More Than Cattle: Showcasing the Diversity of Central Australia’s Pastoral Industry

More Than Cattle: Showcasing the Diversity of Central Australia's Pastoral Industry

By Jessie Daniels

One of the best parts of working for the NTCA is the opportunity to spend time on-property with our members, seeing firsthand the innovation, stewardship and resilience that underpin pastoral businesses across the Territory.

While Gascoyne-based Northern Hub Node Manager Krystie Bremer was in Alice Springs recently, I took the opportunity to show her some of the incredible pastoral businesses that make Central Australia’s cattle industry so unique.

Our first stop was the Arltunga Bush Pub & Eco Retreat, owned by NTCA members Brad and Belinda Seymour. While many visitors know Arltunga as a popular destination nestled in the East MacDonnell Ranges, it is just one part of the Seymour family’s business, alongside their cattle operation at Haasts Bluff.

Businesses like theirs demonstrate the diversity of the pastoral industry in Central Australia. Tourism not only provides another income stream for pastoral families, but also supports local employment, encourages visitors to experience our unique landscapes and contributes to the broader Territory economy.

While heading to Arltunga, we were fortunate to see some exceptional country following one of the biggest wet seasons in recent memory. Healthy mobs of Hayes family weaners from both Undoolya and The Garden Stations grazed alongside the Ross Highway, a welcome sight and a testament to the opportunities that good rainfall can bring.

We also stopped in at the NT Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Old Man Plains Research Station, where Livestock Technical Officer Georgia Anderson provided an overview of the diverse research projects underway in Central Australia. From livestock production and pasture management to rangeland research, the visit highlighted the important role science and innovation play in supporting producers to make informed decisions and build resilient pastoral businesses.

As impressive as the season has been, one message came through consistently during our conversations with members: good country is the product of good management.

Across each property we visited, discussions centred on the importance of understanding carrying capacity, monitoring seasonal conditions and maintaining conservative stocking rates to ensure landscapes remain productive over the long term. While favourable seasons create opportunities, they also require disciplined decision-making to ensure businesses remain resilient when conditions inevitably change.

Our final stop was Curtin Springs Station, where NTCA members Ashley and Lyndee Severin welcomed us for an overnight stay.

Like many pastoral businesses across the Territory, Curtin Springs has successfully diversified over time. Alongside its cattle enterprise, the station has developed a thriving tourism business and the internationally recognised Curtin Springs Paper enterprise, transforming native grasses harvested on the station into beautiful handmade paper. We were fortunate to tour both the paper-making operation and the station itself, taking in the spectacular views of Mt Conner and one of the property’s remarkable salt lakes.

The visit was a powerful reminder that the pastoral industry contributes far more than livestock production alone. Across Central Australia, pastoral businesses are creating employment, supporting regional tourism, adding value through innovation and, above all, caring for millions of hectares of some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes.

Every business is different, but they all share a common commitment to sustainable land management and leaving the country in better condition for future generations.

Spending time on-property with our members is always a valuable reminder of the scale, diversity and importance of the pastoral industry in Central Australia. It is these conversations, and the knowledge shared around kitchen tables, in cattle yards and out in the paddock, that continue to shape the work NTCA does on behalf of our members.