List of pastoral leases in the Northern Territory explained

Pastoral leases in the Northern Territory, more commonly known as stations or cattle stations, are some of the largest in Australia. There are 223 pastoral leases gazetted into 11 pastoral districts over approximately 600 000 square kilometres of land.[1]

Established on unceded Aboriginal land from the late 1800s onwards, the leases were initially issued by the South Australian government, which administered the Northern Territory until 1911,[2] and enable long-term tenure of Crown land.[3] The first leases were Owen Springs and Undoolya Station in Central Australia in 1872.[4] The expansion of the cattle industry caused widespread dispossession of Aboriginal people, with significant damage to water sources and sensitive environments.[5]

There is only one remaining sheep station, at Avon Downs,[6] the rest rear cattle which is sold domestically or live into South East Asia, mainly Indonesia.[7] They also support other non-dominant agricultural uses and tourism.[8]

All pastoral leases are managed under the Pastoral Land Act 1992 of the Northern Territory.[9]

List

Name of pastoral leasePastoral districtLGAArea (km2)
AdderBarklyBarkly Regional Council1199
AileronNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire4078
AlexandriaBarklyBarkly Regional Council8391
AllambiSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2586
Alroy DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council4384
AmbalindumNorthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council3317
AmburlaNorthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2305
AmmarooPlentyCentral Desert Shire3001
Amungee MungeeGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council3169
AndadoSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council10689
Angas DownsSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council3205
AnningieNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire4428
AnnitowaTennant CreekBarkly Regional Council4312
Anthony LagoonBarklyRoper Gulf Regional Council6079
ArapunyaPlentyCentral Desert Shire2431
ArgadargadaPlentyCentral Desert Shire5139
AroonaKatherineKatherine Regional Council1500
Austral DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council2004
AuvergneVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council4142
AvagoSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council1578
Avon DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council3939
Ban Ban SpringsDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council1872
BanjoSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council578
Banka Banka WestBarklyBarkly Regional Council1407
Beetaloo StationBarklyBarkly Regional Council7078
BenmarraBarklyBarkly Regional Council4511
Big RiverRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council707
Birdum CreekSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council763
BirrimbaSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council2595
BirrunduduVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council4150
Bloodwood DownsSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council577
Bond SpringsNorthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council1499
BonrookDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council491
Bridge CreekDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council333
BroadmereGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council2590
BrunchillyBarklyBarkly Regional Council3235
Brunette DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council12212
Buchanan DownsSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council1256
Bullo RiverVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council1627
BundaVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council1788
BurramurraBarklyBarkly Regional Council2205
Bushy ParkNorthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council1693
Calvert HillsGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council4832
CamfieldVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council2769
Cattle CreekVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council7085
ClaravaleDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council613
ConistonNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire2170
ConwaysRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council1392
Cow CreekSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council444
Cresswell DownsBarklyRoper Gulf Regional Council6417
Curtin SpringsSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council4152
Dalmore DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council4776
Deep WellSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council1618
Delmore DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council382
DelamereVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council3002
DelnyNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire833
Derry DownsPlentyCentral Desert Shire4290
DerwentNorthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council1659
Dixie StationKatherineKatherine Regional Council462
DneiperNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire884
DorisvaleDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council675
DouglasDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council1943
Dry RiverSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council667
DungowanSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council4454
East RankenBarklyBarkly Regional Council1430
Elizabeth DownsDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council2054
ElkedraTennant CreekBarkly Regional Council5406
EpenarraTennant CreekBarkly Regional Council2658
ErldundaSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2930
Eva DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council2781
FlorinaKatherineKatherine Regional Council575
Flying FoxRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council895
Forrest HillSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council538
Georgina DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council3470
GilnockieSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council705
Glen HelenSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council1409
GoondoolooRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council902
GorrieGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council701
GreenbankGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council1126
Hamilton DownsNorthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2034
HayfieldSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council1701
Helen SpringsBarklyBarkly Regional Council5062
HenburySouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council5168
Hidden ValleySturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council2802
Horseshoe BendSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council6030
HuckittaPlentyCentral Desert Shire1596
Humbert RiverVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council1080
IdracowraSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council4628
InverwayVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council2538
JervoisPlentyCentral Desert Shire2736
JindareDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council1204
JinkaPlentyCentral Desert Shire2033
KalalaSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council3760
Katherine DownsKatherineKatherine Regional Council198
KianaGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council3318
KillarneyVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council2819
KirkimbieVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council2304
KoolpinyahVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council769
KurundiTennant CreekBarkly Regional Council3857
Labelle DownsDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council603
Lake NashBarklyBarkly Regional Council8487
LakefieldSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council586
LarrizonaGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council702
LeguneVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council1788
Lilla CreekSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2060
LimbunyaVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council5218
LitchfieldDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council1336
Lonesome DoveRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council723
LorellaGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council3840
Lucy CreekPlentyCentral Desert Shire4055
LyndavaleSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council3762
Mcdonald DownsNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire2069
MainoruRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council1315
Mallapunyah SpringsGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council4329
ManangooraGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council1416
ManbullooKatherineKatherine Regional Council3791
Manners CreekPlentyCentral Desert Shire6770
Margaret DownsSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council608
MarquaPlentyCentral Desert Shire4410
MarrakaiDarwinWagait Shire Council578
Mary River EastDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council1345
Mary River WestDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council929
MaryfieldSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council1473
MaryvaleBarklyMacDonnell Regional Council3244
Mathison StationKatherineKatherine Regional Council652
Mcarthur RiverGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council7225
Mckinlay RiverDarwinWagait Shire Council470
Middle CreekSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council602
MittiebahBarklyBarkly Regional Council4034
Montejinni EastVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council1597
Montejinni WestVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council1495
MoroakRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council1427
Mount CavenaghSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council913
Mount DenisonNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire2702
Mount DoreenNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire7337
Mount DrummondBarklyBarkly Regional Council2920
Mount EbenezerSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council1640
Mount KepplerDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council225
Mount McMinnRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council809
Mount RiddockNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire2633
Mount RingwoodDarwinWagait Shire Council462
Mount SkinnerNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire5968
Mountain ValleyRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council1410
Mulga ParkSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2647
MungabroomBarklyBarkly Regional Council3469
MurranjaiSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council4379
Murray DownsTennant CreekBarkly Regional Council5595
Numul-NamulRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council497
NapperbyNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire3146
NapperbyNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire2278
NarwietoomaNorthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2590
NenenSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council775
Neutral JunctionBarklyBarkly Regional Council4609
New CrownSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council6158
Newcastle WatersBarklyBarkly Regional Council3404
NewhavenNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire2610
NewryVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council2467
NumerySouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2022
Nutwood DownsGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council4358
Old Macdonald DownsNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire545
Old Mount BundeyDarwinWagait Shire Council384
OoratippraPlentyCentral Desert Shire4283
Orange CreekSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2386
Owen SpringsSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council3010
Palmer ValleySouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2993
Phillip CreekTennant CreekMacDonnell Regional Council3624
Pine HillNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire2691
Powell CreekBarklyBarkly Regional Council4181
ProvidenceSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council531
PungalinaGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council1937
RingwoodSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2280
RiverenVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council3016
Rockhampton DownsBarklyBarkly Regional Council5119
RocklandsBarklyBarkly Regional Council3594
RosewoodVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council2768
Scott CreekKatherineKatherine Regional Council1070
Seven EmuGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council2092
SingletonTennant CreekBarkly Regional Council2943
SoudanBarklyBarkly Regional Council2244
Spirit HillsVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council3766
Spring CreekGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council2334
Stapleton StationKatherineKatherine Regional Council598
StirlingNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire7218
Sunday CreekSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council400
SuplejackVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council3817
TandyidgeeBarklyBarkly Regional Council2749
TanumbiriniGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council5001
TarleeSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council597
Tarlton DownsPlentyCentral Desert Shire3111
Tennant CreekTennant CreekBarkly Regional Council3647
The GardenSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2126
TipperaryDarwinVictoria Daly Regional Council2100
TobermoreyPlentyCentral Desert Shire5994
Todd RiverSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council1962
UcharonidgeBarklyBarkly Regional Council2455
UmbearaSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council3572
UndoolyaSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council1444
VermelhaSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council2039
Victoria River DownsVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council8935
Victory DownsSouthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council3038
WalhallowBarklyBarkly Regional Council3580
WallamungaVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council2582
WaterlooVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council1895
Wave HillVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council5493
WelltreeVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council391
West RankenBarklyBarkly Regional Council2852
Western CreekSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council606
Western CreekSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council416
WillerooKatherineKatherine Regional Council1710
WollogorangGulfRoper Gulf Regional Council5761
WombungiVictoria River DistrictVictoria Daly Regional Council1290
WongalaraRoperRoper Gulf Regional Council1912
WoodgreenNorthern Alice SpringsCentral Desert Shire1230
WoolnerDarwinWagait Shire Council647
WyworrieSturt PlateauRoper Gulf Regional Council428
YambahNorthern Alice SpringsMacDonnell Regional Council2310[10] [11]

