A cold front has dumped record levels of snow on parts of Australia. Queensland, known as the sunshine state, received what could be its most significant snowfall since records began in 1984. While eight centimetres may not sound like much, the state rarely sees any snow – the previous record was five centimetres.

Snow is more common in New South Wales. Towns in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, experienced power cuts and road closures.

snow australia
A train passes through snow at Blackheath Train Station in Katoomba, New South Wales Brett Hemmings/Getty Images
snow australia
A mother and a son visit the Botanic Garden as snow falls in the town of Orange, New South Wales Saeed Khan/AFP
snow australia
A car makes its way from Vittoria towards the town of Orange in New South Wales Saeed Khan/AFP

Australians have taken to Twitter to share their delight at the rare snowfall.

Flying over Southern #NSW #Snow #Australia to #Sydney . What a view !!! pic.twitter.com/n20hpQvdWb

— Lukey  (@t0xicsn0w) July 17, 2015

Wallangarra, Queensland looks amazing dressed in #snow!

📷 thx to Elana Scott via @HigginsStormCh pic.twitter.com/M4iLg3PoWm

— SNOWSEARCH australia (@SNOWSEARCH_aus) July 17, 2015

Winter in Australia taking a bizarre turn... wombats in the snow. From @smh http://t.co/hBUeQMNOh5 pic.twitter.com/CGt8WiTXMZ

— Christina (@CLeeBrisbane) July 17, 2015

Fab pic by @BrendanEsposito of guy in Oberon in shorts & shirt clearing thick snow from car #australia pic.twitter.com/xkZqkmJT2B V @lucyrickard

— Liv (@mmechomski) July 17, 2015
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