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Famous Ranches and Stations

Bullo River Station: The Territory Cattle Run Sara Henderson Made Famous

A Victoria River cattle run near the Western Australian border, Bullo became widely known through the autobiography of Sara Henderson.

What is Bullo River Station?

Bullo River is a cattle station in the Northern Territory, about 78 kilometres north-west of Timber Creek and 115 kilometres north-east of Kununurra across the Western Australian line. The Victoria River flows through the property, and it lies on the traditional lands of the Mariu people. Its area is 1,627 square kilometres, with a carrying capacity of over 9,000 Brahman cattle, according to the Wikipedia article on Bullo River Station.

It is best known outside the cattle trade because of Sara Henderson, whose books about running the property made it one of Australia's best-known stations.

Who first built Bullo River Station?

In June 1960 Raymond Locke was granted Pastoral Lease No. 568, then covering 1,362 square miles, known as Bullo River Valley Station. Raymond and Barbara Locke pioneered the property. They built bores and fencing, ran more than 1,000 Shorthorn cattle, and had an airstrip built at a cost of 1,200 pounds. Barbara Locke served as president of the Country Women's Association's Ord Valley Air Branch while at Bullo.

The airstrip is a telling detail: in country this far from towns, a runway was part of the basic infrastructure, as much as bores and fences.

Sara Henderson and the rebuilding of Bullo

In 1963 author Sara Henderson and her American husband, Charles Henderson, acquired the property from the Lockes and moved there. Charles Henderson died in the mid-1980s, with sources giving 1985 and 1986, and the Wikipedia article on Sara Henderson says the station then owed more than 750,000 dollars. Sara ran the property with her three daughters and rebuilt the business, and she was named Businesswoman of the Year in 1991.

Her autobiography, From Strength to Strength, tells the story of that rebuilding. The article gives its publication year as both 1992 and 1993. She wrote several further books, including A Year at Bullo, which kept readers connected to the station's daily work.

What happened after the Hendersons?

In 2001 Henderson's eldest daughter, Marlee Ranacher, and her husband Franz acquired the property from her mother after a legal battle. In 2011, after the live export ban under the Gillard government, Marlee led a protest group to Canberra and then listed the property for sale. During aerial mustering her plane's engine failed, and she crash-landed on a mud flat, swam ashore and activated an emergency beacon before her husband picked her up by helicopter.

In 2015 Grant Farris bought the station for A$9.5 million, covering the leasehold and 7,000 head of cattle. Farris and his partner Grant McLeary announced a further A$1 million redevelopment for cattle and tourism, though the sources used here do not describe the station's operations after that report.

What Made It Work

Bullo's record is one of repeated rebuilding rather than steady growth. Each owner had to solve water, distance and market access before the cattle made money.

The record also shows risk: debt after Charles Henderson's death and the 2011 live export ban both put the station in danger.

  • Basic infrastructure first: the Lockes built bores, fencing and an airstrip before they scaled the herd.
  • Matching cattle to the climate: the carrying capacity is described in terms of Brahman cattle, a breed suited to northern heat.
  • Family labor: Sara Henderson ran the property with her three daughters after 1985 or 1986.
  • Telling the story: her books drew national attention to the property and its work.
  • Reacting to policy shocks: after the 2011 live export ban, the owners protested and listed the station, and insurance on the plane helped the property survive until the market improved.

Learn more about Bullo River

Readers can start with the Bullo River Station article and Sara Henderson's own books. For related cattle reading, see the ranching section on farm.FM, and a farm.FM story about a Northern Territory cattle station.

Timeline

  1. 1960Raymond Locke is granted the lease in June
  2. 1963Sara and Charles Henderson acquire Bullo River
  3. 1985Charles Henderson dies (some sources say 1986)
  4. 1991Sara Henderson is named Businesswoman of the Year
  5. 2001Marlee and Franz Ranacher acquire the station
  6. 2011Live export ban; property listed for sale
  7. 2015Grant Farris buys the station for A$9.5 million

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sara Henderson?

Sara Henderson was an Australian pastoralist and author who moved to Bullo River Station in 1963 with her husband Charles. She rebuilt the business after his death and wrote From Strength to Strength.

Where is Bullo River Station?

It is in the Northern Territory, about 78 kilometres north-west of Timber Creek and 115 kilometres north-east of Kununurra, near the Western Australian border, on the Victoria River.

How big is Bullo River Station?

Its area is 1,627 square kilometres, with a carrying capacity of over 9,000 Brahman cattle. The original 1960 lease covered 1,362 square miles.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

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