A “true icon” of the Northern Territory’s cattle industry, Ian McBean AM, has died aged 93.
Mr McBean was a life member of the NT Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) and in 2012 received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to the cattle industry.
He was born in Melbourne in 1931 and grew up on a farm in the Riverina of New South Wales.
At the age of 21, seeking adventure, Mr McBean travelled to the NT to be a ringer at Elkedra Station, north-east of Alice Springs.
He would go on to spend more than 60 years working in the territory’s cattle industry, including a decade as a contract drover.
According to an article by Mates of the Murranji and Territory Q, Mr McBean took on one of his biggest droving jobs in 1963, moving 1,250 shorthorn cattle 1,500 kilometres from Auvergne Station down the famous Murranji stock route and across the Barkly Tablelands to Avon Downs.
After years of droving, Mr McBean went on to become a pastoralist, initially owning Innesvale Station, before going on to buy the vast Bradshaw Station in the Victoria River District and then Bonalbo Station in the Douglas Daly.
Speaking to ABC Rural in 2012, Mr McBean said he loved cattle and the people involved in the industry.
“I’ve enjoyed my life in the cattle industry very, very much,” he said.
“It hasn’t been very financially sound at times, but I don’t think I’d change a thing [if I had my time again].”
A ‘pioneer’ and advocate
In a statement, the NTCA said Mr McBean was a devoted husband to Kay and a father to seven.
“His passing is a profound loss to his family, friends, and the NT cattle industry, where he was not just a pioneer but one of its strongest advocates,” the statement read.
“Ian’s legacy is one of resilience, leadership, and an enduring commitment to the industry. From his early days as a drover navigating the harsh Murranji Track to becoming a respected station owner, Ian dedicated more than 60 years to shaping the NT’s pastoral sector.
“His influence extended far beyond his own operations, [and] many of today’s industry leaders had the privilege of working for or alongside Ian, learning from his vast experience and unwavering passion.
“The NT cattle industry has lost a true icon, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.”