History

Dairy Farmers Stadium stands on the site of what was formerly a paceway. The facility has undergone three major developments since the club's acceptance in the National Rugby League competition.

Since 1994, Dairy Farmers Stadium has been leased to the Willows Sports Complex Joint Board, which is a joint local government body comprising the Townsville City Council and the Thuringowa City Council. The Board has in turn sub-leased the facility to the Cowboys Rugby League Football Limited, who manage the venue on a day to day basis.

Stage 1 redevelopment works were completed in late 1994 and early 1995 for entry of the North Queensland Cowboys in the Australian Rugby League expanded competition. The works to redevelop the former Harness Racing Facility were funded by a combination of borrowings by the Joint Board, Queensland Government Grants and a considerable amount of Community and Business donations.

Stage 2 of the complex required further redevelopment for the 1996 entry of the Cowboys into the Super League competition.

Stage 3 development works carried out by the Queensland Government were for structural works and civil works including the bitumen sealing of the car park area and roadways including external infrastructure.

In 2006 an additional 5,000 seats were added to the Eastern Terrace and at the Northern and Southern ends of the Stadium taking capacity to 26,500.

The staged redevelopment has seen the facility change from a disused Harness Racing facility to the current complex.

The management and operation of the stadium was handed over to the Major Sports Facilities Authority, now Stadiums Queensland, in December 2003.