THE daughter of famous cattle queen Sara Henderson is calling it quits on the Northern Territory property she fought to keep, placing Bullo River Station on the market with expectations of fetching nearly $20 million.
After a very public dispute in 2001 to stop her mother selling the 160,000 hectare family cattle station, Marlee Ranacher and husband Franz have decided to sell, reports The Australian Financial Review .
The recent ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia was the final straw for the couple, who ten years ago won an injunction preventing Ms Henderson - a top-selling author and former Business Woman of the Year who died in 2005 - from selling the property.
"We are not getting any younger and the government has just cut off our income. I don't know how they can do it," Mr Ranacher said.
"It's affecting Marlee a lot more than me. She grew up here. ten years ago we were fighting for it and now we are selling it.
Bullo River runs 8000 head of Braman cattle, and caters for tourists. Guest accommodation includes 12 twin-sized air-conditioned rooms.
Territory Rural's Andrew Gray and Colliers International's Steve Liebelt have been given the challenge of selling the property.
"It's going to be tough," Mr Gray said. "I think I can say on behalf of all the agents that there is no doubt the pastoral property market remains challenging."
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