In a far-flung corner of Queensland, past long roads, endless dust and beyond the last flicker of phone reception sits a homestead with bright green lawns, a peacock and river views. It is an unlikely oasis in the desert — the heart of station life.

At **Adria Downs**, an 875,000-hectare organic cattle property 135 kilometres from Birdsville, work is the rhythm of life. It is hard work that shapes those who take it on.

![Cattle are trucked out of the station almost every week of the year.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/a84328c057f7e734e7ccfbcdc8bb3919?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

Young ringers from across the country and overseas rise before sunrise, move cattle through the heat and roll back in at dusk.

After five years of generous rain and consistent floods, spirits are high at Adria Downs as staff come together to celebrate Christmas.

![Adria Downs has its own golf course.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/413f27e07c5871991e30111e73cc210e?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=414&width=862&height=575)

Waterholes are full, feed is plentiful, and cattle have been trucked out of the station almost every week this year.

The station is also challenging industry stereotypes, having the same number of male and female workers for the first time.

It is a world 21-year-old Sophie Bruce, from Bathurst in New South Wales, stepped into a year and a half ago.

![Sophie Bruce finished school and worked as a governess before coming to Adria Downs.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/88e81affdea32bbcd5e77ea50f5e380b?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

"I'd seen heaps of things on Instagram or social media so came out here and I absolutely love it," she said. "It's so different when you're actually living in the lifestyle."

![Ringers pushing cattle to a paddock in the east.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/9c4cd0180639b6607d45b8d4285bd335?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

![The Georgina River snakes through Adria Downs.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/95f2dac8e502838f697d46b7c76f68ca?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

## Station Life

About 10 ringers and station hands make up the backbone of Adria Downs, steered by manager Don Raymont, kept organised by his wife Judy, and fed by station cook Rhonda Heslin.

Ms Bruce said with such a large crew, it was not isolating, but could be testing. "You definitely get annoyed at each other from time to time — that's just how it is living, breathing and working in the same space."

![Horses and motorbikes are used to muster on Adria Downs.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/c246888829203a3af1973d82b057588d?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

![Knocking off work.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/9191ce8c259332a1d29a8fa460332cd2?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

In summer, temperatures can reach the high 40s, part and parcel of living in far western Queensland.

> "We live in the heat … same as people live in north Queensland with cyclones," Mr Raymont said.

A Sunday off is often spent swimming or in the aircon. "If it's too hot, we'll sit in our rooms, watch some shows and we play a lot of card and board games," Ms Bruce said.

![Riverfront views at the staff dongas on Adria.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/ae4de01a696ebbaedad51e346f7f8205?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

"We've got **Starlink** so everyone can call their parents. It's kind of like a boarding school, I suppose."

Storm Foxwell, 23, hopped off a plane from New Zealand last year and drove straight into station life.

![Storm Foxwell outside staff quarters at Adria.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/8ae9adbd6f5a89b84bd0ba792b682f0a?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=85&width=862&height=575)

"I think the fact that it's a big desert and people still live here, I was intrigued," she said.

> "It's so hard to describe this place, how big it is, what you see in a day … being out here has changed so much for me."

![The Muncoonie Lakes system includes two major lakes that fill when the Georgina River flows.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/f5cd82f47947e635fa7656772b0d31e7?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

"We always eat together it's like going and having dinner with your family … lots of steak believe it or not."

UK backpacker Matthew Carter said he was drawn to rural work after coming to Australia three years ago. "It's hard work, it's early mornings, it's hot days and I think that's what brings people … people that want to prove to themselves they can do hard work and people that love that kind of work," he said. "I think station work is the essence of Australia."

![Matthew Carter has also worked on stations in north Queensland.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/f9b13d3257706a38641b5ea1a96c3c90?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=58&width=862&height=575)

It is still work head stockman Wilson Love enjoys, after being at Adria since 2022. "There's everything I love here … the people, the lifestyle that comes with it," he said. "We get a lot of backpackers come out … we've had seven different nationalities this year."

> "People normally leave here a little bit better than what they came; makes it rewarding."

![Wilson Love is from Toowoomba.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/25f2567de1348272c0e50dd6f7d0af22?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

And of course, it is only natural plenty of romance kicks off — blame the sunsets and solitude. "When you work so closely with people, it's very easy to see it as a Love Island type of scene or after one too many beers," Mr Carter joked.

## The Homestead

Adria Downs is one of several properties owned by the Brook family. The collection of houses and accommodation that make up the homestead has been developed over the past two decades. Before that, station operations were run out of Birdsville.

![The homestead has been running since 2005.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/6018b747b398bbf27345e44368c9c7c1?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2538&cropW=3807&xPos=0&yPos=159&width=862&height=575)

![Adria Downs is 875,000 hectares bordering the Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/0a87a44f35498d046736b7b94adb0128?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2667&cropW=4000&xPos=0&yPos=167&width=862&height=575)

David Brook's great-grandfather purchased the pastoral lease in 1939.

> "We've been through the whole process of bringing the first homestead in and then slowly building up around that," Nell Brook said. "It's a perfect spot."

![The Brook family owns 3 million hectares spanning several properties in Queensland and South Australia.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/5938dc8430ae7cfd32241ce76d194236?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=121&width=862&height=575)

Donny and Judy Raymont have been there since it became a working homestead in 2005. "It's come along way, we've done a lot of work with the Brook family," Mr Raymont said. "We've never had to advertise for staff."

