VICTORIA RIVER DOWNS STATION

Victoria River Downs is a famed and iconic cattle station in Australia that has been operating for over 100 years. It was once the world’s largest pastoral lease with an area of 41,000 km². The property was originally established back in 1880 and was stocked with 20,000 head of cattle, over landed by the famous Nat Buchanan. Now days, the total area of the VRD lease stretches across 8,900 km² and runs just shy of 100,000 head of cattle. It is run as four separate stations – VRD, Moolooloo, Pigeon Hole and Mt Sanford.

In 2016 we added Humbert River as an out-station to Victoria River Downs, which added an additional 10,000 head of cattle and an additional 108,000 hectares.

33,000

Head Cattle

13,000

Head Breeeders

390,400

Property Size (ha)

Country

A good mixture of quality chocolate to black basalt soils. The Victoria & Wickham Rivers pass through the property.

Pastures

Include native Sorghum, Flinders, Mitchell and blue grasses.

Station Managers
Cameron & Alex Latter

Cameron and Alex, along with their young daughter, became part of the Heytesbury Pastoral team in March 2023 as Station Managers at our Pigeon Hole Station. Within a few short months of their arrival, they also welcomed a son to the family.

They brought a wealth of experience to the team, having worked across various stations in the Northern Territory and Queensland in a range of roles within the northern cattle industry. With backgrounds as overseers, they were eager to step into management. After successfully running Pigeon Hole Station, they were promoted to Station Managers at Victoria River Downs in late 2024.

Both originate from NSW where they had grown up around farms and cattle.

“We have always admired Heytesbury Pastoral as a company and were extremely grateful to have the opportunity to join such a wonderful team that promotes a strong community and family atmosphere.”