As the site evolves, we hope that you enjoy reading about the cattle, our horses, the properties & the Outback! Along the way you will discover a commitment to the breeding of quality livestock, whether it be the production of prime Australian grass fed beef or the Australian Stock Horses that are used in the day to day routine of a large beef enterprise such as Neales River Livestock. It is through this commitment that the 1♥3 brand from Oodnadatta has become renown as the symbol that signify's quality livestock that Allandale has produced for over a century.  Today, the 1♥3 brand can be found in most State's & Territory's of Australia.  

The company derives it's name from the mighty Neales River and named by John McDoull Stuart on the 6th June, 1859 after J.B. Neale Esq, MLA. The Neales River flows through the heart of Allandale and this unique water system winds it's way through the Far North of South Australia and is one of the most significant water catchment regions on the Western side of Lake Eyre.

Andrew & Donnagh Clarke have overseen the development and expansion of Allandale since January 1992. Looking back to when they first arrived to take over the reins at the age of 20, it was on the end of a drought, cattle numbers were low and money was tight and the property had only 2 sets of permanent cattle yards. Previously, only one third of the property was being utilised due to a lack of infrastructure and a large numbers of wild horses were roaming the Eastern side of the property. It was a huge undertaking and a challenge for Andrew who was the first family member to live at Allandale since it's initial purchase by Andrew's father, Trevor and his brother Lindsay in 1965. With the unexpected death of Trevor in 1977 - Allandale was held by Trevor's wife Edith until such time Andrew was able to return to Allandale. Today, Allandale has 9 trucking yards, numerous holding paddocks with overnight yards, extensive pipeline systems powered by individual solar power units monitored through a UHF repeater network that enables the property to be relatively low maintenance from a management prospective.

It has been an amazing journey and today, Neales River Livestock operates over 3 properties through out South Australia - Allandale, Babbiloora & Mount Penny.

Located in the South Australia's Far North over 1000km from Adelaide and in the North-West water catchment of Lake Eyre. The property is situated along the world famous Oodnadatta Track and features some of the most spectacular scenery in the Outback. Covering 5000 square kms (in excess of one million acres) and with a running capacity of up to 4000 Poll Hereford cows. Allandale is prime cattle country that breeds & grows stock on natural pasture - where else can you produce Australian grass fed beef in a 5 inch rainfall?  Allandale's  importance historically along with her unique flora, fauna and land systems have all been well documented over the years. Early explorers like John McDouall Stuart travelled right through the heart of Allandale and today you can still see the relics of early European exploration and settlement. 

Allandale is managed by Rodney Fullarton and Narelle Black. In 2007,  Rodney and Narelle were a part of the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive and in their respective roles they were able to offer a unique insight to life on the Oodnadatta Track for those visitors who had travelled from across the World to see our part of the Australian Outback! As managers, they bring a wealth of experience in their role overseeing the breeding herd and processing the weaner cattle in readiness for their trip southward to Babbiloora and Mount Penny. Read More

Mount Penny, 3900 Acres

With the continuing drought conditions on Allandale, a further 3900 acres known as Mount Penny was acquired to absorb cattle during the destocking period as a result of the unrelenting drought conditions up in the Far North of South Australia. Mount Penny is prime grazing with attractive flats to undulating sandy loam over clay and limestone. Like Babbiloora, pasture consists of clovers, phalaris, lucerne and veldt grasses Read More

Babbiloora, 1200 Acres

In 2003, Babbiloora was acquired to maximise potential southern cattle markets that the Allandale cattle suit so well. Babbiloora is a diverse operation, predominately a mixed grazing property with the ongoing development of pastures for Lucerne seed production.

With over 900 steers annually processed through Babbiloora this diversification compliments the Neales River Livestock breeding & marketing program ideally. Babbiloora is where all sale cattle are processed and accessed for sale  Read More

Sustainable Grazing in the Outback

Both Babbiloora and Mount Penny have played a major role in the destocking phase at Allandale. Destocking has allowed our breeder herd at Allandale to be mantained without overgrazing what germination eventuates in a rain event. With  five years of drought behind us we are looking forward to presenting quality stock  in the spring and these will be some of our finest sale cattle.

Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU) Projects ^TM

Recently we have embarked on a new venture -  an Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU) Project™. With the guidance of EMU ecologist, Hugh Pringle, we are very excited to be apart of this project  which is based on capturing pastoralists’ vast local knowledge as the foundation for improving landscape health and productivity. Key issue areas are identified and flown and priority projects developed. EMU is an ongoing, inter-generational programme that mobilises pastoralists’ existing knowledge and infuses some landscape ecology to get more production out of raindrops, closer to where they fell. The key objectives of the EMU Project are to increase the self-reliance of individual pastoral enterprises and build community collaboration and inter-dependence to meet catchment scale challenges. Our key measure of success is to become redundant by building on existing landscape literacy and community relationships, rather than build pastoral dependence on us as is conventional.

The last 5 years have been extremely dry, some say the driest period since european settlement. Whatever way you look at it, the land has suffered despite all our efforts to try and minimise the impact of drought. Allandale has bounced back extremely well with the rain events of the past six months but with the EMU Project we envisage Allandale will be a shining example of how pastoralists and convservation can work hand in hand to preserve and grow these unique ecosystems for future generations.