![Canoe races became a feature of the Adria Downs Christmas party this year.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/3eecf414bf178db2dd8c2bab6e30b4f7?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1620&xPos=150&yPos=0&width=862&height=575)

Teaching young people about the industry is what Mr Raymont said motivated him to get out of bed every morning.

> "To know you've played a small part in guiding those kids, boys and girls, to be better people is what keeps me going every day."

While some will stay to keep the station running over Christmas, most will escape the heat and head to their respective homes.

But for Sophie Bruce, she has decided it is time to leave the desert behind … for now.

![Sophie Bruce has been living and working on Adria Downs for a year and a half.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/5aae376a3f2179b5ec3dc037f6600cfc?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3333&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=208&width=862&height=575)

"I've learnt so many things from in the shed, to out mustering and a lot with how to interact with people too," she said. "I will miss it so much."

The idea of life out on the edge of the desert has pulled in young people from across the country and overseas. 

Discover the Transformative Power of Remote Station Life: Where Hard Work Meets Personal Growth

## The Foundation of Modern Connectivity

Australia's prosperity has always depended on connection: to each other, to markets, and to opportunity. Today, that connection is **digital**. Behind every video call, every online transaction, and every remote classroom sits a backbone of infrastructure built and maintained by the telecommunications industry.

It's easy to take for granted, but without decades of investment by telcos such as TPG Telecom, Australia's **digital economy** simply wouldn't exist.

## The Pandemic Pivot and Ongoing Investment

During the past few years, our industry has invested billions to keep Australians connected and productive. During the pandemic, when the nation shifted overnight to **remote work** and online learning, it was telco infrastructure that kept the economy moving. That commitment hasn't slowed. In fact, it's accelerating, particularly in mobile.

Australia's mobile networks are among the best in the world. Independent research ranks us eighth globally for network excellence, second only to South Korea outside Europe. That's not luck; it's the result of the ongoing investments we make to keep Australians connected.

In the past year alone, mobile operators have added thousands of new sites and upgraded thousands more to **5G**.

![Vodafone network coverage expansion](https://multitools.newscdn.com.au/multitools/slider/content/1765862751601/Vodaphone-brand-reveal_XRIVKdFTp.jpg)

## Network Sharing: A Game-Changer for Regional Communities

At TPG Telecom, our network-sharing agreement with Optus more than doubled our mobile coverage footprint, boosting our reach to more than one million square kilometres. This has been a **game-changer** for regional communities, delivering better service, more choice and stronger competition without duplicating infrastructure or wasting taxpayer dollars.

Network sharing is smart economics and smart policy. It ensures Australians in rural and remote areas enjoy the same **connectivity benefits** as those in our cities. And as we look ahead to 6G and direct-to-device satellite services, these partnerships will be critical to closing the digital divide.

## Affordability in an Era of Inflation

While other sectors have passed rising costs onto consumers, telecommunications has done the opposite. In an era of surging inflation – where petrol, groceries, and utilities have all climbed – the cost of telco services has remained flat or even fallen. ABS data shows telco CPI dropping while other essential services have surged.

Think about that for a moment: Australians are getting more coverage, faster speeds, and greater reliability, all for less. In many cases, it's cheaper to use your mobile phone for a month than to park for an hour in Sydney's CBD. That's testament to **competition and efficiency** in our industry, and it's something we should celebrate.

## The Challenge of Over-the-Top Players

This same connectivity also underpins the success of streaming, social media, and app-based services, yet the burden of building and upgrading networks falls entirely on telcos, while global over-the-top players reap the rewards without contributing to the cost.

That imbalance makes it even more important to manage the costs of building networks, starting with **spectrum**, the invisible airwaves that carry our mobile signals.

## Spectrum: The Lifeblood of Connectivity

Spectrum is the lifeblood of connectivity, and renewing licences is critical to maintaining service quality and affordability. Every dollar spent on spectrum is a dollar not spent on towers, fibre, or improving customer service. That's why we need a regulatory framework that keeps spectrum costs fair and predictable.

If spectrum pricing surges, investment slows. And when investment slows, Australia falls behind. We cannot afford that risk, not with **AI, automation**, and the next generation of mobile technology on the horizon. The decisions we make now will determine whether Australia enters the 6G era as a leader or a laggard.

## Smarter Investment for the Future

Setting Australia up for our connected future requires smarter investment programs. Billions in taxpayer dollars and levies paid by telcos have been spent on supporting regional connectivity, including outdated copper lines. These government programs are fragmented and inefficient. Future funding should focus on outcomes, not duplication, to ensure benefits flow to all Australians, not just one network. With satellite to mobile services soon to be a reality for customers in poorly served areas, now is the perfect time for a rethink.

## A Call for Collaboration

Telcos have done the heavy lifting to build world-class networks. We've innovated, collaborated, and invested billions to keep Australians connected. But we can't do it alone. Government and industry must work together to create a policy environment that supports continued investment, encourages infrastructure sharing, and ensures spectrum costs remain sustainable.

Connectivity is not a luxury; it's the foundation of modern life. It powers businesses, enables education, and drives **productivity**. Backing Australia means backing the networks that connect us and the industry that builds them.

*Iñaki Berroeta is CEO and managing director of TPG Telecom.*

Australia’s prosperity has always depended on connection: to each other, to markets, and to opportunity.

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