ABOUT SHANDONVALE

15,000 acres. 4000-6000 sheep. Hoards of kangaroos, 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 (a 45 minute drive), location of the famous Tree of Knowledge, site of the 1891 Shearer's Strike, where legend has it that the Australian Labor Party was formed.

Half an hour’s drive to the north-east, through the town of Aramac, you will find the Lake Dunn sculpture trail, the longest of its kind in the world. A great day trip.

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

If you will be flying up, it's easiest to land in Longreach. Hire cars are readily available at Longreach airport. For those visiting in private aircraft, our Airstrip Co-ordinates S 23 07.470 E 145 23.606, 1000m strip East West, Oz Runway code: OZSHE.

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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 feeding stock. See The Shandonvale Experience for more details.

What do I need to bring with me?    A complimentary station produce basket will be offered on arrival, guests are invited for dinner at the homestead on one night of your stay. BYO lunches, snacks and dinner. We also recommend you bring long-sleeved shirts, long pants, boots and a wide-brimmed hat. And don't forget your swimmers for our artesian bath experience. The sun can be 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.

   

   

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