Lake Nash Station
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Founder | John Costello |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Barkly Tableland, Northern Territory |
| Products | Cattle |
Number of employees | 20–25 (2009) |
Lake Nash Station, often referred to simply as Lake Nash, is a cattle station situated on the Barkly Tableland within Australia's Northern Territory.
Location
Positioned approximately east of Alpurrurulam and south of Camooweal, Lake Nash shares its northern boundary with Georgina Downs and Austral Downs, while Argadargada lies to the west. To the south is Manners Creek Station, and to the east, it meets the Queensland border. The property is traversed by several significant waterways, including the Georgina River, Milne River, Manners Creek, Georgina Creek, Goyder Creek, and Gordon Creek.
Description
Covering an area of (equivalent to three million acres), the station is bisected by the Georgina River. The site includes a heritage homestead along with the original police station. The landscape is characterized by gently undulating plains composed of black soil atop limestone formations that support native Mitchell grass. Numerous caves with water-filled chambers are found within the limestone, some extending beyond in depth.
History
The land traditionally belongs to the Yaroinga people, whose ancestral country spans regions of both the Northern Territory and Queensland, including Lake Nash.
Founded in 1879 by John Costello, an Irish immigrant who purchased the unfurnished property from Mr F. Scar, Costello introduced 700 cattle that were driven overland from Carrawal. During the 1880s, cattle fattened on the station were transported overland to markets in Adelaide.
In 1901, the area suffered extreme flooding with rainfall exceeding in a single day; subsequently, Costello sold Lake Nash in 1905. Another major flood occurred in 1909, resulting in the reopening of previously closed stock routes following substantial rains.
By 1915, Lake Nash was acquired by the Queensland National Pastoral Company as part of a larger portfolio totaling , with Lake Nash itself covering .
Significant events include a cattle theft in 1917 involving approximately 800 head and a 1950 inquiry into illegal employment of Aboriginal workers as pump operators, violating labor regulations.
By 1923, Lake Nash encompassed roughly , ranking it among the more expansive stations within the Northern Territory.
The station endured drought conditions during 1952, which limited cattle movement; however, early 1953 brought heavy rains causing Georgina River levels to rise significantly and flooding to occur. Drought returned in 1954, restricting cattle transport due to insufficient water availability along stock routes.
In 2004, ownership passed to the Georgina Pastoral Company—a partnership between Peter Hughes and Bill Scott—with operational management under George Scott. Following drought conditions in 2008, favorable rainfall in 2009 allowed employment levels of between 20 and 25 staff. The business manages three leases—Lake Nash, Georgina Downs, and Argadargada—as a unified operation with a carrying capacity reaching up to 55,000 head during optimal seasons. This includes around 30,000 crossbred breeders comprising Santa Gertrudis, Brahman, Charbrais, Senepol, and Waggui breeds.