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+61 (0)7 5465 5900 (international)
History
James Phelps Robinson was the first white settler to take up Peppers Hidden Vale in 1841, then called Frankly Vale. Henry and Maria Mort followed this ownership. Maria was the daughter of James Laidley, after whom the town of Laidley was named.
Henry and Maria Mort began by running 13,000 head of sheep on a property of 384,000 acres extending from Walloon in the east to Tent Hulls in the west, Mount Mistake in the south and the Marburg Rang in the north. After the time of separation of Queensland, the new government resumed a great deal of leasehold land, which included approximately half of the original Frankly Vale property. By 1869 this left Henry and Maria only 10,000 acres of the original 384,000 acreage.
Two years on, Philip Jost was the first to take sole ownership of Peppers Hidden Vale in 1871 and bred sheep, cattle, and racehorses. His training of the horses prevailed when his horses won several races in Sydney and Brisbane including the AJC Derby and the Queensland Cup.
Peppers Hidden Vale was named in 1900 when AJ Cotton purchased the land. He was also the first to take up residency in the valley below the current Homestead but went on to sell it in 1911 bound for England for the purpose of educating his children. Upon his arrival he repurchased the land in 1914 for 27, 000 pounds.
Peppers Hidden Vale is located 45 minutes from Toowoomba and gives guests the opportunity to gain an insight into the workings of a modern cattle station. Scattered amongst beautiful country gardens are elegantly restored buildings, which have been converted to luxury guest suites and date back to the 1920's.
Located in clusters of attractive Queensland cottages and boasting tasteful colonial inspired design, each room has its own distinctive character. From a quaint one-bedroom Chinese cottage built in the late 1800's to a six-bedroom cottage formerly the home of the property's station manager, the rooms match their unique location. All 30 guest rooms and suites have private verandahs and breathtaking views of the Australian outback.
The fully operational cattle station is also home to horses, working dogs, emus and other native wildlife. Activities are plentiful with a host of outdoor activities to give guests a taste of real Outback Australia. Guests can opt for horse riding day tours that meander through the countryside, bushwalks or a four-wheel drive tour lead by a trained guide. So get back to nature and come and enjoy the Australian Outback experience first hand.
