Allora’s growing profile as an equestrian hub could take an Olympic-sized leap under major plans to transform the showgrounds into a training venue for the 2032 games.
In March last year, the Queensland government announced Toowoomba would host equestrian competitions at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Allora Show Society is now hoping to seize on those fortunes with an ambitious project that could deliver huge economic windfalls to the small town.
Early plans propose building a brand new multifunctional stable complex capable of housing up to 60 horses, but designed to fold back and double as an event space.
Four undercover wash bays and unisex amenities are also planned within that facility under what the show society is calling stage one of their plan.
“Basically what’s going to happen is when they start developing Toowoomba, there’s not going to be any facilities for equestrian events in the Darling Downs that is to the stature of what they need,” Allora Show Society president Carol Lyall said.
“So they need a next location and Allora, with our plans, is the ideal place for Equestrian Queensland to bring those bigger events to.”
The venue would house one Olympic equestrian team in the two months before, during and one month after the games, and is being billed as a project that would deliver lasting economic benefits for Allora, home to about 1200 people, while cementing the town as an equestrian destination.
Allora is the home town of three-time Olympian Matthew Denny, who brought home a bronze medal from the Paris Games in 2024.
