Polo on the Downs
A game of horsemanship, heritage and healthy rivalry - and the country heart of Australian polo, right here on the Downs
15/07/25
Photography: Katie Mendle @ Calico Pony
Words: Jessica Rea
““It is unlikely that any such small area in the world, except Argentina, has produced so many champions in [any] one specific sport as the Darling Downs””
The thunder of hooves, the crack of the mallet as it strikes the ball, the cheer of the crowd - polo is a game of pace, power, and precision. The "game of royalty", as it's so often regarded - is captivating, enticing - and for very good reason - brings to mind all the luxury and glamour the game deserves.
What may come as a surprise to many, however, is that far from the grounds of Windsor, Beaufort or Sandringham - far from the ivy-clad grandstands and England's great estates - right here on the Darling Downs, polo also has a long and rich history, rooted deeply in the pastoral landscape and steeped in the rural heritage of the region.
It's a rural heart that, thanks to groups like the Downs Polo Club, is once again growing in popularity and keeping this ' saddle-worn' tradition alive.
The history of polo itself stretches back more than 2,000 years, and as with all great things, its precise origins are somewhat . . .hazy.Most agree it was first played in ancient Persia (in what is now the Middle East) - part military training exercise, part royal pastime - before then spreading across Asia, and over the centuries, making its way to India, where British colonial officers encountered it in the 1800s and brought it back to England.
Modern polo, as we know it today, began to take shape in the mid-1800s, with the establishment of the first polo club, the Calcutta Polo Club, in 1862.
The sport quickly gained popularity in Britain and, soon after, in Australia, and by 1874, the first recorded match on Australian soil was played at Goulburn, NSW with players mounted on stock horses - a tradition which remains part of rural Australian polo today.
And here on the Downs, the roots of the sport run just as deep.
As long-time Toowoomba local and equestrian journalist Gene Makim writes in A History of Queensland Polo, social matches were already being played in Toowoomba and Pilton as early as 1897 - and by the turn of the century, interest had grown enough to form the Downs Polo Association.
In fact, it was the Club Hotel in Clifton where the club’s first twenty members gathered (fittingly the same place the Downs Polo Club still meets today) and by 1954, it was the Clifton Racecourse that found itself the 'home of polo in the region'.
But perhaps what is most remarkable about polo on the Darling Downs is not just our history - but the calibre of players produced.
For all our quiet rural charm, the Darling Downs continues to punch above its weight when it comes to polo talent, and over the years, the Clifton grounds have produced some of the biggest names in Australian polo.
For generations, rural families have been the heartbeat of the sport here - names like Grimes, Gilmore, Telford, MacGinley, O’Leary and Hoey, just to name a few.
Players like Will Gilmore (current Downs Polo Club president), a 4‑goal player and Australian World Cup representative, and his cousin Glen Gilmore - a 6‑goal professional and long‑time Australian team captain - have played broadly across the globe and showcase this calibre.
As Makim describes it, "[the Downs is] the nucleus for the greatest polo players in Queensland and Australia", and "It is unlikely that any such small area in the world, except Argentina, has produced so many champions in [any] one specific sport."
As some would say, "The concentration of great players who descend from the Darling Downs is nothing short of magic."
And it's this remarkable heritage that the Downs Polo Club, and its players, continue to nurture every season.
Behind the glamour of the game lies a great deal of graft and dedication throughout the year. Few players are full-time professionals; most balance their polo with the demands of farms, businesses, and families - and still find time for the work it takes to keep ponies and players in top form.
. . .preparing a string of ponies for the season ahead. . . building fitness. . . honing their skills . . . 5am rides to work the horses, often in the chill of winter . . .
(Polo takes place in the cooler months on the Downs - there's a case to be made that playing in winter is better for the horses - plus, who wants to change 125 years of tradition!)
Then comes event season. The fun starts, the rivalries kick in, and suddenly it’s families against families. Fathers taking on sons. Daughters and fathers pairing against brothers and uncles. Grandfathers riding alongside their grandkids.
As one player remarked, “It’s pure joy."
"There are few places where that can happen".
A detail not lost on the players or the club - and one they remain quietly proud of.
For those on the sidelines, polo on the Downs is as much about the atmosphere as the action - a day of horses, fashions, divot stomps, and great company.
As at polo grounds across the world, the experience here is relaxed and close to the action - back your car up to the sideline, unpack a picnic, and enjoy the thrill of the game - or roll out a full spread with linen-draped tables, silverware, and champagne on ice, as some of the regulars do. It’s the country charm, combined with rich traditions, that the Downs Polo Club brings to life.
This year, with the seven-tournament season already in full swing and April’s Picnic at the Polo drawing crowds from across the region, all eyes now turn to the upcoming Polo by Tailgate on July 26 as part of the Downs Shield.
Of course, visitors are welcome at any tournament throughout the season, whether you're a seasoned spectator or a first-timer (but Polo by Tailgate is the biggest). Just remember - hats, horses, and a touch of country glamour never go astray.
For all the latest polo news, follow the Downs Polo Club on Facebook and Instagram @downspoloclub.
