Austral Downs

The Station occupies an area of {{convert|4692|km2|sqmi|0}} and has a carrying capacity of approximately 42,000 head of Santa Gertrudis crossed with Angus crossed with Wagyu cattle.{{cite web |year=2012 |url=http://www.aaco.com.au/operations/properties/nt/avon-austral-downs-stations/ |title=Avon and Austral Downs |accessdate=9 March 2013 |publisher=Australian Agricultural Company}} The station is run by the Australian Agricultural Company in combination with Avon Downs with an area of {{convert|3939|km2|sqmi|0}}; together the properties turn off an average of 25,000 head per year.

The soil is described as being black to brown loam with a good deal of limestone. The rolling downs are covered in Mitchell grass amongst areas of Gidyea woodlands. The property is situated along the Herbert River and Happy Creek, both of which are tributaries of the Georgina River.

The station was established in 1883 when Richardson, Little and Carr took up a large area of land known as Austral Downs on the tableland. Initially the property was to be stocked with sheep.{{cite news |date=6 October 1883 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83678180 |title=Interviewing Jack Brodie. |newspaper=Queensland Figaro |location=Brisbane|accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=15 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} By mid-1884 the property was stocked with 1,400 head of cattle and 140 horses.{{cite news |date=13 August 1884 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43816025 |title=The Northern Territory |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} A flock of 8,200 ewes were overlanded to the property later the same year.{{cite news |date=2 August 1884 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23974055 |title=Stock Movements and State or the Country. |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Brisbane|accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=201 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Some flooding occurred in 1885 following heavy rains, with Austral losing £1000 worth of earthworks.{{cite news |date=3 March 1885 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3439686 |title=Queensland News |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The entire area was affected by far more severe flooding in 1901, with the station reported as having been entirely swept away by the combined flood waters of the Georgina, Rankin and James Rivers.{{cite news |date=15 April 1901 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82323348 |title=Floods in the gulf |newspaper=The North Queensland Register |location=Townsville, Queensland |accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Brabazon and Co. bought the property in 1911.{{cite news |date=26 July 1911 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19703867 |title=Sale of Austral Downs station |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} At this time the station had an estimated area of {{convert|794|sqmi|km2|0}} and was sold unstocked.{{cite news |date=24 August 1911 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19698533 |title=Property Sales. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The first commercial flight in the Northern Territory by Qantas carried Mr. C. J. Brabazon from Elderslie Station to Austral Downs in 1921.{{cite news |date=20 December 1934 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35645807 |title="Qantas Gazette". |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane|accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

In 1925 the station was acquired by the Scottish Australian Land Company.{{cite news |date=12 September 1925 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20959625 |title=Station property sold |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Later the same year the property was placed under quarantine following an outbreak of redwater in the herd.{{cite news |date=14 October 1925 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2151966 |title=Outbreak of redwater |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne|accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=28 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Floods occurred in early 1927 with the crossing to the station being submerged under {{convert|6|ft|m|1}} of water, cutting the telegraph line.{{cite news |date=16 February 1927 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60731354 |title=Floods near Camooweal |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |location=Queensland |accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

The area was gripped by drought from 1934 to mid-1935 before the property received {{convert|1.1|in|mm|0}} of rain in one day.{{cite news |date=8 June 1935 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2392443 |title=Drought breaks |newspaper=The Canberra Times|accessdate=10 March 2013 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

The drought of 1952 lead to Austral and other stations trying to move all stock from their properties and trucking them to the Mount Isa railhead to move further afield for agistment.{{cite news |date=20 March 1952 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97007907 |title=Trek of 20,000 cattle |newspaper=Queensland Country Life |accessdate=11 March 2013 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Later in the 1950s a rocket shelter was constructed at Austral as part of the Woomera space program.

In 1980 the property was sold to Nelson Bunker Hunt, an American billionaire, along with other parts of the Scottish Australian Company assets. The Australian Agricultural Company acquired Austral in 1990 to be run in conjunction with neighbouring Avon Downs which the company had purchased in 1921.

• List of ranches and stations
• List of the largest stations in Australia

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Category:Stations in the Northern Territory

Category:1883 establishments in Australia