chinchilla is a small town of 3,100 people in queensland, australia. it is 294 kms west of the state capital brisbane. the chinchilla area was first explored by europens when alan cunningham made his journey from sydney to explore the darling downs in 1827. farmers arrived to settle the area in 1848 and set up chinchilla station. this was part of the wongongera station which had been set up in 1846. it was probably named after the local aboriginal word "jinchilla" meaning cypress pine.