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THE NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA.
LANDS OPEN FOR LEASE IN TERMS OF THE CROWN
LANDS ORDINANCE 1931-1964 AS "EXPERIMENTAL
(TEST) FARMS" UNDER AGRICULTURAL (MIXED
FARMING AND GRAZING) LEASES
APPLICATIONS for agricultural (mixed farming and grazing)
leases of the lands described in the Schedule hereto, which
have been declared to be experimental farms, and subject to the
conditions stated in the Schedule, will be received at the office of
the Lands and Survey Branch, Northern Territory Administration,
Darwin, on or before 7th January, 1965
Application Forms —Applications must be in accordance with
the prescribed forms which (together with plans of blocks and
other explanatory material) are available from the Director of
Lands, Northern Territory Administration, Darwin, the Lands
Clerk, Heenan's Building, Gregory Terrace, Alice Springs and the
Secretary, Department of Territories, Canberra, ACT Applications
must be lodged with the Director of Lands, Northern Terntory
Administration, Darwin
Deposit—The first year's tent and a fee of £1 10s for the pre
paration of the lease must be deposited with each application
Provided that where an applicant elects to apply for more than
one block by expressing an order of preference he will be required
to deposit a sum equal lo the highest rental, together with the
lease fee
Qualifications—A successful applicant will be capable of
planning and successful!} carrying out a programme of pro
gre^ive de\elopment and operation of the farm as outlined for
the block for which application is made Each applicant should
therefore be prepared to produce to the Land Board substantial
evidence of his capability in this regard and that he is trained or
experienced and is efficient in the particular aspects of farming
which are involved in the development and use of the land applied
for, i e pasture improvements and farming of irrigated crops,
particularly rice, cattle husbandry, handling and maintenance of
up-to-date mechanical equipment, and engagement of contractors and
the direction and supervision of labour Ability to carry out the
essential operations for nese types of farming, and to manage
a farm business and to interpret and apply technical advice
available from agricultural extension services will be sought
Hie financial resources of applicants will be considered when
determining eligibility for selection All applicants are advised to
attach to their application a refeience from a bank or a business
hcxiee carrying on business directly concerned with a rural indus
try, supporting any financial statement made in the application,
and to note that any applicant making a statement known to be
false shall be guilty of an indictable offence
Interview and Selection —All applications made in accordance
with the foregoing requirements will be considered by the Land
Board whose functions it will be to consult such experts and
interview such applicants as it thinks fit The Board will then
recommend to the Admimstrator-in-Council that agricultural leases
be granted to the three applicants who, having been interviewed,
are, in the opmion of the Board, the most suitable of the appli
cants to be the lessees ol the agricultural leases concerned
Applicants will not be required to inspect the land before inter
view but the three applicants selected by the Land Board will be
required to do so before a recommendation for the grant of a
lease is made by the Board to the Administrator-in-Council
Leases to be in Perpetuity —All leases will be in perpetuity
from the first day of July following the date on which the applica
tion therefor is approved by the Admimstrator-in Council However,
the successful applicants may enter into possession of the land
and will be required to pay rent from the date on which the
application is approved It is expected that lessees will enter into
possession of the land by 1st April, 1965
Lease Instruments—Successful applicants will be required to
sign and return the lease instruments within 28 days from the
date on which the instruments are forwarded to them
Rentals of Leases—The annual rent payable in respect of each
lease will be five per centum of the unimproved capital value of
the land subject to reappraisement every 21 years in accordance
with the provisions of the Crown Lands Ordinance and during the
first 21 years of the leases shall be at the rates set out in the
Schedule hereto
Survey Fees—Successful applicants will be required to pay a
survey fee as set out in the Schedule hereto before the grant
of a lease is made
Condition of Leases —Each lease will contain the following
general reservations, provisions and covenants —
(a) A reservation of a right of entry and inspection
(b) A reservation of all minerals
(c) A reservation of a power of resumption The power of
resumption can be exercised on six months' notice
where the land is required for public purposes and
such other purposes as the Governor-General sees fit,
and two years notice when the land is required for
any other purpose
(d) A covenant to pay the rent annually in advance
(e) A provision that the lease shall be liable to forfeiture if
the rent is unpaid for six months or more
(f) A covenant by the lessee to use the land only for the
purpose for which it is leased
(g) A provision that the lessee, having paid all rent due,
may, at any time, in manner prescribed under the
Crown Lands Ordinance, surrender the lease
(h) A covenant by the lessee that, subject to any exemption
granted by the Administrator for cause shown, he
shall after the expiration of two years after the com
mencement of the lease, reside on the leased land
for not less than six months in each year Provided
thai residence at a place or m an area notified by
the Administrator to the lessee from time to time shall
be deemed to be residence on the leased land
(1) A covenant by the lessee that he will not erect any building
withm one chain of iny boundary fronting a public
road
0) A covenant by the lessee that he will fence the land as
prescribed in regulations under the Crown Lands
Ordinance
(k) A covenant that the lessee will comply with the laws
relating to the destruction of vermin and noxious
weeds
(1) A covenant that the lessee will pay all rates and taxes
which may at any time become due in respect of the
leased land
(m) A covenant by the lessee that he will not without the
consent of the Administrator cut any timber trees on
the leased land except for use on or in connection
with the land
(n) A covenant that the lessee will, during such period as
is specified in the lease, develop, cultivate and stock
the land in accordance with such directions as are
given by the Administrator from time to time before
the end of that period
(0) A covenant that the lessee will observe and comply with
the regulations under the Crown Lands Ordinance for
the time being in force
(p) A provision that the lease shall, subject to the Crown
Lands Ordinance be 'table to forfeiture for non com
pliance on the part of the lessee with any covenant or
condition of the lease
The lease will contain also the following special provisions and
covenants—
(1) A provision that the lease shall not be transferred during
the first five years, except m the case of the death of
the lessee or of his being taken with an illness which in
the opinion of the Administrator will render him
unable to manage the lease and comply with the
conditions

