The Texas Visitors Association

The Texas Visitors Association Inc. was formed in 1986 to promote tourism in our district.  Texas is currently part of the Southern Downs & Granite Belt Tourism Region.  The Southern Downs Tourist Association who manages this region is based in Warwick and our association is a member.

Through the SDTA we are able to promote our town and take part in their advertising promotions when applicable to this region.

Our association is responsible fo the development and printing of the Texas Visitors Brochure, whish is distributed through the Tourist Information Centres in surrounding towns and at travel shows like Brisbane Expo & Caravan & Camping Shows.

We have been responsible for having a tourist information outlet in Texas.  We provide tourist information, tourist brochures and touring guides from other regions, which we have made available in the Tourist Information Outlet next to Texas News.

We financed and constructed with the assistance of the Lions Club, the business directory sign on the approach to town in the Apex Park.  All our members can have their business advertised on this sign.  Spots on this sign are only available to financial members.  Design and payment for your sign is your responsibility.  The sign writers contact number can be found on the Directory sign.

On the last weekend in September, our committee organises a weekend festival of country music called ‘the Texas Country Music Roundup’ and this 3 day event is held at the Texas Sporting Complex.

We are also responsible for the ‘Welcome to Texas’ sign on the northern approach to the town and are constantly in touch with the council when we see the need for improved signage anywhere in our area.

We have iniatiated through the council a dumpsite for the convenience of all the caravans and mobile homes that are travelling through this area.  These travelers have increased with the opening of a new travel route known as the ‘Rural-Get-Away’.  This route continues on from the fossickers Way at Warialda in NSW, and passes through Texas, Inglewood, Millmerran and Dalby and ends at Mundubbera.  The Rural-Get-Away appeals to those travellers who want to avoid the heavy traffic on the Newell and New England Highways.  The Rural-Get-Away brochure is distributed and advertised in Tourist Information Centres and in the caravan and camping magazines.

With a donation of land from the Kemp family, we constructed the Beacon Lookout with picnis table and shelter shed on the Stanthorpe Road.

Our present project is the restoration of the old Riverside Freezing Works and Rabbit Processing building on Mingoola Road.  We feel that this attraction will give tourists an added incentive to stay longer in Texas.  This building has played an important part in the town’s history and is believed to be the only existing reabbit works left in Australia.  The Riverside Complex also houses a collection of antique motors and memorabilia from the ‘Bits & Pieces’ collection donated to our association by Texas identity Roger Wilson.

We would like to encourage all newcomers or new businesses moving to Texas to join our association.  The mebership fee for businesses is $55.  This entitles businesses to have two representatives at our meetings.  Individual membership is $11.  Our meetings are held in the front room at the Texas Memorial Hall on the 3rd Thursday of each month.