history
Australian Pioneers
Cressbrook was settled on 15 July 1841 by David Cannon McConnel and was the first run to be taken up outside the 50-mile limit to the penal colony of Moreton Bay (then part of New South Wales). His wife, Mary McConnel, was responsible for establishing the first school in Queensland which was located at Cressbrook, and the first children’s hospital in Queensland, now known as the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
There are a number of landmarks and establishments named in honour of David and Mary, as well as a number of their descendants, whose respective contributions to society had an extraordinary impact on the early development of agriculture, healthcare, education, women's rights, and anthropology in Australia.
The McConnel family at Cressbrook have continued to maintain a rich and affectionate intergenerational relationship with the local community, the Dungibara people who still live in Toogoolawah, and many organisations and industry sectors of which the McConnel family had worked with or contributed to over the past 185 years.
Early Days at Cressbrook
Cressbrook was home to the first Hereford stud in Queensland (the second in Australia) established by David McConnel through the purchase of cattle from the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) in the 1840s, as well as the importation of shorthorn cattle from England which saw him recognised as a pioneer in the Australian agricultural industry.
Over 200 people lived and worked at Cressbrook at the turn of the 19th century, with some buildings still remaining intact on the property today.
Cressbrook Condensed Milk Factory & Toogoolawah
In the late 1800s, David & Mary’s eldest son, James (‘Harry’) McConnel saw an opportunity to utilise the land at Cressbrook for dairying and subsequently established the Cressbrook Condensed Milk Factory in 1898, which was the first condensed milk factory in Australia.
Closer settlement to the factory saw the establishment of the township of Toogoolawah in 1904 on land donated by James, which was named by him after the location in Brisbane (near Bulimba House) where he was born. The factory was sold to Nestles in 1907.
Whilst the main factory burnt down in the 1950s, the original packing shed is now used as the Somerset Regional Art Gallery, The Condensery.
Contact Us
Cressbrook Station is a privately owned family home and working farm near Toogoolawah in South-East Queensland, Australia. As a result, the property is not open to the general public, and any site visits are strictly by appointment only.
For more information about the McConnel family, or the history of Cressbrook Station, please contact the team using the contact form below.
