For several months in late 1851 and early 1852, Conrad Martens journeyed through the Darling Downs, travelling on horseback from station to station, sketching as he went. Twice during this time he visited Canning Downs, the home of his friends George and Emmeline Leslie (nee Macarthur). While there, he sketched the scenes that form the basis of these and other paintings in the Gallery’s Collection.