Roma was the first place in Australia to discover petroleum and gas in 1900, when a water bore intersected a natural gas field. Because of this fact it is most appropriate that the Oil & Gas Museum is located here.
The museum provides a window not only into the more distant history of the oil and gas industry of the 1900s, but also houses a fascinating collection of industry related objects, photographs and stories. There are also some very interesting multi-media exhibits that are well worth taking a look at. There is also a night show put on at the museum that is well worth the extra effort of an evening return to the museum.
Roma, and the wider region is renowned for cattle production and Roma's Cattle Sales are the largest in Australia. The cattle sales are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the sale yards have raised walkways all around them to provide visitors with an excellent vantage point over the sales.
Roma can also boast another first (in Queensland this time), Roma's winery- Romavilla, has been operating since 1863 and is the oldest winery in Queensland.
The winery is well known for it’s quality fortified and sweet white wines and visitor’s are always welcome to sample them.
Visitors to Roma quickly become aware of the numerous bottle trees growing in town. Hero's Avenue in Roma is lined with more than 100 bottle trees, one for every soldier from this region who lost his life in the great war of 1914-1918.
Roma is the best place to be during Easter with fun for everyone and some real country entertainment to boot. Roma's Easter in the Country Festival offers an action packed program for the whole family. The Easter Parade will be a trip down memory lane for many as these kinds of parades seem to become fewer each year.
At 480km from Brisbane, and in the heart of the western downs region, Roma is the ideal base for your adventures in the outback.