Springvale or Springvale Station is a
pastoral lease
A pastoral lease, sometimes called a pastoral run, is an arrangement used in both Australia and New Zealand where government-owned Crown land is leased out to graziers for the purpose of livestock grazing on rangelands.
Australia
Pastoral lease ...
that operates as a
cattle station in the
East Kimberley region of
Western Australia. The Springvale Aggregation was created when Springvale was purchased along with
Alice Downs, Mabel Downs, and Texas Downs by a South African company in 2003. the four properties are owned by
Harvest Road
John Andrew Henry Forrest (born 18 November 1961), nicknamed Twiggy, is an Australian businessman. He is best known as the former CEO (and current non-executive chairman) of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), and has other interests in the mining ...
, an
agribusiness
Agribusiness is the industry, enterprises, and the field of study of value chains in agriculture and in the bio-economy,
in which case it is also called bio-business or bio-enterprise.
The primary goal of agribusiness is to maximize profit w ...
owned by
Andrew Forrest.
Springvale Station is situated about north of
Halls Creek and south west of
Warmun in the
Kimberley
Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to:
Places and historical events
Australia
* Kimberley (Western Australia)
** Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley
* Kimberley Warm Springs, Tasmania
* Kimberley, Tasmania a small town
* County of Kimberley, a ...
region. The cluster of stations known as Springvale Aggregation covers .
History
J. W. McAdam acquired Springvale in 1932 from E. Bridge and Sons.
The family business
Quilty
Quilty is an Irish family name which has spread throughout the English-speaking world.
Origins and history
The name "Quilty" is an Anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic name of "Caoilte" (pronounced: Kweelteh). There was a mythic Celtic warrior ...
and Sons acquired Springvale in 1948 from W. J. McAdam in 1948. The Quiltys already owned neighbouring
Bedford Downs Station
Bedford Downs, or Bedford Downs Station, is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in Western Australia.
It is situated about west of Warmun and north of Halls Creek in the Kimberley region.
Both the station and nearby Mount B ...
.
In 2003 the property was sold as part of a 15-million four-property deal to South African interests. The four adjoining stations of Springvale,
Bedford Downs, Mabel Downs and
Alice Downs comprised an area of and were stocked with approximately 32,000 head of cattle.
Today
In March 2022,
Andrew Forrest's agribusiness,
Harvest Road
John Andrew Henry Forrest (born 18 November 1961), nicknamed Twiggy, is an Australian businessman. He is best known as the former CEO (and current non-executive chairman) of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), and has other interests in the mining ...
, bought the station, along with Mabel Downs,
Alice Downs and Texas Downs, together known as the Springvale Aggregation. Together they cover and are stocked with 35,000 head of cattle.
Traditional owners of the land were keen to work with the new owners, hoping for some of the land to be developed as tourist destinations, which would create jobs for
Indigenous people in a region which has few opportunities. In addition, with Forrest's known interest in improving the lives of Indigenous peoples, it is hoped that his wealth could be used to improve educational outcomes for children in the Halls Creek area.
See also
*
List of ranches and stations
References
{{Stations of the Kimberley Western Australia
Stations (Australian agriculture)
Pastoral leases in Western Australia
Kimberley (Western Australia)