Soil carbon and nitrogen pools, their depth distribution and stocks following plantation establishment in south east Queensland, Australia

•Land use change from pasture to forest did not increase in soil carbon over 19 years.•Land use change from pasture to cropping decreased soil carbon.•Soil carbon under reforestation increased at 3 t/ha/y.•Soil carbon ranged between 47 and 108 t ha−1 to 0.5 m depending on land use.•Carbon pools were dominated by humic organic carbon (~50%).