"In practical results accomplished, few explorers have excelled the work of Allan Cunningham, discoverer of the Downs, and there is no doubt we should recognise that the effect of his discoveries was to change the whole history of Moreton Bay. Only the growth of population and the developement of natural resources could make separation possible, and his discoveries brought to an end the convict settlement and hastened the establishment of the new State of Queensland. Coming from the South in 1827, Allan Cunningham discovered the Downs, and setting out from Brisbane the following year he found a way through the Range--Cunningham's Gap--which would allow the produce of the new area to reach the seaboard and the markets of the world, and thus paved the way for the pioneers who were to follow. Cunningham's report to the Government of the wonderful area he had discovered concluded with the very practical statement that 'they constitute a sound and valuable sheep pasture', an opinion that has since been verified.

The growth of the pastoral industry can be traced from it's infancy, when Patrick Leslie moved his stock north-ward, and reaching the Condamine at Leslie's Crossing, only 20 miles from Clifton, in June 1840, and early in July, he established his headquarters at Toolburra, the first station in what is now Queensland. We read that from June to December 1840, only three stations had been taken up and stocked. Leslie's stretching from Tabletop to Killarney, King and Sibley on King's Creek, and Hodgson and Elliott on Eton Vale; but we must bear in mind that there were three Leslie brothers, Dalrymple, Gammie brothers, Campbell brothers and Patrick Leslie took up a huge area sufficient to enable them to secure country for many of their friends.

In 1840, King and Sibley took up King's Creek, building a hut where the tankhouse stands today. The next year they moved up the creek to Pilton, and Frank Forbes, eldest son of Sir Francis Forbes, Chief Justice of Australia, and his cousin, Milburn Marsh were on 'Clifton', the name being chosen by Marsh in honour of his birthplace in the homeland. In 1843, David Forbes arrived and 'Clifton' was owned by the Forbes brothers from the end of 1841 or early 1842, until 1850, when it was sold to the Gammie brothers. Patrick Pinnock, another cousin, arrived on the Downs about 1844 and purchased 'Ellangowan', and later 'Pilton' was purchased from King and Sibley, and the three properties were united and managed together. Pinnock afterwards became Police Magistrate at Warwick and Brisbane.

In August, 1853, John Gammie died and his brother, George, sold all the properties, 'Clifton' passing to William Butler Tooth, with 10,000 head of cattle, at £3 per head, and that owner held the property until his death in 1876. After leaving 'Clifton', Sibley's name cannot be found in any work. Joseph King was married to a Miss Boulton (a name still well known in Toowoomba), in Brisbane 1843. Other sisters married Taylor, of Cecil Plains, Alford and Pitts, and this name is perpetuated in the town of 'Pittsworth'. After leaving 'Clifton', Mr. and Mrs. King lived at Jinghi Jinghi and Rochedale, and we read that Mrs. King had to help defend their homestead, Rochedale, against the attacks of the blacks. This station was eventually sold for £35,000, and we are pleased to find 'Clifton's' first settler and his wife enjoyed peace and comfort the evening of their existance. All the names of the old time owner's of 'Clifton' are perpetuated, the noted Forbes brothers being the only exception, King Street, Tooth Street and Parish of Tooth, Mount Sibley, Mount Gammie and Gammie Street, King's Creek, are notable examples.

