A PUB fire, justice for a murdered school girl, the sale of an iconic Towooomba business... 2017 has been a big year for news.

Here, The Chronicle takes a look back at the big moments that shaped the year - the highs, the lows, and the inspirational stories that shaped Toowoomba this year.

1. January structure fires

BLACKENED scars were burned into the city's landscape in a seven-day period which saw a number of structure fires in January.

Glennon House on Ruthven Street was left a smouldering pile of ruin while a colonial home on West Street burned to the ground just days later.

Both sites have since been demolished and cleared.

READ MORE: Fires leave pieces of Toowoomba's history in ruins

2. Puppy farm

THE emaciated state of 81 dogs and 10 cats seized from a rural property near Goondiwindi stunned the state after a police search warrant in January.

The alleged property owner and puppy farmer is still before the courts, but the RSPCA has since managed to re-home the majority of the animals after extensive treatment and rehabilitation.

READ MORE: Puppy farm dogs 'had been seized before': RSPCA

3. Justice for Lachlan Percy

TWO years after a promising young footballer was killed in a shocking car crash, the driver was revealed to be another young man that should never have been behind the wheel.

Jake Andrew Gary Cooper, now 21, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while excessively speeding.

The Toowoomba District Court in February heard Cooper, who had been 19 at the time, had been stripped of his licence five weeks before the crash when he blew 0.143 per cent when intercepted by police.

Cooper was sentenced to four and a half years jail, to be suspended after 16 months served, and expressed to the court his ongoing remorse and grief at the fatal crash.

READ MORE: Fatal crash driver taken off the road for seven years

4. Wellcamp milestone

THE nation's newest airport chalked up another milestone with the first domestic freight flight taking off from Wellcamp headed to Weipa in the state's Far North in March.

Later in the year, sense finally prevailed in November when the airport was renamed the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, putting to rest the confusing "Brisbane West" moniker it had had since it opened two years ago.

READ MORE: Historic flight takes off from Wellcamp airport

5. Overseas junkets

THE Toowoomba Regional Council's overseas junkets were thrust into the spotlight when The Chronicle in March revealed how many international delegations were being planned for the year.

Mayor Paul Antonio was headed to Japan, Singapore and South Korea, and had been slated to be aboard TSBE's mission to Hong Kong, but that was later postponed.

While the council defended the value of the junkets, The Chronicle's coverage triggered a change at City Hall: Going forward, a report would have to be compiled within weeks of the trip explaining how it would benefit the Toowoomba region.

READ MORE: Mayor plans 4 overseas trips to Korea, Japan and beyond

6. Grand Central's grand opening

THOUSANDS of shoppers revealed their appetite for a bargain at Grand Central's second-stage opening day in March.

Crowds formed from the early morning to storm the new shops and experience the centre which has transformed Toowoomba's retail sector.

Subsequent openings throughout the year have kept residents coming back for more.

READ MORE: Grand Central reveals new outdoor area, dining precinct

7. Inland Rail

DECADES of lobbying and political pressure applied to successive federal governments paid off in May when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's budget delivered $8.4 billion for the Inland Rail project.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio hailed the funding a win for the region, with the project expected to generate thousands of jobs during its construction.

But the project has been shrouded in controversy since Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester announced the government's preferred rail corridor through the Condamine Floodplains.

READ MORE: Why Inland Rail build could be more than year away

8. Brett Forte

HE will be remembered as a heroic police officer whose actions saved the life of his partner and whose killer would eventually die after a siege.

Senior Constable Brett Forte, of the Toowoomba Tactical Crime Squad, was killed on May 29 after trying to stop known thug Ricky Maddison.

Snr Const. Forte's heroism has been etched in Toowoomba, with a memorial plaque bearing his name and his service to the community forever remembered.

READ MORE: Police officer Brett Forte remembered as loveable larrikin

9. Amigo's Fire

IT WAS known for its margaritas and Mexican feasts, a popular starting point on nights out and a casual but festive place to catch up with friends.

Then a June inferno razed Amigo's Bar and Grill and Adrenalin Climbing Gym.

The fire caused more than $5 million damage to the neighbouring Quest Apartments which is set to re-open.

Amigo's staff were thrown a lifeline with variations of the restaurant now operating out of three other Toowoomba hotels.

Adrenalin is yet to reopen in the city.

READ MORE: Amigo's owner speaks out at heartbreak over CBD inferno

10. Burke and Wills redevelopment

IT WAS smiles and celebrations when McNab was revealed the winner of the multi-million Burke and Wills Hotel redevelopment tender in July.

The $10 million redevelopment on Ruthven Street in the CBD is surging ahead, with a reopening date set for 2018.

READ MORE: Take a look inside the Burke and Wills Hotel

11. Oakey class action

LAWYERS for more than 450 Oakey residents filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Defence seeking at least $200 million compensation over contaminated groundwater supplies.

Litigation backers IMF Bentham in March gave unconditional funding for the lawsuit led by Shine Lawyers which was filed in court in July.

READ MORE: $200m Oakey lawsuit is final step towards starting over

12. Hot cop

HE WAS the bearer of the cheeky grin that set hearts aflutter right around Australia, and he lives in our backyard.
Mason Jago became an internet sensation when the sneaky selfie he snapped on a reporter's phone went viral in August.

READ MORE: Like! Internet lights up over gorgeous Gatton cop

13. Chronicle takes a stand

FOUR months before same-sex marriage became legal in Australia, The Chronicle's editor urged readers to vote Yes on the divisive issue.

The front page in August introduced two pages of extensive views and coverage on the issue when the Federal Government announced the national postal survey.

Gay marriage was legalised in Australia in December.

READ MORE: Editor responds to same-sex marriage opinion piece

14. Justice for Jayde

TWO years after smiling schoolgirl Jayde Kendall was killed and her body left dumped in an Upper Tenthill paddock, her killer was jailed for the heinous crime.

Brenden Jacob Bennetts had admitted to Jayde's manslaughter - a plea rejected by the prosecution - but a jury in September found he had intentionally killed the Gatton teenager.

Bennetts was sentenced to life in jail.

READ MORE: Jury retires in Jayde Kendall murder trial

15. Supercar dream

DREAMS of Toowoomba hosting the V8 Supercars were pulled back on track when TSBE revealed plans for a track at Wellcamp in September.

The project needs $40 million in funding, according to TSBE.

READ MORE: How Toowoomba can finally reach its V8 Supercar dream

16. Weis sale

THE iconic Weis business sold to Unilever in August in what was hailed an end of an era for the 60-year-old Toowoomba company.

Les Weis granted The Chronicle a rare interview where he spoke of how the company rose to prominence, producing ice cream bars that are the taste of summer and a national icon.

READ MORE: Iconic Weis bar sale sign of region's economic strength