ABOUT SHANDONVALE

15,000 acres. 4000-6000 sheep. Hoards of kangaroos, 140 camels, 20 guardian donkeys, horses, dogs, emus, chickens, pigs, goats, deer and two humans.

The Lynch family, originally from Ireland, drew it as a ballot block back in the early 20th century and gave it the name "Shandonvale". The three Lynch brothers then operated the property for the next 97 years.

The Stent-Smith family acquired it in 2007 and we have been bringing it back up to its full potential since then.

In 2017 we renovated the old Shearer's Quarters and turned it into accommodation for guests who want to get a taste of the real Straya.

Your Hosts

Lane and Deon Stent-Smith

Lane and Deon Stent-Smith

Our passion is living and working on the land, and our vision is to give others the opportunity to experience our way of life, that in many ways we take for granted, and bridge the gap between city and country, as this divide is becoming wider by the day, we are excited to showcase the paddock to plate journey for those seeking to reconnect with their produce as (86% of Australians now live in a metropolitan area, and only 1.5 % of our population produces the food and fibre for approx. 60 million people making, Australian producers the most efficient in the world). We would love to share with you, our part of the story, the past, present, and future of living in the outback, and a first hand taste of the freedoms, challenges and joys of living in rural Australia.



Getting To Shandonvale

If you've got your own transport, use Google Maps to locate us.

Our station is located a short 1.5 hours drive from Longreach, the heart of outback Queensland and home to The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Museum.

Nearby is Barcaldine, location the famous Tree of Knowledge, site of the 1891 Shearer's Strike, where legend has it that the Australian Labor Party was formed.

Winton, to our north west, is the Dinosaur Capital of Australia.

If you will be flying up, it's easiest to land in Barcaldine or Longreach and we will happily collect you from the airport and transport you to the station. For those visiting in private aircraft, our Airstrip Co-ordinates S 23 07.470 E 145 23.606, 1000m strip East West 600m North South, Oz Runway code: OZSHE.


Frequently Asked Questions


Where will I be staying at Shandonvale?     You will be staying in The Shearer's Quarters, about half a kilometer from the owner's homestead.

What activities are there to do at Shandonvale?     Across our 15,000 acre property you can freely explore, see some native wildlife, fish, relax, or take part helping us with our daily workings, like mustering and driving a dozer. See The Shandonvale Experience for more details.

What do I need to bring with me?    We will provide dinner at the Homestead for one night of your trip (plus there's an extra option for dinner every night in the homestead) and a seasonal produce basket which will cover breakfasts in the Quarters. But if you’re staying for more than a single night, you should bring with you any additional lunch items you think you will need. If you are flying into Longreach or Barcaldine, we will stop at the local grocer after we collect you from the airport to give you a chance to stock up on food and other items. We also recommend you bring long-sleeved shirts, long pants, work boots and a wide-brimmed hat. The sun is hot during the day out here and you’ll be outside for a lot of the time. However from March to August it's cold at night so also bring a jacket and warm clothing. Beer and wine will be provided with dinner but BYO additional alcohol.

   

   

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