Outback Stations

by Evan McHugh

From the helicopter I could see the property's waterholes surrounded by paperback trees, its red-stone cliffs lit by the rising sun. And grass, endless seas of grass. Here was the vision splendid- Nat Buchanan's grass castle. Gurindji country. And my country, Australia.' This is big country, the outback, home to the largest cattle and sheep stations in the world. Yet few of us know what goes on behind the farm gate. What's life really like when next door is 500 kilometres away, and a day's work involves mustering livestock in their tens of thousands, dealing with extreme heat and backbreaking physical labour? Bestselling author Evan McHugh heads down the road to find out. He goes behind the scenes at Adria Downs in the dead heart of Central Australia, helps drove cattle from the air at Wave Hill and gets a lesson trapping dingoes at the remote Commonwealth Hill. McHugh reveals the fascinating history of these outback stations, and what it takes to work on one today. 'Outback Stations is about as Australian as damper and dust.' Weekly Times

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Australia

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2012

Reviews

[Muphyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished this! 3.5 stars

It's actually quite an interesting read if you're interested in Outback Australia and station life but I could only listen to it in small chunks (because how many facts about a station can you really absorb in one go?!). The book discusses lots of fascinating historical details about the early pastoralists, the treatment of indigenous people and the massive beef companies behind many stations but sometimes the minutia of the historical details became a bit much (hence it took me ages).

I found the bits about aerial mustering utterly fascinating and the book really gives you a sense of how vast central Australia is.

Makes me very curious about exploring station life if it just wasn't so hot out there.

[Scott Diamond · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see some favorable reviews for this book from those working in the industry. If you do work on large Australian cattle or sheep stations OR desire to , then by all means read this book. You'll love it.

However, if your situation is like mine - American visiting Australia and desirous of getting a sense for these stations then I'd skip this book. The author walks through 10 stations in somewhat excruciating detail. Sometimes to the ridiculous point. For example, he doesn't visit Norm Simms station but he does want to provide a testimonial of his honor in case you want to work for him. What? What is this doing in a book? Couldn't we leave this out?

I'm sure the industry loves this book. I think this is my major criticism. Past misdeeds/history is well explained but there appear to be no faults at present. The people are invariably described as energetic, resourceful and even look younger than there years - who knew the secret to youth was working in the sun in the Outback? There are apparently no environmental concerns or other problems with these ranches. Oh there is some discussion about water usage but that has been "fixed" now that the windmills only pump when the trough is low. Only in the final chapter does he provide guidance for what needs to change and these recommendations seem to come out of nowhere since he spend all of the prior chapters discussing the virtues

What I hoped for when getting this book was some sense of what it is like to live there. Is it lonely? Are people happy? How is it to raise kids? What do people love the most and miss the most. You do get partial answers to the above but not directly, you have to tease it out of all the other less interesting details.

[Ania Sz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the part about live on a station, but author should have added one more chapter explaining some terminology related to cattle and sheep handling. Now I feel like checking ads for outback jobs.

[Shereen Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book discusses lots of fascinating historical details about the early pastoralists also the interesting update of current stations holdings as well as Pastoral lands over time been broken up with water issues, enjoyed hearing about the massive beef companies behind many stations these days.
Would love the lifestyle of Station life, be hard but rewarding, love the team work that goes into it and the idea of jack of all trades, was very interesting to hear the staff have degrees of higher University education but happy working on the land, instead of an office in the city and how most station in today’s way employ the indigenous people it brings them back to their lands and gives them a purpose. I found the aerial mustering fascinating.
But the music between each chapter was terrible.

[Francesca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad other reviewers let us know the rest of the chapters would be similar. Deep dives on each station that get repetitive. Too soporific for a big lap drive of the, yes, very big, outback. Context of the land rights battle from the Lowitja biography unfavorable for the the author's perspective. Hosted by and only talking to (so far, 3rd station) the current owners and employees. Yet in all the relentless positivity, "Truckasaurus" is the only humor to be found.

[Gary Trembath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and well written account

Evan has written a detailed account of his visits to most of Australia's big stations. As one who spent several years in mustering camps on the SA/NT border and the Kimberlies in the late 60's and early 70's, the account he has written is much as I expect it would have evolved. A good book and well worth reading!

[K.M. Updike · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible, in-depth journey into the history and modern times of Australia's largest stations. But it isn't only the history and the numbers of these stations that make them wonderfully full of life and interest, it's the people behind them, and this is their amazing, story.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting. I worked in the Vic River Region, next to VRD. Wonderful to hear the history of the stations. Station life is absolutely amazing and I do suggest people experience that life for themselves. It's hard but rewarding work. And the country captures your heart and soul.

[Diane Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

About life in the outback stations and the characters who were tough enough to tame it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history on the development of Australian stations and brief insights into current life on these stations.

[Sarah loves books 😻😻😻 · Rating 2 out of 5]

That's it- after almost 9hours of audiobook I decide to let the last 2hours go. I loved the personal stories! But the history part of each station (and so far he covered 9!) was too much and left me feeling utterly bored, especially the repetitiveness! 3 positive things to take away: 1. I have never looked at a beef burger like the one I ate on the weekend, wondering where the beast had lived and grazed and if it had wondered across the Australian red outback. 2. There is a lot more going on in the outback than I thought! 3. I got a sense of Australia as a big continent with more to it than just the east coast and Perth. I felt the vastness of the continent especially listening to the cattle drovers marching all the way from Queensland to Adelaide- that was impressive. 2-3star rating.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting exploration of the rise of the large outback stations in Australia. It looks at the history of 11 stations and the author also visited the stations to look at current operations.It is apparent that some managers are more attuned to the environmental and animal welfare aspects of pastoral livestock management than others.

[Kelly Buchanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more enjoyable because I had just been to a large outback station.