(u) A covenant by the lessee that he will develop and oporate

the lease in accordance with the proposed plan as set
out in the Schedule hereto

(iu) A covenant by the lessee that he will keep adequate records
(iv) A covenant by the lessee that he will maintain in a

serviceable condition common drainage channels passing
through his lease

Financial assistance under the Encouragement of Primary Pro
duction Ordinance will be available conditionally from the Primary

Producers' Board to lessees

Help Table 1-1 Show

GENERAL INFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL

REQUIREMENTS

Description —Each of the three farms has a frontage to the
Adelaide River and contains broadly three types of land, viz,
black soil plains, higher timbered country and a transitional zone

The plains have heavy textured or peaty soils developed on
alluvium and are seasonally flooded each wet season During
the dry season the heavy soils dry and crack severely but the
peaty soils remain swampy In the virgin state these plains are
mostly treeless, but mangroves and associated species fringe the

river

The natural pasture consists of a dense growth of tall perennial

tussock grasses and reeds

The commonest reeds are various species of Eleochans and the
commonest grass species is wild rice (Oryza sativa var fatua) On
the higher areas, better suited to rice growing, other grasses are
^wamp panic (Pamcum paludosum), water couch (Pseudoraphis
spinescens) and bjady grass (Imperta cylindrica var major)

Intervening between the plains and the higher timbered country

i a transitional zone

The soils here are grey and lighter textured and are seasonally
flooded but for shorter periods than on the plains These soils
retain moisture until the mid dry season Vegetation is dominated
oy pandanus palms with patches of dense monsoonal forest

The pandanus dominated area carnes a dense stand of tussock
grasses including swamp panic (P^nicum paludosum) and blue
grass (Botrio intermedia) The mon>oonal forest are^is however
have no significant natural pastures

The higher timbered area is flat to undulating with light textured
soils either lateritic or developed over mostly arid rocks
Vegetation is tall (30 ft to 70 ft ) oper* forest characterised by
numerous Eucalyptus spp of which stnngybirk (E tetradonta)
and Woolybut (C Mimata) aie most common There is a lower
tree storey which is extremely variable m composition and density
but of which palm and deciduous broad-leaved species form a

conspicuous part

The most common natural pasture species are tall (5ft. to 10 ft.)
annual sorghum (Sorghum intrans and S. stipoideum). Other tall
species include giant spear gross (Heteropogon triticeus),
perennial sorghum (Sorghum plumosum) and beard grass
(Chrysopogon latifolius). Numerous shorter grass species both
perennial and annual occur but are generally sparse especially
where the tall species are dense. These include bunch spear grass
(Heteropogon contortus), kerosene grass (Aristida browniana), and
native panics (Panicum spp.).

1—(North Farm).

