| Unique Stanthorpe accommodation TWINSTAR GUESTHOUSE & OBSERVATORY B&B with an astronomical observatory |
| We have this signboard in front of our guesthouse and it will look like this at night. |
| Daytime view of the wheels |
| Green dinosaur at Ballandean Railway Station |
Coming from the north (Stanthorpe):
You will see a concrete railway bridge over the highway about 17km south of
Stanthorpe. Drive another 3km and you will see a sign for 80km speed limit.
Soon after, you will see a Vineyard Cottages & Cafe sign (1). Take the exit
lane (right lane) and you will find the entrance to our driveway on your right.
The Guesthouse is 200 metres north from the entrance. If you see a green
dinosaur (4) on your left, you have missed the entrance!
(If you are to arrive after dark or a heavy truck is right behind you, it may be
easier to turn into Bents Road first and then make a U-turn to return to the
entrance.)
Coming from the south (Tenterfield):
Soon after you have entered Ballandean, you will see a post office (6) on
your left and a green dinosaur (4) and a railway station (5) on your right, then
a general store and Ballandean State School (3). Our entrance is only 200
metres from there on your left.
You will see a concrete railway bridge over the highway about 17km south of
Stanthorpe. Drive another 3km and you will see a sign for 80km speed limit.
Soon after, you will see a Vineyard Cottages & Cafe sign (1). Take the exit
lane (right lane) and you will find the entrance to our driveway on your right.
The Guesthouse is 200 metres north from the entrance. If you see a green
dinosaur (4) on your left, you have missed the entrance!
(If you are to arrive after dark or a heavy truck is right behind you, it may be
easier to turn into Bents Road first and then make a U-turn to return to the
entrance.)
Coming from the south (Tenterfield):
Soon after you have entered Ballandean, you will see a post office (6) on
your left and a green dinosaur (4) and a railway station (5) on your right, then
a general store and Ballandean State School (3). Our entrance is only 200
metres from there on your left.
(1) Vineyard Cottages & Cafe; (2) church; (3) Ballandean State School; (4) green dinosaur; (5) Ballandean Railway Station; (6) post office
| Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory 28146 New England Highway, Ballandean, Queensland 4382, Australia Email: twin-star@bigpond.com Phone: 07 4684 1135 |
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| Stanthorpe accommodation; Ballandean accommodation; Unique B&B accommodation in Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt in Queensland, Australia Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory |
General Information about Stanthorpe and Ballandean
History of Stanthorpe & Ballandean
Allan Cunningham, who is a botanist and explorer, discovered the country where Stanthorpe is located. Stanthorpe was founded by tin minors,
who came from many countries to mine tin since the "tin rush" in early 1872. Stanthorpe literary means "tin town", as Stannum is Latin for "tin" and
thorpe is Middle English for "town."
While the first (table) grapes were planted at Ballandean around 1840, it was not until 1931 that they were used to make wine. Since then,
wineries gradually have grown to emerge and Ballandean is now recognised as a premier wine producing region on the Granite Belt.
Climate
At an altitude 800~950m, the Stanthorpe and Ballandean area, also known as the Granite Belt, is frequently "the coldest area" in Queensland.
From frosty winter to fresh summer, this area displays four distinctive seasons with unique characters.
Industry
The main industry today includes agriculture such as apple / stone fruits / vegetable productions, and cattle / sheep grazing. Recently, the
Stanthorpe and Ballandean area is the centre of a booming wineries with more than 50 wineries. Wine and tourism are very important part of the
area's economy. There are great national parks nearby including Girraween National Park, where visitors can marvel at massive granite outcrops
and balancing boulders. A wide range of accommodation places from caravan parks, B&Bs, motels, guesthouses to luxury cottages can be found
in Stanthorpe and Ballandean.
History of Stanthorpe & Ballandean
Allan Cunningham, who is a botanist and explorer, discovered the country where Stanthorpe is located. Stanthorpe was founded by tin minors,
who came from many countries to mine tin since the "tin rush" in early 1872. Stanthorpe literary means "tin town", as Stannum is Latin for "tin" and
thorpe is Middle English for "town."
While the first (table) grapes were planted at Ballandean around 1840, it was not until 1931 that they were used to make wine. Since then,
wineries gradually have grown to emerge and Ballandean is now recognised as a premier wine producing region on the Granite Belt.
Climate
At an altitude 800~950m, the Stanthorpe and Ballandean area, also known as the Granite Belt, is frequently "the coldest area" in Queensland.
From frosty winter to fresh summer, this area displays four distinctive seasons with unique characters.
Industry
The main industry today includes agriculture such as apple / stone fruits / vegetable productions, and cattle / sheep grazing. Recently, the
Stanthorpe and Ballandean area is the centre of a booming wineries with more than 50 wineries. Wine and tourism are very important part of the
area's economy. There are great national parks nearby including Girraween National Park, where visitors can marvel at massive granite outcrops
and balancing boulders. A wide range of accommodation places from caravan parks, B&Bs, motels, guesthouses to luxury cottages can be found
in Stanthorpe and Ballandean.