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Austral Downs


VH-KDK

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The next of my tour of the strips around Mount Isa, Queensland.

 

Previously

 

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A change of horses at Woorona but the weather is the same.

 

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The Carenado Cessna 172 needs the cobwebs ad dust blown off it. They can do with some more dust out here.

 

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Heading west over the desolate landscape, only 40km to Austral Downs which is just in the Northern Territory.

 

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Austral Downs is 1812 miles² with the Georgina River being seen here.

 

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The station runs some 42,000 head of cattle.

 

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Founded in 1883 the station originally stocked with 1400 cattle and 140 horses with 8200 sheep arriving the next year.

 

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In the 1950s a shelter was built on the station as part of the Woomera Rocket Programme.

 

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On ‎10‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 11:20 AM, BradB said:

Could easily pass for Nevada here in the US . I am enjoying your trip Martyn , more please . :):)

 

Cheers

 

John

Not too many casinos out here though.

Glad you are enjoying the series.:)

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On ‎10‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 11:40 AM, Rodger Pettichord said:

Hey Martyn. What a grand trip you are giving us. Rarely seen territory coupled with a strong sense of place. I love this open country and thank you for bringing it to us.

Thanks Rodger, a bit flat and sandy but a sense of achievement finding the strips in the featureless landscape.:)

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On ‎10‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 2:56 PM, Jack Sawyer said:

What a beautifully desolate place but why?  I guess if you want to get way away from it all or pretend you're on Mars.  Does it ever snow there?  Nice set Martyn.

Like most of Australia Jack, it is very short on water. They get frosts in the winter but no snow.

I don't know if you saw my remark in another post but last time I was in Alice it was minus 4°C overnight. :o

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On ‎10‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 3:27 PM, adambar said:

Great trip Martyn, thanks for the ride. :)  I just don't see 42,000 head of cattle though. :D

Cheers Adam, the cattle are a special variety that have great camouflage so the drop bears can't hunt them!;)

 

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16 hours ago, Captain Lars said:

Very good set of shots, Martyn, the best one of your Outback series so far, I'd say!

Is this the famous rabbit proof fence in the second shot to the left of the runway?

Many thanks Lars.

The fence you are talking about is much further south.:huh:

I think this is the Victorian fence to keep us southerners out.:lol:

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15 hours ago, teecee said:

" Is this the famous rabbit proof fence "

LOL.. Back in the day Aus spent a fortune building and staffing both Dingo and Rabbit proof fences, neither of which were very successful..Terry.

Now if only they had built a Cane Toad proof fence!:rolleyes:

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15 hours ago, Stillwater said:

Hey mate, what a great and variing landscape!

Thanks Gerold. I am glad you noticed the variation in the scenery. In the first image there are 36,127 spinifex bushes  per km² but in the second and third images there are only 36,126 bushes per km².:blink::wacko::-

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On ‎10‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 10:21 PM, jankees said:

 no, my first time in Oz I spent doing fieldwork north of Mount Isa, so it was all driving and walking

Now I understand, I didn't realise you had spent time down under.:)

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