Erldunda
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | 1870s |
| Founder | Richard Warburton |
| Headquarters | Near Alice Springs , Australia |
Area served | Northern Territory |
| Products | Santa Gertrudis cattle |
Erldunda operates as a pastoral lease functioning as a cattle station located roughly south of Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory.
History
Founded in the 1870s by Richard Warburton, who introduced livestock in 1884, Erldunda stayed under the Warburton family's ownership until the 1920s, when it was purchased by the Stanes family.
Location and description
Spanning approximately , Erldunda supported a herd of 6,500 Santa Gertrudis cattle as of 2010. It shares its borders with several pastoral leases: Lyndavale to the west; Mount Ebenezer and Palmer Valley to the north; Idracowra on the eastern side; and Umbeara along with Victory Downs to the south. The property is traversed by seasonal waterways including Karinga Creek and Kalamurta Creek. By 2019, ownership of Lyndavale and Mount Ebenezer remained with the Stanes family.
Native title ruling
In April 2023, the Federal Court acknowledged native title rights for the Anangu people over approximately of pastoral lease territory encompassing Erldunda, Lyndavale, and Curtin Springs stations. This significant ruling marked the first in Central Australia to recognize commercial rights associated with native title. It provides traditional owners with privileges such as hunting, conducting cultural ceremonies, and mandates consultation regarding land management decisions. Nonetheless, neither the native title holders nor pastoralists possess mineral exploration rights, with potash mining licenses still active. Ross Stanes highlighted the enduring relationship between his family and the Anangu community, underscoring a shared respect for each party's entitlements.