Darling Downs

The Darling Downs is a farming region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland, Australia. It is in the drainage basin of the Condamine River and its tributaries.

The landscape is dominated by rolling hills covered by pastures of many different vegetables, legumes and other crops. Between the farmlands there are long stretches of crisscrossing roads, bushy ridges, winding creeks and the odd head of cattle. Other notable features include irrigation systems, windmills serving as bore pumps to get water from the Great Artesian Basin, the odd light plane crop-dusting and scattered remants from a bygone era of early exploration and settlement.

The principal town is Toowoomba about 140 kms. west of Brisbane. Other major towns situated on the Downs includes Warwick, Oakey, Clifton and Dalby. On the northern boundaries of the Downs are the Bunya Mountains and the Bunya Mountains National Park. To the south lies the ridges and mountains of the Granite Belt.

The Darling Downs were first explored by Allan Cunningham in 1827. Patrick Leslie moved into the Darling Downs in 1840 establishing a sheep property at Toolburra on the Condamine River.

The region is popular with tourists becauce of many historical and heritage attractions. The New England Highway, and the Warrego Highway traverse the region.