The Neales River (Napamurra), Oodnadatta Track

Neales River Livestock is a family operated business based in South Australia with a focus on grass fed beef production. The 1♥3 brand is well respected and has been long associated as a mark that signify's quality livestock.  

The business derives it's name from the mighty Neales River and named by John McDoull Stuart on the 6th June, 1859 after J.B. Neale Esq, MLA. The Neales River flows through the heart of Allandale and this unique water system winds it's way through the Far North of South Australia and is one of the most significant water catchment regions on the Western side of Lake Eyre. 

Neales River Livestock operates over three properties through out South Australia - Allandale, Babbiloora and Mount Penny.

Located in the South Australia's Far North and ideally located in the North-West water catchment of  Lake Eyre. The property is situated along the world famous Oodnadatta Track and features some of the most spectacular scenery in the Outback. Covering 5000 square kms (in excess of one million acres) and with a running capacity of up to 3850 cow and calf units. Allandale is prime cattle country that breeds & grows stock on natural pasture - where else can you produce Australian grass fed beef in a 5 inch rainfall for less than a dollar a kg?  Allandale's  importance historically along with her unique flora, fauna and land systems have all been well documented over the years. Early explorers like John McDouall Stuart travelled right through the heart of Allandale and today you can still see the relics of early European exploration and settlement. 

Allandale is managed by Andrew and Donnagh Clarke who have lived and worked in Central Australia for the past 20 years.  Andrew first arrived at Allandale as a 'fresh faced' 17 yr old with boundless amounts of energy which was imperitive in the property's development. Donnagh's family have had a long association with the Oodnadatta Track and it's surrounding areas dating back to 1890, when her great-great grandfather, John Robert Brumby and his family established  "Brumby's House" at Warrina.

Allandale is where the breeding herd is based and it is where weaner cattle are processed in readiness for their trip southward to Babbiloora and Mount Penny. Read More

Mount Penny, 3900 Acres

With the continuing drought conditions on Allandale, a further 3900 acres known as Mount Penny was acquired to absorb cattle during the destocking period as a result of the unrelenting drought conditions up in the Far North of South Australia. Mount Penny is prime grazing with attractive flats to undulating sandy loam over clay and limestone. It is an ideal breeder block for the future with excellent shelter belts scattered throughout. Pasture consists of clovers, phalaris, lucerne and veldt grasses Read More

Babbiloora, 1200 Acres

In 2003, Babbiloora was acquired to maximise potential southern cattle markets that the Allandale cattle suit so well. Babbiloora is a diverse operation, predominately a mixed grazing property with the ongoing development of pastures for Lucerne seed and hay production.

With over 1200 cattle  processed annually through Babbiloora and Mount Penny,  this diversification compliments the Neales River Livestock breeding & marketing program ideally. Babbiloora is where all sale cattle are processed and assessed for sale  Read More

Sustainable Grazing in the Outback

Both Babbiloora and Mount Penny have played a major role in the destocking phase at Allandale. Destocking has allowed our breeder herd at Allandale to be mantained without overgrazing what germination eventuates in a rain event. With  five years of drought behind us we are looking forward to presenting quality stock  in the spring and these will be some of our finest sale cattle.

Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU) Projects ^TM

Recently Neales River Livestock has embarked on a new venture -  an Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU) Project™. With the guidance of EMU ecologist, Hugh Pringle, we are very excited to be apart of this project  which is based on capturing pastoralists’ vast local knowledge as the foundation for improving landscape health and productivity. Key issue areas are identified and flown and priority projects developed. EMU is an ongoing, inter-generational programme that mobilises pastoralists’ existing knowledge and infuses some landscape ecology to get more production out of raindrops, closer to where they fell. The key objectives of the EMU Project are to increase the self-reliance of individual pastoral enterprises and build community collaboration and inter-dependence to meet catchment scale challenges. Our key measure of success is to become redundant by building on existing landscape literacy and community relationships, rather than build pastoral dependence on us as is conventional.

The last 5 years have been extremely dry, some say the driest period since european settlement. Whatever way you look at it, the land has suffered despite all our efforts to try and minimise the impact of drought. Allandale has bounced back extremely well with the rain events of the past six months but with the EMU Project we envisage Allandale will be a shining example of how pastoralists and convservation can work hand in hand to preserve and grow these unique ecosystems for future generations.

Typical of the landscape around North Bridge Creek on the Oodnadatta Track. Photo Hugh Pringle

 Neales River channel floodout

The clay soils of Allandale. Photo: Shannon Napier

Crab skeleton from the Cecelia Waterhole in front of homestead. Photo: Shannon Napier

 Golden Ord Spider. Photo: Shannon Napier