Alroy Downs

19.295°S 136.072°E / -19.295; 136.072 (Alroy Downs)

Alroy Downs on the southern Tablelands Highway

Alroy Downs

Location in Northern Territory

Alroy Downs Station is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in Northern Territory.

Location

The property is situated approximately 201 kilometres (125 mi) east of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory and 226 kilometres (140 mi) west of Camooweal in Queensland. Located on the Barkly Tableland a portion of the Playford River flows also through the station^[1] as does a portion of Buchanan Creek. It shares a boundary with Brunette Downs Station to the north, Rockhampton Downs to the west, Dalmore Downs to the south and Alexandria Station to the east. The Tablelands Highway bisects the property.^[2]

Description

The landscape consists of clay plains of various origins that support stands of Mitchell and other annual grasses. The southern areas are more lateritic in origin with the red coloured earth of the outback. Drainage areas, Coolibah swampland and areas of bluebush are found in the north of the property.^[3]

Currently the property occupies an area of 4,232 square kilometres (1,634 sq mi).^[3][4]

History

Alroy Downs was founded on Yindjilandji tribal lands. The lease was first granted in 1877^[3] with the property being established in 1878 by W.Lamb. It was later acquired by the J. C. Schmidt in 1914 who appointed F. Story to manage the property.^[5] Schmidt's son Rudolf ran the property from 1934 to 1936 and remained in the family most recently run by Trevor Schmidt who was also the managing Director of the Australian Agricultural Company from 1974 to 1988.^[5]

The property was acquired by the Stanbroke Pastoral Company in 1984.^{[6][failed verification]}

Peter Sherwin bought Alroy Downs in 2004 for A$30 million in the Stanbroke sell-off^[7] and sold it in 2008 for A$70 million.^[8] The property was in the grips of a drought it was sold. The purchaser was Sterling Buntine.^[7]

See also

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

References

1. "Map of Alroy Downs, NT". Bonzle. 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
2. "Northern Territory Pastoral Properties" (PDF). Northern Territory Government. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
3. Christine Edgoose; Kay Lehman (1996). "The land resources of Alroy Downs Station". Territory Stories. hdl:10070/238246.
4. Jon Condon (24 May 2011). "Macquarie buys Buntine Assets". Beef Central. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
5. "Alroy Downs Station". Australian National University. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
6. "Stanboke Pastoral Company buy Alroy Downs". Territory Stories. 2 October 1984. hdl:10070/191891.
7. Fiona Cameron (6 November 2008). "Land worth $450m on sale across northern Australia". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
8. Paul Toohey (29 March 2008). "Barefoot cattleman walking on gold". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 7 June 2014.