A rare insight into life on North Australian cattle stations over the years is currently available at the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library, James Cook University, Townsville . Books on the subject are shown above in part of a showcase at the library . Special Collections manager Bronwyn McBurnie says the university has an extensive archive of pastoral property material covering 40 stations , some of which is being exhibited . While a large part relates to Queensland , some prominent interstate properties are included .
The pastoral industry has been the cornerstone of Queensland's economy ever since Queensland separated from New South Wales in l859. As of 2018, of the 1.7million square kilometres of the state , 85.9 percent was used for grazing , with 22 of the 70 largest stations in Australia .
Of particular interest are station diaries , wage books , personal letters, business correspondence , legal documents. An idea of the extensive information contained is revealed in the university showcases .
Details of wages paid to Aboriginal worker in l949/l950 shows payment often took the form of tobacco and papers , some "drapery", stores , little cash , balance paid to the Protector of Aborigines.
Displayed above is a run of magazines from the l950s through to the l960s produced by the London based Australian Estates and Mortgage Company Limited , formed in the 1890s, which was deeply involved in the pastoral industry , running large flocks of sheep, producing huge quantities of wool , with sugar and cane farm interest , over the years training many jackeroos . It also acted as stock and station agents . Cover photographs depict scenes in a drovers' camp , outback Queensland, sugar production in Townsville , the Melbourne Show , Australian Estates premises in Inverell , NSW , and at Footscray, Victoria . The company sold to CSR in l978 .
HERE COME THE BOSS DROVERS
Galloping towards Townsville from Mackay is the above exhibition of 200 drawings by Robert MacPherson from the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art collection , which will be displayed at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery from July 13-September 1 .
Former Northern Territory News journalist and author, the late Keith Willey, wrote a book called Boss Drover, about Matt Savage , of Alice Springs .
