Stations on film

Iconic Wave Hill station in the Victoria River District of the Northern Territory is now under the care of only its fourth owner in 140 years. At the heart of Wave Hill’s 1.25 million hectares are the people living and working there under the MacLachlan Pastoral Group banner. They are undertaking a program of major infrastructure development informed by their knowledge of effective and sustainable land management and an appreciation for the property’s history, potential and future. This extends beyond the pastoral sector to recognise the significance of the 1966 ‘Wave Hill Walk Off’ of Gurindji stockmen protesting wages and conditions, and the role the industry plays in the environmental, cultural and economic life of Australia.

Film By Matt Woods.

With thanks to our sponsors:
Kent Saddlery
Yeti
Think Water Broome
Red Range Stock Supplements
Pilatus

 

Harvest Road’s western Kimberley station Jubilee Downs stretches across 220,000ha on the Fitzroy River floodplain 400km east of Broome and is managed by Adam and Kelly Smith. For 30 years, Kelly’s parent’s Keith and Karen Anderson developed and improved the holdings by enacting regenerative agricultural practices. The Andersons sold up and retired in 2020, but Kelly and Adam have continued and expanded the family’s legacy, while also working to successfully merge into the wider operational framework of Harvest Road. Severe flooding caused by cyclone Ellie in in January 2023 was both a blessing and a curse – resulting in some damage but also leading to one of the best seasons on record.

A Film by Matt Woods for Jumbuck Pastoral. Every day is different but the common denominator is that there's always a challenge on Jumbuck Pastoral Company owned Mulgathing station. That's according to retiring manager Darren Wilson, who's spent the past seven years running the 530,000ha sheep station on the fringe of the Great Victorian Desert in central South Australia.

Kalyeeda Station.
Kimberley, Western Australia.

Brickhouse Station.
Gascoyne, Western Australia.

TJ Mulligan is a Nyikina man living and working on Kalyeeda station in the Kimberley region of WA. He learned his tracking skills from his father, and shares some of them here.

Killarney Station.
Victoria River District, Northern Territory.

R.M.Williams Publishing editor-in-chief Mark Muller travelled to northern Victoria to research a story on Ulupna Island Station for OUTBACK magazine. He was joined by Filmmaker Matt Woods to document the process.
The full story appeared in the October/November 2019 issue of the magazine.

Great Australians on film

Champion woodchopper David Foster.

Palaeontologist Jenni Brammall.