The park was donated to the City of Toowoomba in 1932 by local resident Samuel George Stephens (junior), after almost thirty years of developing the beautiful gardens.

During World War II (WWII) the park was used as a United States Navy (USN) submariners' rest and recreation camp.

Over the next 12 years he incrementally acquired another 44 lots creating an area of approximately 4 hectares, and removed existing houses from the properties.

The foremost intention was to test the propagation potential of certain species that may be commercially suitable for Queensland's fledgling agricultural industry.

Trials on ornamental trees for civic and domestic spaces were also undertaken and these gardens became places of passive recreation for the public.

[17][1] During the interwar period, as suburban expansion increased throughout Australian cities, residents moved away from the crowded inner-city suburbs and into newly subdivided housing estates.

Stephens imported a wide variety of exotic, rare and valuable tree, plant and flower specimens for his garden.

Contemporary reports described the gardens in 1932, as:[21][1]"a comprehensive collection of rare shrubs and plants, Japanese and Chinese importations ... there are 5000 gladioli, comprising 400 kinds, and 2000 daffodils, consisting of 30 varieties.

The Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Toowoomba, accepted the deeds, and his wife declared that "Mr Stephens had not spared time, money or experience in making the garden one of the most beautiful in Australia".

[21][1] To memorialise this generous donation to the city, commemoration gates were erected by the Council at the entrance to Laurel Bank Park in 1934.

[34][35][36] The official opening ceremony in March 1935 was attended by Stephens, who was given the honour of striking the first ball, and stated that he hoped "the members would have much happiness and pleasure in using them".

[32] When completed in 1938, the new clubhouse was described as "a compact, cream-painted building, finished with touches of brown ... it stands in a picturesque setting on green lawns, shade trees and flowering shrubs".

The campaign included advertisements placed in many newspapers, both state and interstate, as well as a publication of a promotional tourist guidebook that was first published in 1934, "Toowoomba: Queensland's Ideal Mountain Resort".

Toowoomba's charms included the cooler climate, scenic lookouts with panoramic views, and beautiful parks and gardens.

[44][1] Following the United States of America's entry into WWII, Brisbane became the strategic centre for planning for the South West Pacific Campaign.

Military camps and infrastructure were swiftly constructed throughout Queensland and thousands of US and Australian troops awaited deployment to the Pacific.

Toowoomba's residents welcomed the submariners and their hospitality was reported at the time in The Courier Mail:[50][1]"here the men from battle stations have from 10 days to two weeks' leave, single private rooms being provided free of charge.

In September 1945, his sister, Miss MR Stephens wrote a letter to the Town Clerk conveying her brother's sadness over the military buildings in the park, and stressed that these structures should be removed.

[1] In a public meeting in the Toowoomba town hall in September 1949, a decision was made to revive the garden competitions and festivals.

[60] The first "Carnival of Flowers" was held in October 1950 and was a resounding success, with more than 50,000 people lining the main street to watch the opening parade.

[68][69][70] The Laurel Bank Croquet Club continues to be a valuable community sporting facility close to the centre of Toowoomba.

[1] Two stone plaques, dated 30 October 1932 (park gifted to the city) and 30 June 1934 (gates opened), are mounted on the two central pillars.

The clubhouse is a rectangular, timber-framed structure, set on a stone base and sheltered by a hip roof with a projecting northern gable.

Evidence of its prefabrication is visible in the roof trusses (internally exposed at the south end of the building), paired eaves brackets, and notches in timber floor joists.

Many mature trees in the park demonstrate these practices, being cooler climate specimens imported from places such as China, Japan and South America.

[1] The Mess Hall (former) (1943–45) is an important example of the Australian and United States military's requirements for the provision of rest and recreation camps for troops during World War II (WWII).

Laurel Bank Park's collection of mature and established cooler climate trees is thought to be most extensive in Queensland, and as such is uncommon.

Many horticulturally important specimens planted by Stephens by the 1930s are considered significant, including several varieties of oak, cedar and maple trees and Chilean wine palms.

It demonstrates the principal characteristics of its type through its: formal site configuration; axial paths; open lawn areas; mature trees and landscaping, often planted in avenues; floral arrangements; formal entry gates; and the provision of passive recreation facilities (evidenced by a croquet clubhouse, croquet lawns, and a regularly-reconfigured floral display area).

The well-composed, attractive park provides a harmonious setting of mature exotic and native trees, flowering plants bedded in formal arrangements, hedges, lawns; original Commemoration Gates (1934); and open space; with views and vistas along landscaped avenues, axial pathways and from surrounding streets.