Australian Cattle Station Reopens Weeks After Cyclone

When Cyclone Narelle tore through Bullara Station in March, owner Edwina Shallcross watched cows wade through neck-high water and goats shelter in floating cars. The devastating storm dumped over two meters of floodwater across the property's 100,000 hectares, leaving the popular Western Australian tourist destination without power or clean water for weeks.

"Everything went under," Shallcross said. The Exmouth Gulf cattle station, home to sweeping red dirt rangelands and a beloved tourist stay, had to rebuild from scratch.

But the team refused to stay down. Just weeks after the cyclone struck, Bullara Station reopened its doors to tourists. The staff worked around the clock to restore the property while dealing with extensive damage to infrastructure across the vast property.

"We're so grateful and proud of all our team," Shallcross said. "They've just stood by us and been really incredible."

During the storm's peak, Shallcross watched the animals' survival instincts kick in. Cows backed into the wind with their heads down, searching for solid ground and high places. Their resilience matched the human effort happening around them.

The Bright Side

The station just closed out its tourist season with better numbers than expected. After months of hard work, the iconic red dirt landscape has made a complete comeback.

Even better news arrived when Shallcross checked on the livestock. The cattle couldn't be in better condition after months of grazing on the lush feed that sprouted after the floods. Last week, healthy Droughtmaster cattle headed off to market in prime shape.

"The silver linings are those shiny healthy Droughtmasters," Shallcross said. The green rangelands stretch across the property now, a stark contrast to the underwater landscape from seven months ago.

As the final tourists departed earlier this month, Shallcross reflected on the emotional roller coaster. What started as excitement over rain quickly turned to crisis, then transformed into an unexpected story of resilience and recovery.

The station owner is looking forward to some rest after an exhausting but ultimately successful season, hoping Mother Nature stays calm for the next go-round.