Mt Sanford Stock Camp, NT

Members of the Mt Sanford Stock Camp are pictured based a the “comfortable” Stock Camp beside the road into the main station complex. It features septic toilets, permanent shower facility, a brush roofed dining area, and indoor camp fire – a popular gathering point, particularly on cold winter evenings and mornings.
“Camping out” is still practiced on numbers of cattle stations, although not as commonly as in “the olden days”, usually the workers camp near a set of yards, which makes the processing of cattle more efficient (10, 20 years ago). Usually the workers camp near a set of yards, which makes cattle processing more efficient.

Most stock camps are currently equipped with a mobile camp kitchen, and “extras” range from those described at the Mt Sanford camp to more basic camp showers, toilets and associated tarpaulins. Sleeping quarters may be “historical” sheds/buildings, personal utes, horse floats, miscellaneous bed bases, and/or dome tents. The majority of workers have their own swag, ranging in size from the cigarette-type rolls (for the really tough types) to embarrassingly huge swag rolls which must surely contain posturepedic mattresses and feather down quilts!

Whatever the situation, there’s almost unanimous support, from young people at least, for stock camp life in preference to living in at the station. During adverse weather conditions there may be a shift of opinion!

Image caption:

1) Ringers ready for a day’s work – Well, Almost! Two pairs of boots to go, and then they’re ready! Back (L-R): Louisa Lulu Nilsson, Melissa Kermond, Rob Acton (HS) Front (L-R): Charlie Easley, Michelle Huth, Alice Spry, Ashley Hayes