Durham Downs Station

Established prior to 1873,[3] the property was producing quality cattle for market and Messrs McGregor and Co., who owned the station, sold a batch of 205 bullocks and cows in 1875 averaging a price of about A£11 apiece.

[3] The station was advertised as being composed of 42 blocks with an area of 2,456 square miles (6,361 km2) containing over 14,000 head of cattle, 2,500 sheep and 309 horses.

Kidman lost over 75,000 head of stock on all of his properties through the channel country including Diamantina Lakes, Glengyle, Innamincka and Sandringham Stations.

[12] The southwest of Queensland was again gripped by drought in from 1927 to 1929; despite some light rains Durham Downs was still in poor condition with little feed available for stock.

[15] In 1945, feral horses, known as brumbies in Australia, whose numbers had steadily increased during the period of World War II, were now overgrazing in the surrounding area leaving little feed available for cattle.

The floodwater took 6 weeks to reach the South Australian border, but the creek was soon impassable at Durham, Innamincka and Nappa Merrie crossings.

[18] More severe floods occurred in 1950 when the Cooper again broke its banks causing huge washaways[19] and delays in rail traffic.

[24] Centenary celebrations of the Kidman acquisition of the property had to be postponed in 2010 and again in 2011 after Cooper Creek flooded following heavy rain events.