THE first of the Brinkworth cattle have finally arrived at "Uardry", near Hay, seven months after they set out from Queensland.
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Head drover Bill Little led the first of the mob onto the property on Christmas Eve. Mr Little and his family and crew set out in June from Roma, Qld, to lead the first of 18,000 cattle to "Uardry" for South Australian pastoralist Tom Brinkworth.
On Tuesday, three mobs totalling 5000 cattle arrived at the property amid much fanfare from television crews using helicopters and drones to film the spectacle.
Mr Brinkworth put on a lavish spread for everyone who helped in the operation and was able to attend.
Mr Little said about 4000 head of the cattle were trucked out of the dry areas late last year. Three other mobs are now within 70 kilometres of their destination and others are bit further away. Mr Little will now oversee the other mobs walk in to "Uardry" before the middle of February.
Click on the image above for more photos from the Brinkworth mob's long journey
Mr Brinkworth has been growing hectares of irrigated corn for feed but some cattle will head to other Brinkworth properties due to the hot, dry weather and feed conditions.
Elders agent Ron Rutledge said it was a significant milestone in Australian history.
"All credit should go to the Brinkworth family," he said.
"The drovers have done a wonderful job. The magnitude of numbers hasn't been droved in 100 years. It's been a fairly devoted cause for seven months."
Mr Rutledge said it was a huge event for Elders, which co-ordinated the whole process from purchase to delivery.
"It was the biggest single transaction Elders has ever conducted in 175 years," he said.
