Ooraminna Homestead

Heritage Homestead.

In 1884 pioneers of Alice Springs, William and Mary Hayes established Ooraminna Cattle Station.

Six generations on and Bill and Jan Hayes have turned this place into a thriving tourist attraction, yet it still remains a working farm. And a very big farm that is. If you jumped in a car and drove from one end to the other, it would take all day.

Despite the lack of rainfall, the cattle here are healthy and well fed and watered. They have adapted to fossicking for food and the mulga plants are edible too.

It's a difficult way to make a living, as costs keep rising. Out of the 5,000 cattle Bill has on the property, around 800 a year are sent to market.  But it's tourism that's been Ooraminna's saviour. 

There are these fantastic little cabins you can stay in, or if you’re thinking of a corporate event this setting makes a perfect backdrop. They were originally built for a film set. Despite the film never being completed, the cottages have been a blessing for Ooraminna.

Many Thanks to Travel NT for helping Paul and the crew make this episode possible.