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Trusted Water Bore Drilling Services in South East Queensland
Southern Downs Drilling is a family-owned and operated water bore drilling business with over two decades of technical expertise. Established in the early 1970s as a drilling rig manufacturing enterprise, we transitioned to our current focus in the early 2000s, delivering quality water bores for farmers and small acreage owners. Our team, led by Director Travis McCartin, operates from Toowoomba and services South East Queensland, including the Darling Downs, Lockyer Valley, South Burnett, Southern and Western Downs. We are fully licensed Class 1 drillers, adhere to Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines standards, and prioritise clear communication and reliability.Our rotary air drilling rigs with downhole hammers ensure precise construction of sustainable water bores tailored to irrigation, livestock, and domestic needs. We specialise in drilling to access the Great Artesian Basin, providing clean water solutions while offering guidance on site selection and compliance. Our commitment to affordability, punctuality, and technical excellence has earned us strong client recommendations across regional Queensland.
Services
Water Bore Drilling
Drought Relief Assistance
Domestic Bores
Stock Water Bores
Bore Installation
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of technical expertise in water bore drilling
- Our family-owned business prioritises clear communication and reliability
- Fully licensed Class 1 drillers adhering to Queensland regulatory standards
- Specialists in accessing the Great Artesian Basin for sustainable water
- Serve diverse regional areas including Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley
Associations and certifications
- Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines
What people say
Polite, professional
Explained in detail
Could not be happier
Easy to deal with
Successful bore installation
Services
Water Bore Drilling
Precision drilling services for agricultural and domestic water bores across South East Queensland. Our rotary air rigs with downhole hammers create sustainable bores accessing the Great Artesian Basin. We follow strict regulatory standards for casing, gravel packing, and grouting to ensure long-term water quality and yield.
Drought Relief Assistance
Guidance for primary producers accessing Queensland Government drought relief subsidies. We assist with bore specifications to meet eligibility requirements for the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate, which covers up to 50% of approved infrastructure costs for drought-affected properties.
Domestic Bores
Reliable water solutions for residential properties. We construct bores meeting Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines standards, including proper capping and casing to ensure clean water supply for household use. Ideal for small acreages seeking water independence.
Stock Water Bores
High-yield bores designed for agricultural livestock operations. Our drilling process ensures consistent water flow rates, with recent projects achieving 6,300 litres per hour. We follow regulatory guidelines to guarantee sustainable water access for cattle, sheep, and other livestock.
Bore Installation
Full-service bore construction from site planning to completion. We handle drilling, casing installation, gravel packing, and capping. While we don't perform geotechnical analysis, we work with client-selected experts to optimise bore placement for maximum yield and longevity.
People
Travis McCartin
Director
With over 20 years' technical experience, Travis leads our family-owned drilling operations. He specialises in translating complex bore requirements into clear client guidance while maintaining strict compliance with Queensland water resource regulations.
Questions
What areas do you service for water bore drilling?
We service the Darling Downs, Lockyer Valley, South Burnett, Southern and Western Downs regions across South East Queensland.
Do you offer drought relief assistance programs?
Yes, we help clients access Queensland Government Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebates covering up to 50% of eligible costs.
What types of water bores do you install?
We specialise in domestic, stock, and irrigation bores, including Great Artesian Basin drilling to depths of 70+ metres.
Are your drilling operations licensed and insured?
Yes, we are fully licensed Class 1 drillers with comprehensive liability insurance and regulatory compliance.
How does the bore drilling process work?
We discuss site selection, drill to the aquifer, case and gravel-pack the bore, then grout and cap it ready for equipment installation.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Brenten Reaves
Nov 11, 2021
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Once again I thank Southern Downs Drilling for the opportunity given to me from winning their amazing $10,000 farm fest competition. As a second time customer I was more than happy to have their professional team back again to find more water, which they didn't disappoint on! After periods of dry time since the first bore was drilled 8 years ago it was an absolute necessity to have another bore drilled and we're extremely happy with the results, for us it means being able to keep up water to stock in dry times and to be able to greatly reduce the risk of a fire taking our home after a close call
Paul Irvine
Feb 23, 2021
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I would have no hesitation recommending Southern Down Drilling. Travis and his team were delightful to deal with. They arrived when expected, were effective, efficient and professional and kept me well informed throughout the drilling process, which was very much appreciated. To top-off the experience, I now have a source of water to keep my gardens alive!
Neil Woodlock
Jul 04, 2020
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
My employer put me onto Trevor boosting how good he was. Yep he was right. The best value, & service I have seen in a while. Good job Trevor, I would recommend you to anyone, thanks.
My employer put me onto Trevor boosting how good he was. Yep he was right. The best value, & service I have seen in a while. Good job Trevor, I would recommend you to anyone, thanks.
Sophie Mansfield
Nov 15, 2019
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I would highly recommend Travis and his team. Outstanding customer service - excellent and frequent communication and in a way I understood. Prompt, professional, turned up when they said they would. Really looked out for our property and were happy to work in an area with slightly difficult access. Very happy with the result and would really happily do it again. Thanks boys :)
Suzie Beirne
Nov 24, 2018
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We engaged Travis and his team at Southern Downs Drilling to dig a bore on our property at Glan Devon. They were totally upfront about the cost (per metre) and called during the drilling process to see if we wanted to proceed further as the depth was considerable and no water in site. However we did strike water and I think they were as thrilled as we were.
Travis was courteous, punctual and communicated well - which is all you can ask for in a world where people fail to rock up and return calls. It was a nice change.
Travis was courteous, punctual and communicated well - which is all you can ask for in a world where people fail to rock up and return calls. It was a nice change.
Rob Weymouth
Sep 07, 2018
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Travis and Barry did a wonderful job sinking a bore in our yard. The location was difficult and reasonably confined, but the Southern Downs Drilling team went out of their way to ensure that they protected our property and caused as little disruption to our yard as possible. Having the Bore completed and providing us a consistent water supply has really changed our life and we thank Travis and the Team for the professional manner in which they completed the job. Thanks
Rob Weymouth
Rob Weymouth