Avon Downs and Austral Downs Stations

200 Years of the Australian Agricultural Company

Avon Downs Station is situated 70km west of Camooweal, Queensland and 250km northwest of Mount Isa. Austral Downs, which borders Avon Downs, spans the Northern Territory and Queensland border. 

In 1882 pastoralist Thomas Guthrie acquired 1,200 square miles (3,108 square kms) of land in the Northern Territory’s Barkly Region. Guthrie had arrived in Australia from Scotland at the age of 14 and built a career in agriculture including partnering with George Synnot in a station and wool broking firm. He named his Northern Territory property Avon Downs, inspired by his Merino stud in Victoria ‘Rich Avon’. 

Guthrie expanded Avon Downs to 2,300 square miles (5,957 square kms) and spent £100,000 on improvements including building capacity for 70,000 Merino sheep, 9,000 Shorthorn cattle, and 400 horses (Hone 2006). He was the first pastoralist to run large numbers of sheep in the Territory as well as the first person to erect telephone lines there (Hone 2006). 

Avon Downs wool was carted 200 miles (322 km) to Burketown in Queensland, before being shipped to Sydney or Brisbane and then on to England, where it sold well on the London market. 

By 1920, the frequency of droughts and proliferation of pests, as well as the need to invest significantly in dingo proof fencing, had prompted a shift to cattle from sheep. Fortunately, Guthrie had been developing his cattle herd since 1885 and so the station was well-prepared to pivot to cattle. 

Guthrie owned Avon Downs privately until 1906 before it was purchased by the Thomas Guthrie and Sons Pastoral Company, which then sold the station to the Avon Downs Pastoral Company in 1910. Keen to expand its interests in the Northern Territory, in 1921 the Peel River Land and Mineral Company bought Avon Downs for £205,000. 

During the 1950s, the Shorthorn herd at Avon Downs was gradually replaced with breeds better suited to the environment, initially Santa Gertrudis cattle imported from Texas. Today both Avon Downs and its neighbouring property Austral Downs, are used to produce cattle for Company’s Wagyu brands.

 

References 

Hone, J. Ann 2006, Thomas Guthrie (1833-1928), Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, < https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/guthrie-thomas-3683> 

 

The woolshed, Avon Downs Station, Queensland, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

The woolshed, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

The woolshed, Avon Downs Station, Queensland, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
The woolshed, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
Overseer Jack Kennedy on his horse Daphne, Avon Downs Station, Queensland, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

Overseer Jack Kennedy on his horse Daphne, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

Overseer Jack Kennedy on his horse Daphne, Avon Downs Station, Queensland, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
Overseer Jack Kennedy on his horse Daphne, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
The Barracks, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

The Barracks, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

The Barracks, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
The Barracks, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
Mrs Luck riding in the station buggy, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

Mrs Luck riding in the station buggy, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

Mrs Luck riding in the station buggy, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
Mrs Luck riding in the station buggy, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
Group celebrating Christmas, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

Group celebrating Christmas, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).

Group celebrating Christmas, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
Group celebrating Christmas, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, c. 1910 (Z241-211).
Stock camp, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, 1952 (Z241-211).

Stock camp, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, 1952 (Z241-211).

Stock camp, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, 1952 (Z241-211).
Stock camp, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, 1952 (Z241-211).
Dining room and workshops, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, 1925 (Z241-211).

Dining room and workshops, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, 1925 (Z241-211).

Dining room and workshops, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, 1925 (Z241-211).
Dining room and workshops, Avon Downs Station, Northern Territory, 1925 (Z241-211).
Aerial view of the homestead complex, Austral Downs Station, Northern Territory, September 1994 (from AACo Staff News).

Aerial view of the homestead complex, Austral Downs Station, Northern Territory, September 1994 (from AACo Staff News).

Aerial view of the homestead complex, Austral Downs Station, Northern Territory, September 1994 (from AACo Staff News).
Aerial view of the homestead complex, Austral Downs Station, Northern Territory, September 1994 (from AACo Staff News).
Austral Downs Station homestead, Northern Territory, 1930s (Courtesy of State Library of Queensland).

Austral Downs Station homestead, Northern Territory, 1930s (Courtesy of State Library of Queensland).

Austral Downs Station homestead, Northern Territory, 1930s (Courtesy of State Library of Queensland).
Austral Downs Station homestead, Northern Territory, 1930s (Courtesy of State Library of Queensland).