See also

References

  1. Web site: Non-pastoral Use Permits, Diversifying the Territory, Unlocking the Potential of our Land: Frequently Asked Questions . 3 March 2024 . Northern Territory Government.
  2. Web site: The Northern Territory's pastoral industry . 3 March 2024 . National Archives of Australia.
  3. Web site: PASTORAL LAND ACT 1992 - SECT 4 Objects . 2024-03-03 . classic.austlii.edu.au.
  4. News: 2022-09-30 . Built up from 'bugger all', the NT's oldest cattle station turns 150 . 2024-03-03 . ABC News . en-AU.
  5. Web site: Chapter 9 Northern Territory Bringing Them Home . 2024-03-03 . bth.humanrights.gov.au.
  6. Web site: Government . Northern Territory . 2021-11-03 . Avon Downs centenary of operations . 2024-03-02 . industry.nt.gov.au . en.
  7. Web site: 2023-08-01 . NT chief at odds with Albanese over live animal export ban . 2024-03-03 . Australian Financial Review . en.
  8. Web site: December 2021 . Pastoral purposes guide: Development and use of pastoral leasehold land under the Pastoral Land Act 1992 . 3 March 2024 . Northern Territory Government.
  9. Web site: PASTORAL LAND ACT 1992 . 2024-03-02 . classic.austlii.edu.au.
  10. Web site: NT Pastoral Districts - NTG Open Data Portal . 2024-03-02 . data.nt.gov.au . en-AU.
  11. Web site: Map of Northern Territory showing pastoral stations &c. [cartographic material] ]. 2024-03-02 . Trove . en.