TEXAS RANCHER MAY TURN TO AUSTRALIA Share In Huge Cattle Station

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28820, 14 February 1959, Page 10

TEXAS RANCHER MAY TURN TO AUSTRALIA Share In Huge Cattle Station

IBy

C. ,SLOCOMBEI

CANBERRA, February 9.

Renewed interest in Australia’s vast Northern Territory has been aroused by news that the noted American rancher, Robert J. Kleberg, of King Ranch, Texas, is linked with a group negotiating to acquire one of the Territory’s biggest cattle stations. The station is Brunette Downs (area 4730 square miles), which carries up to 50,000 head of cattle with capacity for 60,000, and ranks as one of the largest cattle properties anywhere. It is the fourth largest in the Northern Territory, the largest being Alexandria Station (11,262 square miles), while next comes "Victoria River Downs (5494 square miles). However, Brunette is second in stock-carrying capacity.

Brunette Downs Is lor its size one of the most highly improved properties in the Northern Territory, the proprietors over a long period having been the White family, operating as Gulf Cattle Company Pty., Ltd. Brunette is in the Barkly Tableland, which is gently undulating downs country mostly well-grassed in Mitchell and Flinders grass, spreading over

50,000 square miles. The impending extension of Mr Kleberg’s Australian activities to include the Northern Territory has aroused much interest among Australian cattlemen. Mr Kleberg's King Ranch in Texas carries about 85.000 cattle, on an area of 976,000 acres. He bred the Santa Gertrudis cattle, later introduced into AustraUa on a 7500acre property which he owns, in association with some prominent Australians, in southern Queensland: King Ranch (Australia) Pty., LtdIntroduction of the Santa Gertrudis has been an important development in Australia’s hot north The Santa Gertrudis, in addition to tick resistance, has high heat tolerance, enabling it to graze in the sun for longer periods than British breeds It has the further advantage of early maturity. Mr Kleberg in 1952 made an extensive aerial reconnaissance of the Sorthern Territory over a period of 16 days, during which he visited most of the big northern cattle stations. His views on the need for more water supplies and better transport facilities were widely circulated at the time. Brunette, as with all other Northern' Territory stations, is leasehold- The Territory, is under Federal • Government administra-

tion, and from the inception of federation in 1901 leasehold tenure of land has been the policy of all Federal Governments for that region. Previously tiie- leases were for 30 years. Recently, however, conditions of leasehold were liberalised to provide for 50-year leases. Most of the properties, including Brunette Downs, hold leases which run to the year 2004. The buying group of Australian pastoralists, Sir Rupert Clarke, of Melbourne, Mr Samuel Hordern and Mr Peter Baillieu. Sir Rupert Clarke stated that if purchase negotiations were completed, Mr Kleberg would join the group. The Northern Territory takes in more than half a million square miles, or about one-sixth of Australia. The Territory’s economy is based mainly on the raising of beef cattle, largely on the open range system (Brunette Downs, with its 1000 miles of fencing, being an exception). For ’ some years the Northern Territory’s cattle population has been in the region of 1,000,000, while each year about 120,000 head are moved into the adjoining States of Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia for killing or fattening. A further 14,500 are slaughtered in the Territory. Discovery of sub-artesian water at depths of between 200 and 400 feet; around the turn of the century, saved-4he cattle industry throughout northern Australia at a time when its outlook was bleak. Bores have tapped the basin so that water can be pumped for stock, although capital outlay is high—about &A4OOO (9000 dollars) for each bore, fully-equipped. Brunette Downs has 50 major bore supplies. However, without this water the country would inevitably have failed. The benefit was demonstrated almost from the beginning. During the 1902 drought, for example, one Well on Avon Downs Station, fed from sub-artesian sources, watered 8000 cattle, 15,000 sheep and 3000 horses through the rainless months of July to the following January. Manager’s Task Not many men possess the variety of qualifications called for in the management of such immense properties as Brunette Downs. Among these attributes is the temperament tp withstand, and appreciate, the wide spaces and the loneliness (despite its size the Northern Territory has a population of 40,000). A .station manager must have an intimate knowledge of the land, must know cattle, and above all, understand men. However, although the nearest neighbour may be 40 miles away, life on such stations as Brunette Downs is not as lonely as would be imagined. Visitors are frequent. And use of motor-trucks, radio and aircraft has largely ended the isolation. Every property of any importance has its own two-way radio station and the majority have an airstrip. Mail and light freight are mostly carried by air, while the Federal Health Department’s aerial ambulance and medical services are on call to tend to the sick. Children on the Barkly Tableland get their education by correspondence courses and by school sessions broadcast over the radio.

Nor is life all grim and earnest up there on the Barkly. Once a year the Tableland’s “Big Three” —Brunette Downs, Alexandria, and Creswell Downs—combine to stage the Northern Territory’s biggest social event, a week-long picnic race meeting. Stockmen and their families, miners and many townspeople travel hundreds of miles on horse, motor vehicle and aircraft to attend. The visitors pitch camp under the tropic sky, and get set for a colossal wing-ding. Days are spent at the races, wagering on the turf events, while at nights there is dancing and singing. The picnic race ball does not really end until after the. last race, when the influx breaks camp and reluctantly moves off for another year.