The first general census was taken in 1846, and the Downs then had a population of 658--551 males and 107 females--and the question has often been raised as to the identity of the first of the 107 country women to reach the Darling Downs. Arthur Hodgson, who arrived here in September 1840, writes "Lady Hodgsn was the first lady resident of the district." Married in 1842, his wife accompanied him "to a place infested with blacks and bushrangers". Sir Hugh Nelson, representative of the Northern Downs and Premier of Queensland, 1893-1898, says that Mrs. A Hodgson, was the first to arrive, on May 29 1842, followed by Mrs. C Rolleston and Mrs. Gore. N.Bartly, author of two books dealing with the early days, writes, "Mrs. Pat Leslie was the first white woman to set foot on the Downs". David Forbes,B.A. owner of 'Clifton' and who arrived in 1843, writes "Mrs. Pat Leslie was the pioneering lady". John Campbell who took up 'Westbrook' in 1841, and wrote a history of the Downs, states, "Mrs. Pat Leslie came to the Downs in 1841, coming from Sydney in the 'Shamrock', but records show that that vessel was not in Australian waters at that time. Duncan McMaster Cameron, clerk of the Clifton Divisional Board in 1881, and as 'Ben Holt' wrote interesting articles for half a century, voted Mrs. McInnes first. Mrs. A Hodgson second, and Mrs. Thos Alford third. Allan McInnes arrived from Scotland in January 1839, with Colin Campbell and came north from Sydney in Campbell's party, Mrs. McInnes being the only woman in the party. Allan McInnes lived in the Warwick district 46 years after his arrival, and Arthur Morgan was one of the executors and had access to his papers. Lastly, we have Sir Arthur Morgan, a native of Warwick who followed his father as representative of that constituancy, he had no doubt as to the claim of Kate McInnes, who, he declared, was here in 1840 to cook the first Christmas dinner enjoyed by white people on the Downs.

Arthur Hodgson and his wife lived in great comfort at 'Etonvale' and entertained all who came most hospitably. Many of those who went to 'The Springs' (Drayton) to get their weekly mail, called in and spent the evening. Christopher Rolleston was a frequent visitor, and he too possessed a comfortable well furnished cottage and entertained any firends who came to visit him at 'Cambooya'. The Russel's had a good cottage at 'Cecil Plains', and at 'Tummaville' there was a nice residence for Mrs. Rolland, wife of Doctor David Rolland, and part owner with Domville Taylor of that station. There was also a good house at 'Yandilla', the Gore station, but the rest were little less than bush hut's, with rough accommodation and equally rough living. Phillip Pinnock's mother and sister, Charlotte, came to stay at 'Clifton' and the advent of these ladies (David brought his wife to 'Clifton' in 1847) had a civilising influence on the rough life of the pioneer.

In the 40's, Dr. Miles was resident of the Clifton district, and had a bush hospital at Ryeford, which was a boon to everyone requiring medical attention. Russel of Cecil Plains wrote, "February 1849--The 'Tamar' brought up the whole family of my neighbours at Clifton, at the head of which, was for her first visit to the North, the widow Lady Forbes, of our first Australian Chief Justice, the highly gifted Sir Francis Forbes". Russel again writing of 1843, "The beauty of the scenery and delicious atmosphere of the Darling Downs imparted that health to our cheerfulness, which no disappointment, loss, failure, nor bad markets could long extinguish. Eton Vale, Felton, Gowrie, Jondaryan, Jimbour, Yandilla, Tummaville, Clifton, Glengallon, Canning Downs, Toolburra, Ellangowan. There were henceforth six years of a period--the happiest that I have known. The round of visits, the hearty welcome, the unreserved faith in a neighbour's willing service, the scorn of thinking it a trouble, the laughing spirit of hope, in spite of panic and poverty, the jollity of inter-station visits

Where cheerful looks made every dish a feast,

And 'twas that crowned a welcome,

And what of the gentle, lovable Cunningham ?"

Before one settler had arrived at the new country discoved by him, worn out by his exertions, he had crossed the Great Divide, and a monument to his memory now stands in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney. The Downs Poet asks a question in his tribute to the Downs discoverer--

Across Death's stormy mountain ground

Beyond our fears,

Beyond our laughter,

What newer country hast thou found in the Here-after ?

G. Essex Evans.

His heart and hand were set to do their utmost in everything that related to the welfare of the colony, and had he performed no other public service during his lifetime, the discovery of the Downs would have given him a strong claim on the gratitude of posterity."