Goondiwindi experiences a semi-arid influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with hot summers and mild, relatively dry winters.

[8] The first British pastoralist to take up land in the area was Richard Hargrave who, in 1840, was employed by John Hosking to form a cattle station along the Macintyre River.

Hargrave took 5,000 head of cattle and formed the Gundi Windi (Goondiwindi), Callandoon, Wyemoo and Beeboo stations.

[3][4] Over the following years, the Bigambul resisted the occupation of their lands, attacking Hargrave's livestock and shepherds as well as those of other nearby colonists.

[10][11][12] In 1843, John Hosking became insolvent but Hargrave stayed on at Gundi Windi until 1844 when he was defeated by Aboriginal resistance and forced to abandon the property.

[13] Around 1848, Richard Purvis Marshall and his brother re-established the Gundi Windi pastoral station with the financial backing of Henry Dangar.

Frontier conflict with the Aboriginal people resumed until Frederick Walker and the mounted Native Police under his command arrived in 1849 to crush most of the opposition.

In July of that year, Walker and his troopers, accompanied by Marshall and other squatters, routed a large band of Aboriginal warriors at Carbucky, ten kilometres to the west of Gundi Windi.

It closed due to low student numbers about 1911 but reopened on 24 November 1913 as the Moogoon Road State School.

[20] St Mary's Catholic School opened in 1911 operated by the Sisters of Mercy providing for boarding and day students through Years 1 to 7.

[25] The Goondiwindi War Memorial was originally located in Herbert Street and was dedicated on 21 September 1922 by the Queensland Governor, Matthew Nathan.

Guided by Bill Wehlow,[28] in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gunsynd had 29 wins including the 1971 Epsom Handicap and the 1972 Cox Plate and came third in the 1972 Melbourne Cup.

The Newell, Leichhardt, Gore, Cunningham, Barwon and Bruxner Highways all merge at Goondiwindi or close by.

[45] Goondiwindi is a centre for agriculture, producing a diverse range of crops and fibres including wool and beef, cotton, sorghum, corn, wheat, barley and chickpeas.

The development of the park was the result of the closure of nearby Boobera Lagoon (approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Goondiwindi) to power boats in order to better preserve artifacts or evidences of indigenous culture.

[46] The Goondiwindi Town Council petitioned the Australian Government, which responded (through Environment Australia) by funding the National Heritage & Water Park, to make available skiing and boating facilities and to provide a focal point for tourism and recreation in the town and district.

Some 22 plant communities feature endemic species such as brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), belah (Casuarina cristata), Chinchilla white gum (Eucalyptus argophloia), ooline (Cadellia pentastylis), ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) and gidyea (Acacia aneura).

An outdoor stage in a tranquil bushland setting is used for performances and social events such as weddings and christenings.

A major sports highlight is the annual "Hell Of The West" triathlon, in February, which sees entrants from across the country.

An Australian rules football team, the Goondiwindi Hawks (founded 1980), plays out of the Riddles Oval and competes in the AFL Darling Downs competition.

Goondiwindi is portrayed as an outback town hosting the Dusty Truck 'n' Donut Muster, an annual motorsport, music, and food festival.

[55][56] The event turns out to be a trap to lure the protagonist to be sacrificed to a sinkhole in an attempt to bring about an "even muddier" promised land.