In the late 1840s, special schemes were created to bring in some 600 immigrants, all of whom had some kind of skill. This was important for a number of reasons. To start with, their skills were a welcome addition to the community, as they helped expand and develop various necessary trades.

Secondly, their presence ensured that society diversified, and did not consist purely of convicts. In many ways, this may be considered to be part of a critical mass plan, for by bringing in such skilled settlers, it was hoped that others too would be attracted to come and live in Queensland.

Pastoralism and agriculture began to become very real possibilities, and areas like the Darling Downs opened up not long after the establishment of Brisbane Town. This in turn led to some white settlement. In 1840, the Leslie brothers brought cattle and sheep to the downs, and set about making a living from this.

Wool became a major industry in the state, and was responsible for an economic boom. However, as is often the case, the boom was followed by a depression. The pastoralists of Queensland were subject to some very difficult times, with drought and rabbit infestation amongst the many problems they encountered. Eventually the industry stabilised, and once again became a financially viable proposition.

The sugar cane industry was very successful in the last century, with plantations using imported island labour to process the cane. This caused considerable racial tension between these workers and some of the white settlers, and the industry became a very volatile one.

Both Gympie and Charters Towers experienced something of the gold industry, with populations swelling when gold was discovered. Such mining activities also contributed to racial tension, as the majority of miners were Chinese, and the interaction between them and the Europeans often led to a great deal of animosity.

Gold continued to be discovered into the 1880s, in places like Mount Morgan, and there is no doubt that that this precious metal proved to be a vital ingredient for the overall well-being of the economy. This despite the speculative nature of such mining. Coal and tin were amongst the other minerals to be discovered and mined.

When Queensland acquired its own Government in 1859, they set up schemes to encourage immigration, thereby continuing the notion of the late 1840s, of actively bringing in suitable settlers. They wanted more farm labourers and other general workers, all of whom were deemed to be an essential cog in the wheel of any development that Queensland was to experience. Indeed, so successful was this policy, that by the 1880s, Queensland was receiving more immigrants than any other State in Australia.

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