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Description
🐄 Buchanan Downs, Birdum NT – From October 2026, long-term – Homestead all-rounder / cook & animal helper – Paid position
A cattle station at Buchanan Downs, near Birdum in the Northern Territory, is looking for a practical, independent homestead all-rounder to join the team for a long-term stay.
The position is available from October 2026, with the end date flexible and the potential to stay for up to 12 months.
Singles are preferred, although couples may also be considered.
And one thing is certain — you need to be comfortable around animals, station life and people who really don't enjoy cooking!
The role
This is a varied station position combining cooking, animal care and general homestead duties.
Responsibilities will include:
🍽️ Cooking the evening meal
Nobody on the station is particularly enthusiastic about cooking, so preparing dinner for approximately 4–6 people is an important part of the role.
The crew eats meat and fairly straightforward meals. Some vegetables would probably be appreciated — even if the boss thinks a couple of vitamin tablets on everyone's plate should do the job!
🐄 Feeding poddy calves
You will help prepare milk and feed the poddy calves using the calf feeder.
Previous experience feeding calves, horses or other livestock is required.
You'll need to be confident around animals and capable of making sure the smaller calves get their fair share when the bigger ones try to take over.
🐴 Horses and livestock
The property has elderly horses, poddy calves and plenty of other cattle that seem convinced they qualify as poddies too.
Duties include helping ensure animals have access to feed and water.
💧 Lawn watering
Keeping the lawns watered is important, particularly during the dry conditions, as the green areas provide useful grazing for some of the older and younger animals around the homestead.
🐕 Kelpies
There are working kelpies as well as some happily retired, slightly rounder kelpies.
Applicants need to enjoy having friendly dogs around. They may occasionally bark at night when wildlife — particularly the resident feral pigs — attracts their attention.
What they're looking for
The ideal person will be:
✅ Practical and self-motivated
✅ Comfortable living and working on a remote cattle station
✅ Experienced with livestock, particularly feeding calves and horses
✅ Able to read and follow written instructions
✅ Able to follow verbal instructions
✅ Capable of organising their own workload
✅ Comfortable working without constant supervision
✅ Sensible about pacing themselves in hot conditions
✅ An animal lover — particularly cattle, horses and kelpies
✅ Able to prepare straightforward evening meals
Steel-capped work boots will be needed for livestock duties.
The station also requires sensible alcohol consumption, with a limit of no more than three standard drinks per day while on the station.
Hours and pay
💰 Starting pay: $250 per day
The normal working day should be around 8 hours.
There is always another job that could be done on a cattle station, so being able to organise yourself, prioritise and not overdo it is important.
When temperatures reach around 38°C, even the locals know when it's time to make use of the air conditioning.
Time away
Remote station life isn't for everyone, and regular breaks are understood.
There is flexibility to take some time away when needed.
Darwin is approximately 780 km away, and the station will cover fuel for an agreed trip away to Darwin.
Katherine is approximately 380 km away and is used when necessary for shopping, supplies and parts.
A little about station life
This isn't a polished resort job.
It can be hot, dusty, remote and unpredictable — but once the rain arrives and everything starts turning green, it's a very different place.
For someone who enjoys animals, station characters, a bit of humour and the experience of living somewhere well away from city life, it could be a memorable long-term opportunity.
How to apply
Applicants will need to provide:
📄 A current CV
📞 Two referees
Singles are preferred, although applications from suitable couples will also be considered.
If you're independent, practical, comfortable around livestock and can cook a decent evening meal, they'd like to hear from you.
Other skills or requirements
Ability to read instructions and follow written and verbal instructions, no more than 3 standard drinks a day on station,
previous experience feeding animals like poddy calves and horses.
