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
Rusty & julie richter

Rusty & Julie both commenced with the company in 2003, with Rusty first employed as a station hand on Flora Valley Station and Julie on VRD Station in the same capacity. Both have progressed through numerous positions within Heytesbury Pastoral, with Rusty currently holding the position of General Manager Operations, and Julie in a support role as well as coordinating training across all stations. Rusty & Julie are based at VRD with their two children.