Location.—'About 22 miles by bitumen road (Stuart Highway)
south of Darwin and about 22 miles by bitumen road east of the
Stuart Highway. The northern boundary commences at the Adelaide
River and runs generally westerly along the public channel to the
C.S.I.'R.O. Experiment Station then along the edge of the black
soil plain to Fogg Dam and skirts around the dam to a point
about 27 chains north-west of the dam wall. The western boundary
runs south-westerly from that point to a point about 60 chain
north-east of the Humpty Doo Road, but diverges to include former
Hundred of Guy Sections 561 and 562. The southern boundary
runs north-easterly from the Humpty Doo Road to the C.S.I.R.O.
Village, then follows the western and northern boundaries of the
Village to the bitumen ro^id, then runs north-easterly along the
bitumen road to the bank of the former Harrison Dam wall
then easterly and southerly along the wall to a point about 10
chains south of where it joins the public channel, then runs easterly
along existing channels and an inlet to the Adelaide River. The
eastern boundary runs along the Adelaide River. Access to this farm
is from the bitumen road and the public road to Middle Point pump

site.

The airstrip north-east of the C.S.I.R.O. Village is excluded from
the farm. area.

Area: 4740 acres (approx).

Rental: £70 per annum for the first twenty-one years of the

lease.

Existing Waters: Adelaide River, irrigated water from Fogg Dam.
Rainfall: 45 in.-60 in. per annum.

Block 2—(Centre Farm).

Location.—About 22 miles by bitumen road (Stuart Highway)
south of Darwin and about 22 miles by bitumen road east ot
the Stuart Highway. The northern boundary is common with the
southern boundary of Block 1, except that it follows the southern
and eastern boundaries of the C.S.I.R.O. Village. The western
boundary runs south-westerly to the southern boundary ot
Hundred of Guy Section 1504. The southern boundary runs from
that point east for about 35 chains, then north-easterly to the
Wood lane access road, along that road to the edge of the black
soil plain, then easterly to an inlet and along the inlet to the
Adelaide River. The eastern boundary runs along the Adelaide
River. Access to this farm is by the bitumen road and the public

road known as Wood Lane.

Area: 5990 acres (approx).

Rental £70 per annum for the first twenty-one years of the lease
Existing Waters Adelaide River, irrigated water from Fogg Dam
Rainfall* 45 in-60 in per annum

Block 3—(South Farm).

Location—About 22 miles by bitumen load (Stuart Highway)
south of Darwin and about 22 miles by bitumen road east of
the Stuart Highway The northern boundaiy is common with the
southern boundary of Block 2 from the point about 85 chains
east of the western boundaiy of Block 2 The western boundarv
runs south from that point for about 155 chains to the edge of
the black soil plain The southern boundary runs easterly to the
south-western boundary of the Beatrice Hill Animal Husbandry
Research Station, then follows that boundary along its south
western, north-western and north-eastern sides to the edge o!
Beatrice Lagoon, then runs easterly along the lagoon to the edge
of the developed area of bla^k soil plain and then along the edge
of that area to the Adelaide River The eastern boundary runs
along the Adelaide River Access to this farm is by the bitumen
road and the public road known as Wood Lane

The farm area is subject to reduction by an area of approximately
50 acres containing improvements the property of Adelaide Rivet
Limited and situated iro the south-west portion of the farm
approximately 60 chains from the western boundary and 35 chains
from the sout*"ern boundary Access from the northern and southern
boundaries of the farm to any portion excised will also be required

if necessary

Area 5170 acres (approx ) subject to reduction as noted above
Rental £70 per annum for the first twenty one years of the lease
Existing Waters Adelaide River, irrigated water from Fogg
Dam and Beatrice Lagoon

Rainfall 45 in-60 m per annum

PROPOSED MANNER OF DEVELOPMENT

Each farm will be developed so that within three years of the
lessee entering into possession of the lease, it wdl produce fat
cattle on at least 700 acres of Tounsviile lucerne pasture on the
higher hnd and up to 750 acres of para grass/blue pea pasture
on the lowlands and on the residual of natural pastures and on
rice stubble Three hundred and seventy five (375) acres of rice
will be giown each year, alternating between two areas It is
estimated that at the end ol the first stage of development store
cattle of the order of 560 head will be brought onto each
property annually for fattening and at least 400 hundred tons of
paddy rice harvested

The lessees, at full development of each lease, will be expected
to maintain the production of fat cattle and rice but further
intensific itton may be possible

R L DEAN, Administrator

$