Land selection in Queensland
The initial political contest was between pastoralists and selectors led by the "town liberals" who desired that immigrants have an equitable right to small land holdings (known as closer settlement).
Closer settlement for agricultural purposes was promoted by the Queensland Government who desired settlement by immigrants to Queensland and exports of agricultural produce and raw materials such as cotton and wool to Britain.
No group (pastoralists or town liberals) held dominant control over land policy.
[1] Queensland governments developed the most comprehensive land legislation and settlement program in Australia in the nineteenth century.
Village settlement land files are held by the Queensland State Archives.
[4] With the opening of new settlement areas the first selections were managed by the relevant agent for that land district.
Their roles brought ordered processes and accepted administrative arrangement understood by the selectors.
[5] A proclamation in the Queensland Government Gazette detailed the level of annual rent and the portions of land available for selection and closing date and place for applications to be received.
Land orders (often received as an inducement to immigrate to Queensland) could be used in payment of the deposit for a selection.
[5] Having fulfilled all conditions, the selector could apply for freehold of the selection after the payment of the final rent installment and fees for the survey and the Deed of Grant.
Six months residence was mandatory and improvements including one-sixth of the area to be cultivated and fencing constructed were essential conditions.
They were entitled to select 1 acre (0.40 ha) for each ten shillings of improvements undertaken on the pastoral lease.
[7] Selectors paid annual rent to pay off the price of the land set by government.
Agricultural land could be converted to freehold in three years if conditions were fulfilled and the balance of the rents was paid.
Up to 1,280 acres (520 ha; 5.2 km2) could be selected as an Agricultural Farm and purchased (freeholded) after five years and the fulfillment of the residence requirements and investment in improvements.
District Land Commissioners continued to deal with applications for selection, forfeitures, rent assessments and reports of fulfillment of conditions.
[7] Specific selection types were introduced for land infested by prickly pear.
[7] The act dealt mainly with pastoral lease land which had been severely affected by the Federation drought.
[7] Section 33 allowed a freeholder to select land adjacent to their property and not have to meet the residential requirement.
[7] Under section 40 farmers could apply for an extension of a Grazing Farm lease if the land was not required for agricultural purposes.
Many of the estates came out of large successful pastoral holdings where the owner was prepared to sell in the 1890s depression.
