Bullo River Station has released its inaugural sustainability report, setting a benchmark for responsible land management in Australia’s Outback.
The remote Luxury Lodges of Australia property is a working cattle station in the East Kimberley Region, in the Northern Territory – home to brahman-cross cattle, wallabies, dingoes, wild buffalo, crocodiles and myriad of birdlife.
Co-founders Alexandra and Julian Burt have just released their first sustainability report, and say it indicates “promising progress and evidence that the property is on track to achieve the goal they established when purchasing the Station in 2017”.
“This, being our first Bullo River Station Sustainability Report by The Landsmith Collection, provides a frank assessment of where we are in respect of our goal for sustainable conservation and food creation.”
Alexandra and Julian say Bullo River Station is now redefining the relationship between cattle grazing and ecological preservation by maintaining a biodiverse ecosystem alongside low-impact tourism, running a profitable cattle enterprise while ensuring the health of the land, and creating immersive guest experiences that connect visitors to the land.
The pair are seven years into a 10-year partnership with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) – taking on fire, ferals and managing the number of animals grazing the land to manage weed infestations.
Julian says the partnership has seen it reduce its stock by more than 60 per cent.
“As of September 2024, we have approximately 2,500 head of cattle in the Bullo herd, which is a significant drop from the 7,000 head of cattle that once grazed the land, and just over 350,000 acres of the property’s 400,000, is now considered conservation area.”
The partnership has also seen some significant firsts, including around 55 per cent of Bullo’s electricity coming from on-site solar power generation; 20 per cent of vegetables grown on-station with staff only eating Bullo-raised beef and pork; 100 per cent of guest products are compostable or biodegradable – and the Station supports more than 20 local businesses.
Looking to the future
Julian says, “A unique vision for the future was… one where you could have a profitable food-producing business with an utterly thriving natural environment. If this is achieved, then it represents a profound change in the pastoral business model and approach”.
“Looking ahead, we still have a lot to do and a long way to go, but we’re committed to improving the environment and social outcomes of our business.
“Ultimately, as an organisation, the way we treat our land, our animals, our own people and our guests is what will sustain us, eternally”.
For more information, visit Bullo River Station.
