THE BIG RIG VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

Where Country Meets The Outback

Unearth a fascinating past and enjoy a leisurely yarn with friendly locals in the tidy Queensland town of Roma – where country meets the outback.

As the capital of the surrounding Maranoa region of southwest Queensland, Roma offers a range of cosmopolitan conveniences, with boutique and specialty retailers, espresso bars and restaurants, cafés and pubs all within a few blocks of the centre of town. But despite it’s city-like creature comforts, Roma retains its true country charm, exuding warm hospitality and offering a swag of unique experiences to make the journey well worth your while.

Dig beneath the surface to learn about Roma’s rich history, and its bright future in the oil and gas industry at the Big Rig and Oil Patch Museum. Visit the largest cattle selling centre in Australia, or sample the Western Queensland Spirit at Outback Queensland’s first craft distillery featuring gin, vodka, rum and liqueurs. These are just a few of the highlights on offer.

To discover more about all there is to experience here, be sure to pay a visit to the Big Rig Visitor Information Centre. Here, our friendly and knowledgeable staff offer maps, guides, local insights, and the latest information about all there is to see and do in our diverse region. Our friendly team of local experts extend a warm welcome to all visitors.

While you’re here, pay a visit to one of our premier local attractions – The Big Rig – a living memorial to the pioneers of Australia’s oil and gas industry. Collect a souvenir or locally made product for loved ones back home, or refuel your energy with a coffee or bite to eat at our onsite café.

Drill deeper and discover the richness of Roma and surrounds with a visit to the Big Rig Visitor Information Centre.

The Big Rig Visitor Information Centre

Our centre is situated at the entrance to Roma’s premier attraction, The Big Rig, only a couple of kilometres from the town centre. As you pull off the Warrego Highway, you’ll enter the picturesque Big Rig Parklands, where several local attractions are set amidst landscaped lawns and gardens. At the front of the complex is a statue of John Machado, a pioneer of the local oil industry.

As you step inside our centre, you’ll feel welcomed by the warm hospitality of our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Bungil the Hereford Bull statue also greets you at the entrance. Pause for a photo with him, or with the Roma Outback Queensland sign to his left. At the front of the centre, a rigger cut-out provides another great backdrop for fun photos of your Outback adventures.

Once you’ve finished snapping your selfies, check out our extensive collection of brochures, maps and guides covering all that’s on offer in the Roma district and surrounding areas. Our team are happy to help you source the information you need and are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to local recommendations and advice. They can also assist with entry tickets to the Big Rig, located directly behind the visitor centre.

As its name suggests, the Big Rig Visitor Information Centre also showcases a range of oil and gas memorabilia, such as drill bits, belt buckles, oil samples, and a 3D diorama of gas pipelines. Photos depicting the history of the local oil and gas industry adorn the walls, along with information and images about another key natural attraction in the area – Carnarvon Gorge National Park.

Before you leave, be sure to browse our extensive range of souvenirs for sale, or enjoy a meal or drink at our onsite café, Beck’s Chopping Board, open seven days.

History Revealed

Beneath the surface of this tidy country town lies a rich history awaiting your discovery.

Did you know that during the Jurassic period, sauropods roamed these lands, and their fossils were some of the first dinosaur fossils discovered in Australia?

The first human inhabitants were the Mandandanji people, the traditional custodians of Roma. You can learn more about this ancient landscape, it’s secrets and hidden stories with Boobook Explore’s range of insightful, small group tours.

The municipality of Roma was established in 1867 and is named after Lady Diamantina Bowen (also known as Contessa Diamantina di Roma), wife of the first Governor General of Queensland.

In 1900, Queensland’s first natural gas field was accidentally discovered here, when gas started rising from a well being drilled for water. This led to Australia’s first gas pipeline being established, connecting the Roma gas fields to Brisbane in 1969. Thus began a new and exciting era in Roma’s rich history.

Visitors are invited to come and experience a slice of this history at The Big Rig. Daytime and evening tours offer opportunities to immerse yourself in the evolution of this now multi-billion-dollar industry. Experience the exhilaration of climbing the magnificent forty metre tower which offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Meander amidst the ancient red river gums and stand at the foot of the rigs, where you can gain a sense of the hope and ingenuity that helped shape the future of our nation’s oil and gas industry. Pay a visit to the Oil Patch Museum, where interpretive boards, audio panels and machinery displays offer historic insights and share the dramatic stories of local pioneers. Or visit in the evening for a twilight tour of the original rig used in the search for oil, and an outdoor theatre experience beneath a star-studded Outback sky.

A Swag of Local Attractions

Surrounding this iconic landmark are the beautiful Big Rig Parklands. This is the perfect place to take a break, with barbecues, playground and a duck pond. Here you’ll also find the Roma Miniature Express Train Station, offering miniature train rides on weekends between Easter and October (subject to volunteer availability). Within the grounds you can also visit the Lenroy Slab Hut, built from rough hewn cypress pine in 1893. Beside this hut is a flood boat and wood wagon, offering insights into bush living in a bygone era.

Agriculture is another key industry in this district. In fact, Roma is home to Australia’s largest cattle selling centre, with over 400,000 cattle passing through our saleyards each year. If you’re visiting on a Tuesday, take a tour of the bustling Roma Saleyards, learn from local graziers about the industry, and marvel at the fast-paced prowess of the auctioneers. At the Val Harms Roma Saleyards Interpretive Centre, you’ll feel like you’ve joined a cattle drive in the long paddock, as you enter this state-of-the-art facility dedicated to sharing the story of the local cattle industry.

If you need to wet your whistle or satisfy your appetite for true local flavours, drop in to Western Queensland Spirit’s cellar door located on the edge of town. Let your spirits fly with a tasting paddle from Outback Queensland’s first craft distillery, or indulge in a signature grazing platter featuring some of the finest local flavours.

If you’re craving a little culture, head to the Roma Cultural Centre to check out the impressive three-dimensional clay mural, offering a concise and intriguing overview of the history, industry and culture of the Roma district. Developed by local artists John and Maureen Morrison, this striking, 18 metre square sculpture includes seventeen local elements interpreted through an audio and moving light presentation.

Accessibility

The helpful staff of the Big Rig Visitor Information Centre have undergone accessibility awareness training and offer a warm welcome to all visitors.

The Big Rig Visitor Information Centre is located just off the highway on the edge of town, at 2 Riggers Road, Roma. Whether you arrive by road, plane, train or bus – getting here is part of the adventure! Roma is about a five-and-a-half-hour drive northwest of the capital city of Brisbane. Rex Airlines operates regular passenger flights to Roma from Brisbane and Charleville, and Greyhound Australia offers regular coach services to the region. Queensland Rail’s Westlander service connects Brisbane and Charleville, stopping at several destinations within our region, including Roma. Hire car outlets and the Roma Taxi service can also help you get about town with ease.

At the time of publishing, our centre’s operating hours were 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. We are closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. To confirm current hours or for any other enquiries, please feel free to contact us on 07 4624 0204.

For those arriving by vehicle, accessible car parking is available within approximately fifty metres of the centre entrance. Our Visitor Information Centre is all on one level, with a wide doorway and easy access for wheelchair users and guests with limited mobility. An accessible bathroom with braille and tactile signage is available onsite, within the centre. The surrounding Big Rig Parklands has plenty of grassy areas suitable for toileting assistance animals if required.