Here in the Valley of Lakes, your needs for facilities and services are well covered...

Close to Brisbane and five major regional centres, you can be assured that your everyday and specialist needs for a range of services and facilities are most accessible and able to be met.

Esk is a rural Shire on the move, and although well established with a good range of amenities, it gains new strengths with every month that passes.

Medical
facilities include a well-equipped and staffed hospital with emergency room services, ambulance, outstanding local medical surgeries and doctors, a growing range of complementary health therapists and practitioners, disability centres, visiting specialist services, in-home and respite care, aged persons centres with multi-level care, Blue Nursing Services and Meals on Wheels .

Education
ranges from day care and preschool to High School, and includes an ever expanding range of in-school apprenticeships and TAFE partnerships as well as local traineeship programs. The University of Queensland Gatton campus is approximately a half hour drive from Esk.

Accommodation
is available through numerous hotels, motels, farm stays, B&Bs and caravan parks. Prices are refreshingly sensible compared to many city facilities.

Shopping…
Supermarkets, hardware and produce stores, local shops and services in the four larger townships in Brisbane Valley will take care of all your day-to-day needs.

In fact, with an increasing range of fashion, specialty items and food products becoming available all the time, many people find they save time and money by shopping locally most of the time. Often, there is no need to leave the Valley for months on end. Yet Ipswich, Gatton, Toowoomba, Morayfield, Redbank Plains and Indooroopilly shopping centres are all well within an hours drive.

Social Activities…
An abundance of special interest and sporting clubs, cultural events, art and crafts groups, Masonic Lodges and RSL centers, Show societies, numerous fundraising auxiliaries, an active Arts Council, live theatre, music, art shows, markets, movies, a community radio station, and a renowned community choir, plus much more, means a great variety of activities for everyone in the community.

If you are into dining and good food, there are numerous good a la carte restaurants, bistros and cafes, with new eating spots opening up all the time. And of course, there is latest release movies every second Saturday night on the big screen at Toogoolawah’s Picture Theatre, Alexandra Hall.

Trades and Services…
Of course there are trades and professional services available locally or within easy access, to meet all your needs. We have everything here from electricians, plumbers, builders, water diviners, cabinet makers and carpet cleaners to lawyers, accountants, pharmacists and watchmakers.

Valley of the Lakes Events and Happenings…

Markets
Fernvale markets – every Sunday, Primary School grounds
Esk markets – every Saturday morning, Heap Street

Toogoolawah markets – every 2nd Saturday morning, Apex Park
Esk Lions Club markets – every 2nd Sunday, crn Ipswich and Middle Streets
Toogoolawah Cattle Sales – every 2nd Friday

Events
March Esk Picnic Races, Toogoolawah Campdraft, Arts Awards and Exhibition, Fernvale Campdraft

July Rail Trail Fun Run, Mater Race Day
August Spring Fair, Caboonah Homestead Open Day
September Weekend 1000 Golf Tournament at Esk

October Esk Outback and Country Music Festival, Masters Equestrian Games