All eyes were again on the skies when Stanthorpe and Tenterfield's accommodation were almost booked to capacity this time last week, as snowfall promises etched closure for the first few days of August.
The eventuality, apart from streams of hopeful visitors, were short-lived but exciting falls in Pozieres, north west of Stanthorpe town, with local Lisa Slater telling us that "the snow fell for approximately an hour from 2.46pm to 4pm and was settling on the ground" on August 2.
"It was absolutely magical to watch," she told our newspaper. "We were in awe of how big and fluffy the flurries were and it came down thick and fast leaving more than one centimetre on the ground at the end."
The family had a cousin visit from New Zealand at the time who said "it was decent snowfall".
Applethorpe's Christmas Farm also went online to speak of the wonder of snowfall to their part of the Downs, making for a type of "Christmas in August," they said.
That night, the snowfall was hoped for but Ms Slater, it was "too warm" and then only rained.
On Sunday August 3 she described "blue skies with a chilly wind" while Granite Belt locals woke to news of significant falls in Armidale, three hours south of Stanthorpe.
"The snow has definitely passed," Ms Slater said on August 3. "(But) it was a rare event. I have been here for nearly 40 years and it’s the first time I have seen the snow falling (during the day) as the last drop in 2015 was during the night."
Her children, Aoife, 2, Caitlyn, 9, and Keiva, 7, were thrilled, and no doubt had much to talk about at Pozieres State School on Monday, where two attend.
"Aoife was running around screaming 'snow, snow' as she was playing," Ms Slater told us. "Caitlyn said the snow was awesome and fun, and the best experience of her life. Keiva said the snow was delightful and so much fun."
The two-year-old also decided that the snowfall was "tasty".
Leading into last weekend and according to booking.com, Tenterfield only had three available locations, being 90% booked out while Stanthorpe was 98% occupied with only one property available as of August 1.
"The anticipation of snow always brings people far and wide and Tenterfield has become a buzz with curiosity," said Kat Davis, President of the Tenterfield Chamber of Commerce and Business. "My own accommodation has been back to back since Easter it seems that travellers are discovering Tenterfield and enjoying all the experiences that it offers."
In Armidale, the girl band Nine Year Sister had enjoyed their own winter wonderland, also posting online about the memories made.
