NT station famed for big rains in new hands after four decades

Expectations at the time were for about $30 million, taking in both the property and its 12,000-strong Brahman herd.

Cattle breeders Tony and Julie Harrower had put Dorisvale up for sale after more than 40 years of ownership. It is now in the hands of another pastoralist family, the Schafers. LAWD’s Olivia Thompson brokered the sale.

“There are not many families that bought almost bare properties in the Top End and have held on to them for so long,” Thompson said at the time Dorisvale went on the market.

“It would have been very remote and tough to make a living when they bought Dorisvale, and they have made it something special. They are a true pioneering family.”

Over the period of the Harrowers’ tenure, considerable investment was made in expanding watering points, installing solar bores, adding new fencing and laneway systems as well as upgrading the main cattle yards.

Around 320 hectares of the station have been sown to Jarra grass, which is baled for hay and used to feed cattle in the holding yards.

The station has abundant surface water from the Bradshaw Creek and the Daly River and rainfall exceeding 1000 millimetres per year. It also overlies the Oolloo, Tindal and Jinduckin aquifers.

With ownership of Dorisvale comes the potential to lease neighbouring properties Jungle Yard Station and Oolloo Station, which would provide an additional 108,500 hectares.

Elsewhere in the Top End, North Star Pastoral, headed by veteran landowner Colin Ross, has listed its Hodgson River Station and is looking to fetch more than $20 million for the 111,000-hectare cattle property.