Andrew Forrest’s purchase of Kimberley cattle stations has traditional owners hopeful of social benefits

Mr Forrest’s agribusiness Harvest Road bought the Springvale Aggregation for a price thought to be in the vicinity of $70-million, further increasing the mining magnate’s presence in the Kimberley.

The cluster of stations includes Springvale Station, Mable Downs, Alice Downs and Texas Downs, covering more than 604,430 hectares with 35,000 head of cattle, about 70-kilometres north of Halls Creek.

Harvest Road has declined to elaborate on its vision for tourism and Indigenous empowerment to the ABC, preferring to wait until after the sale process is finalised.

The Yurriyangem Taam native title claim encompasses land on all four stations and traditional owner Millie Hills said she was eager to hear Mr Forrest’s vision for the properties.

“He bought some stations over in the Fitzroy Valley area and wants to work with the Aboriginal people there,” she said.

“If he’s got the same thinking, then he wants to work with Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley.”

Traditional owners excited by tourism potential

During the sale process, the selling agent and former owners talked up the potential tourism potential of the station’s spectacular gorge landscape adjacent to the World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park.

The East Kimberley has a reputation for picturesque stations which host outback resorts, attracting the rich and famous.

Ms Hills said she would like to see large-scale tourism developed to create jobs for Indigenous people in a region with high unemployment.

“Texas Downs was often a place I would go out to as a child. My brother worked there as a head stockman,” the Bunuba-Gija woman said.

Traditional owners see employment and education opportunities

She is among traditional owners who have serious concerns for young people in Halls Creek, given large numbers do not attend school and spend their nights on the street.

“I’ve always thought if we could get our people back out on country, how it used to be mustering in the ’70s and ’80s and early ’90s,” Ms Hills said.

“You could actually have families working out there and even a school for our kids, especially for the young ones that are struggling.

Mr Forrest has long publicly championed Indigenous causes, and Ms Hills said his wealth could support bold thinking around education in the area, given truancy in Halls Creek has reached crisis point.

“Back in the day we had kids’ parents working out on stations and the kids would be in an education hostel here in Halls Creek going to school every day,” she said.

“But maybe this time around we need the kids to be out on the stations with the parents and doing school of the air, or half the day working on the land and half the day reading and writing.

“Whatever is required for kids to live in society and understand what’s going on in the world.”