Davenport Downs Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | Late 1860s |
| Founder | John Costello |
| Headquarters | Diamantina Lakes , Australia |
Area served | Queensland, Australia |
Key people | Paraway Pastoral Company (owner) |
| Products | Cattle |
| Parent | Paraway Pastoral Company |
Davenport Downs Station operates as a cattle station under a pastoral lease in Queensland, Australia.
Description
Situated within Diamantina Lakes, Davenport Downs is positioned approximately southeast of Boulia and northeast of Birdsville, lying in the heart of Queensland's Channel Country.
As Queensland's largest cattle station and ranking fourth nationwide after Anna Creek station, Alexandria Station, and Clifton Hills Station, Davenport Downs, together with the adjacent Springvale station which is jointly managed, encompasses an area of . Both properties are under the ownership of Paraway Pastoral Company.
The terrain primarily consists of mitchell grass downs, supported by abundant water resources sourced from artesian bores tapping into the Great Artesian Basin, as well as from the Diamantina River and Farrars Creek. Seasonal inundation affects about one-quarter of the property, promoting enhanced pasture growth during wetter periods.
History
The pastoral lease was originally established in the late 1860s by pioneering pastoralist John Costello. Shortly thereafter, it was acquired by notable pastoral figure James Rutherford, who also held multiple other Queensland properties including Ingledoon, Ambathala near Charleville, and Burrenbilla near Cunnamulla.
Following Rutherford’s passing, the station was sold in 1913. At that time, it comprised a leasehold area of , featured two artesian bores, and supported a stock of 20,200 cattle, 340 horses, and 68 camels. Thomas Purcell purchased the property for £67,000; he was also proprietor of Galway Downs, Manilla, and Whitula stations. In 1925, ownership transferred to neighboring lessees Cooper and Trenerry. During this period, Davenport Downs covered an expanse of and maintained a herd of 17,000 cattle.
The property faced severe environmental hardships such as the drought experienced in 1932. By 1949, Davenport Downs was incorporated into an airmail route servicing remote outback stations across South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland.
In response to feral cat predation threatening native bilby populations in 1992, army sharpshooters were deployed to cull approximately 500 cats over three days. Subsequently, in 1995 part of what is now Astrebla Downs National Park was excised from then-owner AMP Limited to protect bilby habitats—an area supporting roughly one-third of Queensland's remaining bilby numbers.
Paraway Pastoral Company took ownership of Davenport Downs in 2009 and further expanded their portfolio by acquiring the adjoining Springvale station in 2011.