Tarong Station was first settled by John James Malcolm Borthwick soon after the area around Nanango was settled in 1846. George Clapperton was superintendent at Tarong for Borthwick, and purchased the property from Borthwick in 1857. At the time of his death in 1875, Clapperton owned Tarong, Barambah and Nanango Stations. His wife sold Barambah in 1876 and Nanango in 1878. She later married William A Wilson and they continued to manage Tarong Staton until George Clapperton's son T A Clapperton took over Tarong Station. T A Clapperton remained the proprietor until his death in the 1950s.

The area around Nanango was settled in 1846 after the opening of Queensland to free settlement. Nanango Station was established by William Elliot Oliver, and later owned by Bryce Thomson Barker. In a letter dated 30 January 1861 Barker offered to sell Nanango Station to George Clapperton, who had worked at the station. After Clapperton's death in 1875, his wife sold Nanango station. From 1895 to around 1921, John and James Millis are listed as station proprietors.