Queensland’s St George Region has taken home two Golds at the prestigious Grey Nomad Awards.
The region’s tiny town of Thallon and it’s 250 strong residents are celebrating having taken out not one, but two Golds at the awards, for Best Grey Nomad Friendly Town and Best Grey Nomad Experience in Queensland.
Balonne Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Magin says the recognition is a stellar example of how this small town turned its fortunes around.
In the 1990’s, when the passenger railway services ceased, the once-vibrant hub struggled to survive as jobs dried up and families left, Thallon faced the threat of becoming a ghost town – even almost losing it’s much cherished 4497 postcode.
Through innovative thinking and unwavering perseverance, Thallon transformed itself
into a must-visit destination for Grey Nomads and travellers alike, said Mr Magin.
With iconic landmarks like the giant statue of ‘William’ the hairy-nosed wombat and the stunning Thallon painted GrainCorp Silos, the town has captured the imagination of all who pass through.
“Congratulations to Thallon for this well-deserved honour!” said Mr Magin.
“As a Shire, we are delighted to once again be acknowledged for the unique experience our Shire presents to tourists and travellers in the region.
“We are so proud of what our region has to offer and these Awards are just another reason for travellers to come and visit our beautiful part of the world.
“The comradery of the recent Pub Choir combined perfectly with the iconic Thallon setting to showcase the people, mateship and quaint charm of the town.
“I would particularly like to thank the Thallon Progress Association for their diligent efforts in coordinating and managing the Thallon Pub Choir event, which also received a nomination in these awards.
“Recently, we invested $220,000 to upgrade the McGeever Recreational Campgrounds at the base of the iconic muralled grain silos in Thallon to further improve the experience our region offers to travelling visitors.
“We would encourage anyone looking to get away from the hustle and bustle to come out to our region and experience first-hand the award-winning tourist experiences our
Shire has on offer.”
The two new accolades come off the back of last year’s 2022 Best Grey Nomad Trail Award presented to the Region for its renowned Mungindi Sculpture Trail.
First run in 2019, the Grey Nomad Awards shine a light on regional and remote Australia by rewarding organisations and destinations, which cater to mature age visitors in an exemplary way.
