Although wool and sheep prices improved in the early 1870s other problems, such as isolation, high carriage rates, shortage of labour and distances from markets remained serious.

However, by 1873 capital for improvements became available from southern investors which led to a greater consolidation of the pastoral industry particularly in Western Queensland.

A community of tents sprang up around a store established by Ernest Henry, probably in the vicinity of a former carriers camp on the Boulia Waterhole.

In the Queensland Post Office Directories it was described as a pastoral town on the banks of the Burke River with a population of 150.

The land was sold in 1917 to William Thomas Cobley Lilley and repurchased by James Edward Jones' family in 1939.

[1] The purchase of the block on the corner of Pituri and Hamilton Streets and the dissolution of the partnership with Burnell coincide with James Jones taking a mortgage on the property.

A further possibility is that the building was constructed as a store, by James Jones, with two entrances and a cellar for the storage of perishable goods.

[1] Boulia is a small township in far western Queensland, some 300 kilometres (190 mi) south of Mount Isa, with a population of about three hundred.

[1] Although the majority of the surviving buildings of the town date from the 1930s or later, there are some remaining early timber structures, such as the core of the Post Office (1885).

The only other evidence of stone construction nearby is the ruins of the Native Police Barracks some 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the town.

[1] The external walls of the house are of local sandstone and limestone with lime mortar weathered by the red sand.

[1] The house presently contains a wide variety of museum artefacts and display cases, demonstrating aspects of early western lifestyle.

At the front of the site is a large sign introducing the museum, and giving background information on the Stone House.

[1] Boulia Stone House was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.

Built in the mid 1880s, the house reflects the growth of Boulia and district after the consolidation of properties under the Crown Land Act 1884, is illustrative of the boom in sheep and wool production after the drought, and is evidence of the role of Boulia as a commercial centre for the district since that time.

Much of the early building fabric still exists, and the external stone walls in particular reflect the colours and textures of the region.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.