Nineteenth century pastoral life on the Darling Downs comes alive in Grass Dukes and Shepherd Kings, an intimate exhibition of treasures. Explore the prized possessions, photo albums, planting journals, and other records once owned by the Europeans who settled in the Darling Downs from 1839. Popularly known as the ‘grass dukes’ and ‘shepherd kings’, they lived up to their image as antipodean aristocrats, erecting fine homesteads and grand stables, and transforming the landscape with exotic plants and gardens. Discover the lives of the early ‘squatters’ and their pastoral and political power in this State Library of Queensland travelling exhibition.

There is a free public talk by Dr Libby Connors in conjunction with this exhibition: 

http://user.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/component/jevents/eventdetail/6181/-/private-lives-on-the-colonial-periphery?Itemid=186

Image credit: Sir Arthur Hodgson, c.1855, daguerreotype photograph digitally altered, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, accession no. 28715.