Adora Downs was once part of the enormous land holding of black soil rolling open plains which belonged to Sir James Tyson M.L.C., Australia's native born first self-made millionaire, a cattle king and bachelor who died intestate in 1898 aged 79 years.

It took the government until 1911 to sort out his huge estate, the land was surveyed into small holdings of 200 acres each, for closer settlement. The holdings were settled and the virgin soils ploughed with single and double furrow ploughs, drawn by draught horses and steered by farmers on foot. Today high-technical, wide span machinery is drawn by large computerised tractors.

The rich black soil is 60 feet deep and produces a wealth of cereal crops such as wheat, barley, sorghum, corn and sunflowers etc., along with hi-grade cotton, broadacre farming and beef cattle grazing adding diversity to the neighbouring holdings. There are several volcanic mountains in the area, Taylor, Tyson and Russell which span within close proximity of Adora Downs.

Adora Downs was purchased from the crown in 1911 by Erwin Charles Frederic, who later sold to William Wagner in 1927. The Wagner family commenced a successful milking dairy along with agricultural produce. After their deaths, their son, Frank and daughter, Annie both of whom never married continued to farm mainly beef cattle. After their deaths, Adora Downs was purchased in 1982 by Boyd and Gloria Smith. This was only part of Frank Wagner's holdings estate of $2.5m, which be bequeathed to the Methodist Church of Pitsworth.

After an eleven year drought on the Downs, Boyd and Gloria decided to share their paradise by diversifying into farm tourism.

Adora Downs Farm Stay is a uniquely Australian, family owned and operated business overlooking Queensland's magnificent Darling Downs and situated 30 minutes drive from the provincial city of Toowoomba and 2 hours drive from the capital Brisbane.

After many years of thoughtful and loving development, Adora Downs has established a popular international reputation for groups seeking a truly outback farm adventure. Starlit skies, brilliant sunsets and a variety of birds and animals create a happy environment and a peaceful and relaxed lifestyle. The domestic market also attracts business conferences, weddings and parties.

Adora Downs guests have the opportunity to stay in authentic historical farm buildings, offering cosy accommodation for groups of people. The complex also offers a camping park and backpacker accommodation for 70 guests.

Guests to Adora Downs enjoy hay rides, hill climbing, cow milking, collecting eggs, farm and native animals, picnic lunches with billy tea and damper, swimming pool, tennis court and three hole golf course. The bush barn provides hearty home cooked meals, a log fire and after dinner bush dancing and entertainment.

Historical buildings used at Adora Downs are...

• Willie Lodge (1911) was the first ripple iron home
• Annie Lodge (1911) was the first adze shed built to accommodate horse drawn harness gear and wagons
• Frankies Hut (1916) was a smoke house for their self-slaugtered meats
• The Dairy (1927) was the successful milking dairy
• The Workshop (1928) essential for handmade tools, working devices and repairs
• The Homestead (1935) was built as a replacement for Willy Lodge
• Bedford Lodge (1963) was a garage used for housing vintage vehicles

Other historic buildings purchased and relocated to Adora Downs.

• Maggie Lodge (1880) was a storage shed to the gracious Royal Hotel in Pitsworth built by Tyson Donnelly (a relative of Sir James Tyson) was moved to Adora Downs in 1956
• Tyson Manor (1901) was a neighbouring second farm house used to accommodate labourers (bag sewers and bag lumpers) at harvest time. Tyson Manor was moved to Adora Downs in 1962
• The Comfort Room was the laundry and a bathroom to Tyson Manor
• The Bush Barn (1930) was Penny's (Cole's) goods storage shed in Toowoomba. It was moved in three parts to Adora Downs in 1953
• The Office (1913) was the Biddeston Cheese factory office and was relocated to Adora Downs around 1931
• The camping area was formed in the ninety's, consisting of three former Queensland Railway wagons, comfort rooms, camp kitchen, and housing for backpackers
• The Hay Shed was built in 1986 for cattle fodder
• The Cattle yards (1915) are a reminder of their former hard working years. Within their rails stands the original corrugated ion lavatory now uniquely decorated to provide guests with a phone booth

" How did Adora Downs get its name". The Wagner family, after building their Queensland homestead in 1935 would stand on the western veranda and adore the Darling Downs panoramic view with the magnificent sunsets glowing over the horizon, hence they named the property "Adora Downs"