Brunette Downs Homestead

Brunette Downs Station is in the middle of the Barkly Tableland and lies 350km north east of the nearest town, Tennant Creek and 660km northwest of Mount Isa.

The station occupies an area of 12,212 km2 (4,715 sq mi) on the Barkly Tableland, and is currently owned by the Australian Agricultural Company. It is the second largest station in the Northern Territory (after Alexandria Station), and larger than some countries.

We were desperately trying to locate it, driving on a maze of dusty backroads through enormous paddocks. Sometimes you think you know where you're going, then have a doubt as the track dwindles. So then we discovered the uhf was out of range for the Brunette Downs homestead visit we were going to, our trusty offline Exploroz Traveller 4wd mapping had a frozen update. That left the satphone. Just then, a local lady drove up and kindly set us right.

The cattle run on the property are a mixed herd of Barkly Composite, Brahman and Santa Gertrudis. The station has a carrying capacity of 110,000 head, and an annual turn off of 35,000. Sales are global, the Wagyu meat is a specialty.

The operation requires over 50 staff. The black soil of the station is well covered with Mitchell grass and Flinders grass, with a range of native grasses and herbs appearing following the rains. The land area is broken up into 53 paddocks with an average size of 336 km2 (130 sq mi). There are also 19 holding paddocks and 16 steel yards.

The station owns 4 fixed wing planes and 2 helicopters. For entertainment, there is a tennis court, footy playground and a water skiing lake.



The homestead includes separate housing for the youngsters from 16 to early 20s, the older staff, the manager's house, kitchen, clinic, guests' quarters, and social club. The current American gardener keeps the lawns, flowers and shady, rain trees and mahogany trees immaculate.

A short walk past the old dogs' graves and vintage machinery leads to the ski club leanto beside the large waterhole teeming with pelicans.







Beside the water, we found an expiring kite. One of our group was a vet who checked the wings for breakages and pronounced the bird was better off being euthanised.

At the end of the visit, we were then treated to smoko, with delicious cakes and savoury canapes prepared by the station cook.










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Brunette Downs Cattle Station, Homestead, NT, Northern Territory