As a young man, he moved to this region and soon after become a pastoralist, holding land at Aberbaldie near Walcha in the New England district for around 3 years.
Around this time, Dowling began exploring in south west Queensland, tracing the Paroo and the Bulloo Rivers to their sources, and in 1861, established Caiwarroo and Eulo stations.
In a partnership with George Cox, with himself as the active manager, they leased over 3367 square kilometres of land in the Warrego district.
Dowling's brother, Vincent, led a posse of settlers including EO Hobkirk in search of Pimpilly.
From the 1890s to the end of his life, the economics of the time, and drought, saw his finances take a beating, along with complicated court costs over selections on Pillacawarrina.
He was a member of the Bathurst Anglican Synod, vice president of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, the Australian Jockey Club and the Stockowners Association, as well as councillor for the Tax Payers Union.