Henbury Conservation Project
State: NT | Hectares: 527 293 | IUCN Category: IV | Partner: R.M.Williams Agricultural Holdings
Preserving biodiversity and habitat
Watch the Henbury video
Henbury Station is a spectacular property in Australia's arid Red Centre. It covers more than 500,000 hectares (5,000 square kilometres) to the south of Alice Springs, extending from the spectacular MacDonnell Ranges across the vast, open red plains of the diverse Finke bioregion.
The $13 million property was purchased by R.M.Williams Agricultural Holdings in 2011 with the support of the Australian Government through its Caring for our Country initiative. It is the largest property ever purchased for the National Reserve System with Australian Government support.
While Henbury has previously operated as a cattle station, 70 per cent of the huge property remains largely in its natural condition. In the north, stunning gorges cradle permanent waterholes where remnant plant species survive through long periods without rain.
The ancient Finke - reputedly the world's oldest river - runs for 100 kilometres across Henbury and is home to three fish that are found nowhere else in the world, including the tiny Finke River goby.
The bustard, central marsupial mole and the black-footed wallaby are just some of the threatened animals that make their home here. Red gum, desert oak and mulga woodlands, shrublands and hummock grasslands provide habitat for other threatened species including the Peter Latz wattle and the thick-billed grasswren.
Factsheets
- Download a factsheet on preserving biodiversity and habitat at Henbury
- Download a factsheet on the Henbury carbon farming project
