Aim To explore administrative constraints of district nursing during the latter part of the twentieth century in regional Queensland, Australia. Background A greater understanding of the evolution of district nursing can illuminate why present conditions and circumstances exist. Method Thirteen interviews undertaken and analysed historically in association with other documentary evidence from the time period 1960s – 1990. Findings District nursing services of regional Queensland were initially established by voluntary organisations that had very lean budgets. Throughout the study period, government funding became increasingly available, but this coincided with increased regulation of the services. Conclusions District nurses have worked within considerable boundaries and barriers associated with either a lack of funds or imposed regulations. While greater government funding solved some working conditions, it did so by imposing greater administrative responsibilities on the nurses and services that were not always seen as advantageous for clients or as professionally satisfying for the nurses.