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Jimbour is both a tiny town 238 km northwest of Brisbane, Australia and also the location of one of Australia's most gracious historical homes - Jimbour.
| In its early days Jimbour was one of the great
properties of the Darling Downs, stretching from the Bunya
Mountains to the Condamine River and from the present site of Dalby to
Jandowae.
As the Northern outpost of European settlement, Jimbour also holds a special place in Queensland and Australian history. It was the property from which Ludwig Leichhardt commenced his famous trek across western Queensland to eventually arrive at Port Essington in the Northern Territory. |
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Leichhardt's
subsequent reports on the splendid pastoral areas traversed by him on
his 3,000 mile journey resulted in many squatters from the Darling
Downs, New South Wales and Victoria following in his tracks and
occupying stations in Central and Northern Queensland.
Jimbour Station came into existence in 1841 when Englishman, Henry Dennis, settled in the area and took up the Jimbour run for Richard Scougall.
However, in about 1844, Commissioner Rolleston ordered a fresh apportionment of Jimbour, cutting Cumkillenbah and Cooranga from the property, and bringing the area down to about 211,000 acres. He reported to the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales on 25th May, 1844, that Thomas Bell's holding covered 22 miles by 15 miles (roundly 211,200 acres) with 12,000 sheep. His later report of May, 1845, spells the name Jimbour.
In 1844 Thomas Bell, an Irishman, purchased the property including all the sheep and cattle, for £3 000. At that time the property was registered as 'Gimba' or 'Jimba'- said to be the local Aboriginal word for 'good pastures'. Eventually the spelling evolved into Jimbour.
Jimbour remained the property of the Bell Family until 1881. During this period two homesteads were built, both of which survive to this day ( one in part only)
In 1881, ownership of the homestead area was separated from the station, the latter passing to the Darling Downs and Western Land Company Ltd. Neither the homestead area nor the surrounding station prospered.
After the decline of the Bell family fortunes, Jimbour fell into disrepair until it was purchased, and extensively renovated, by Wilfred Adams Russell and his wife, Millicent, in 1923.
The Russell Family, through the Russell Pastoral Company, have continued to maintain and improve the property since that time.
Whilst
Jimbour House is not open to the public (apart from planned events)
the extensive grounds and gardens around Jimbour House are open to the
public for viewing - weather permitting-
at the following times :
Large parties are required to contact Manager:
Catering and fully-guided tours can be provided but need to be confirmed in advance.
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