Cresswell Downs
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle farming |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Northern Territory |
| Products | Cattle |
| Owner | Paraway Pastoral Company |
Cresswell Downs Station, often referred to simply as Cresswell Downs, is a pastoral lease functioning as a cattle station situated within the Northern Territory of Australia.
Positioned roughly east of Elliott and south of Borroloola, the property shares boundaries with several neighboring stations including Mallapunyah to the northwest, Walhallow on the western side, Kiana to the north, Calvert Hills Station lying northeast, Benmarra also to the west, Brunette Downs directly south, and Anthony Lagoon to the southwest. Prominent waterways traversing the land include Cresswell Creek, Coanjula Creek, and Puzzle Creek.
The land is traditionally owned by the Wambaia. The first recorded European visitor was explorer Frank Hann in 1881. That same year marked the establishment of the station, which was named in honor of William Rooke Creswell, though a spelling mistake in the name remained unchanged. The site was chosen by Ernest Favenc, who participated in an expedition aiming to secure pastoral leases alongside his associate Mr Brodie. In 1881, Kilgour and Woodhouse sold a share of the property to the De Salis brothers. At inception, the station covered and did not yet contain livestock.
By 1883, Favenc had divested his quarter interest—then stocked with approximately 2,000 cattle—to Brodie and De Salis. In 1895, Sidney North Innes joined forces with T.A. Perry to acquire Cresswell Downs; however, Perry was soon killed by Indigenous workers. Innes continued operations solo, conducting significant cattle drives. Following a drought that diminished the herd to around 3,000 head by 1904, Innes liquidated much of the stock and briefly returned to England before resuming management in 1905.
Ownership transferred in 1906 to brothers Richard Hugh Taylor and William McCurdy Taylor, both seasoned stockmen from the Gulf region. After William's death in 1915, Richard remained at the helm until his passing in 1917; control then passed to their sisters. The station was sold in 1918 to James C Hutton, Peter Nalty, Horace V Brumm, and Raym Logan. Bridget J Naughton became proprietor in 1927. The Taylor brothers were instrumental in founding the annual ABC races alongside neighboring stations in 1910.
William Naughton assumed ownership sometime post-1918 while transporting small herds for slaughter in Cloncurry. By 1923, ownership was jointly held by Naughton and Peter Nalty; however, a legal conflict emerged by 1929 concerning financial entitlements and cattle ownership. The court ruled that Nalty was owed £7,000 in back-pay but denied him any stake in the property. By 1932, management fell under Tom and Frank Naughton as their father pursued other ventures.
Today, Cresswell Downs is under the ownership of Paraway Pastoral Company and operates in conjunction with Walhallow Station.