Outback stations : the life and times of Australia's biggest cattle and sheep properties /
Evan McHugh.
- Camberwell, Vic. : Viking, 2012.
- ix, 277 p., [16] p. of plates : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 24 cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
A land of opportunity - Bowen Downs Station -- The quiet giant - Lake Nash Station -- Heartland - Brunette Downs Station -- The long haul - Alexandria Station -- The big run - Victoria River Downs Station -- A tale of two countries - Wave Hill Station -- Red giant - Crown Point Station -- Heartbreak corner - Adria Downs Station -- The happiest station - Headingly Station -- The hot spot - Commonwealth Hill Station -- The biggest country - Anna Creek Station.
What's life really like when next door is 500 kilometres away, and mustering livestock in their tens of thousands, backbreaking physical labour, and dealing with extreme heat and long hours is all in a day's work? And why would these tough stockmen and women not have it any other way? The author gets behind the wheel of his four-wheel drive to find out. Given special access to these properties, Evan goes behind the scenes at Adria Downs in the dead heart of Central Australia, helps drove cattle from the air at Wave Hill and gets a lesson in trapping dingoes at the remote Commonwealth Hill station. Following in the footsteps of the pioneering greats, Evan reveals the fascinating history of these outback stations, and what it takes to work on one today.