THE STORIES OF THIS ANCIENT LAND STRETCH BACK FURTHER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE
OUR CATTLE STATION ORIGINS AND THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF THE STOCKMEN STILL RESONATE WITH OUR TEAM TODAY.
A pastoral lease for Bullo River Valley Station was granted in late 1959, bringing about the arrival of pastoralists, stockmen and women who faced oppressive conditions and isolation. They poured their blood sweat and tears into developing Bullo into a viable cattle station.
Although we are still compiling a great deal of Bullo’s early history, it is clear through early imagery that Aboriginal people worked at the station, contributing to its early development. The Aboriginal men were known to be expert stockmen, with a unique talent for finding wayward stock.
The number and breeds of cattle have changed over the years, as have the stockmen who mustered across the valleys. The homestead and station activities have expanded and modernised, but the spirit of the bushmen and women who pioneered cattle in the outback remains in our team today.
European Arrival
Rock art on the property is evidence that First Nations people lived in the area hundreds, if not thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. At the time Europeans arrived, there were at least 11 language groups and up to 16,500 indigenous people living on Miriwoong and Gajirrawoong country. ("Invaders of a peaceful country": Aborigines and explorers on the lower Victoria River, Northern Territory’, Darrell Lewis, 2005)
1906
A document dated 1906 shows an attempt to carve up the land where Bullo River Station now stands and surrounding land into farming permits.
1960
Pastoral Lease No. 568 was granted to Raymond and Barbara Locke, and officially came to be on 1 June 1960, covering 3,528 square km (1,352 square miles), for ‘Bullo River Valley Station’, with 1,000 head of Shorthorn cattle.
1961
The first airstrip became operational, opening up easier access to the Station, particularly for a fortnightly mail service.
1962
Stockman ringer, Ernie Rayner, carves his name and date into a large boab tree during a particularly difficult muster, where they had to walk up to 700 cattle around the Victoria River. Peter Williams (R.M William's son) later also left his name on one of our trees.
1963
An attempt to move live cattle by boat up the Victoria River was made. 60-80 bulls were taken by barge to Darwin. This remains the only attempt at water transfers. The property was also sold to Charles and Sara Henderson. They went to live in the US between 1966 – 1971, with Charles’ cousin, Gus Trippe, involved as part owner during that time.
1986
Charles Henderson died, leaving Sara to run the heavily indebted station with her daughters, Marlee, Bonnie and Danielle. Sara was awarded Qantas-Bulletin Business Woman of the Year in 1991 for her management of Bullo.
2001
Sara’s daughter, Marlee Ranacher and husband, Franz, took over running the station, with approximately 7,000 head of cattle. Marlee and Franz opened Bullo River Station to tourism.
2017
After one year's ownership by Grant Farris and Grant McLeary, the property was sold to Julian and Alexandra Burt.
2018 & Beyond
Cattle numbers have been reduced to around 3,500 to assist with the rehabilitation of land. Some grazing areas have been returned to native bush to increase wildlife populations.
