was first inhabited by the Githabul and Kambuwal peoples. These Indigenous people groups inhabited the land for ten's of thousands of years prior to European exploration and settlement. European settlement began when the land was first explored by Allan Cunningham in 1827. Cunninghams Gap and the Cunningham Highway were named after him. A number of large pastoral stations were established in the region: 1840: Ballandean Run () by Robert Ramsay Mackenzie 1842: Maryland Run () with a capacity of 24,000 sheep by Matthew Henry Marsh 1843: Pikedale Run () with a capacity of 24,000 sheep by Captain Pike 1844: Glen Lyon Run () by Alexander McLeod 1860: Folkestone Run () by Matthew Henry Marsh Nundubbermere Run Pike's Creek Run Terrica Run Waroo Run During the following decade, mining of gold, copper and tin brought permanent European settlement to the district. In 1881, the railway to Warwick was extended to Stanthorpe and then to the border in 1887, when Wallangarra was established. The countryside around the Granite Belt, after World War I, was given to some returning soldiers as gifts or payment for their services in the war. As such, many of the rural districts are named after battles that took place in France, such as Amiens and Pozieres. These places were, at one point, rather busy and well-populated, but as Stanthorpe grew and returned soldiers grew frustrated with farming, the districts eventually died as many families left. In some places, where there were once Blue Nurse outposts and many stores, all that remain are small primary schools, while in other districts the post-war past remains only in the name. The region's first wine grapes were planted in 1965. See also Stanthorpe, Queensland Darling Downs, Queensland New England, New South Wales Regions of Queensland Tourism in Australia References External links Granite Net web page Southern Downs Regional Council Granite Belt Wine & Tourism: a not-for-profit organisation that promotes the regions wine and tourism industry. At Our Table: The Granite Belt digital story investigating Granite Belt's Wine Industry. Available on the State Library of Queensland online catalogue The Localist - Granite Belt Website and blog hub with practical tips from locals. Your go-to guide to visiting the Granite Belt. Soldier settlements of Queensland's Granite Belt digital story exploring impact of Soldier Settlements on the naming of locations in Granite Belt and their impact on it's citizens. Available on the State Library of