its first use. Twenty-five years later the
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Glen McCracken, tapped
the foundation stone for the Hugh Rose Centre. The trowel has
been used on three important occasions in the history of one of
Toowoomba’s oldest schools.
G3
University Ceremonial Mace
On 29 March 1993, the Toowoomba City Council presented
the University of Southern Queensland with its ceremonial mace
to mark the close ties between ‘town and gown’.
The mace was made by Hay’s Jewellers and features the
USQ Coat of Arms surmounted by the three-dimensional figure
of a phoenix surrounded by flames.
The shaft is made of locally grown cedar from the
demolished medical block of the Toowoomba General Hospital
and symbolises the healing of humanity through knowledge. It is
embellished with 38 garnets, symbolising the purity of learning.
All elements have local origins, with the woodwork and
jewellery work performed by two apprentices. Each worker
was judged Apprentice of the Year in their respective craft.
The garnets were faceted by members of the Toowoomba
Lapidary Club.
The ceremonial mace is a significant part of USQ’s academic
heritage, highlighting the university’s traditional regalia and its
close connections with the Toowoomba regional community.
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