Moreton Bay was established as a settlement for convicts and then in 1840 it was opened up for free settlement.   Four year later the population of Brisbane and Ipswich totalled 1500. 

By the mid-1800s Pullenvale was being surveyed for settlement.  The Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang brought Scottish immigrants to Moreton Bay settlement with the promise of 18-acre land grants but these were not forthcoming. 

New settlers could not buy the land outright.  In 1868 a new Act enabled settlers to select small agricultural  and grazing blocks on signing an agreement and paying a small annual rent. 

The selectors could convert the leasehold to freehold when they had satisfied the conditions of the agreement.  These conditions were:  

• that they had lived on the land for a period of between 5 and 10 years,

• built a homestead,

• cleared the land,

• fenced the property and

• carried on  farming pursuits. 

Two residents from the district had to attest that the resident had been living on the site for the required years.

The government did not want rampant speculation that had been going on for 20 years before the Act.   If the conditions were met the property was converted to freehold with the issue of a Deed of Grant.

Not only did the early residents work hard to make a living….they also had to work hard just to satisfy conditions to be able to own their land.