The Alan Fletcher Research Station (AFRS) began life as the headquarters for the Commonwealth Prickly Pear Board in 1921. It was from this centre that the famously successful prickly pear campaign was directed. Following the disbandment of the board, staff, resources and responsibilities were assumed by the Biological Section, Queensland Department of Lands in 1939. Research activities broadened to include biological control of other weeds, herbicide assessments and pest animal work such as the manufacturing of the myxomatosis virus for rabbit control.

•   Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases
•   Agricultural systems modelling
•   Animal research
•   Molecular bioscience technologies
•   Fisheries and aquaculture research
•   Food technology
•   Forestry research
•   Intensive livestock environmental research
•   Invasive plant and animal science
•   Plant research (including horticulture and field crops)

• Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) approved Quarantine insectary, built in 1975 and upgraded in 2004
• mass-rearing insectary
• chemistry laboratory
• five glasshouses
• shadehouses and plant-rearing shade tunnels
• aquatic weed research facilities

• Animal
• Art Research