Many people have a life-long fascination with Australian cattle stations. They are the largest farms in the world. Quite a few measure more than 10,000 square kilometres in size, running 10,000 head of cattle, upwards. It is these outback properties, which so many dream about, that feature in the coffee-table style book A Million Acre Masterpiece. The "A Million Acre Masterpiece" cover photo was taken on Australias second largest cattle station, Alexandria. Owned by one of the oldest pastoral companies, Alexandria is more than 16,000 square kilometres in area and runs up to 70,000 cattle. Photographer and writer Fiona Lake grew up on a farm and lived and worked in rural Australia for more than two decades. She spent countless hours in bullcatchers, mustering helicopters and on borrowed stockhorses to obtain these images.   These authentic photos illustrate many aspects of cattle station life, ranging from the thick of the dusty cattle mustering action and stockhorses at work; to stockcamps, cattle station homesteads and garden oasis; massive windmills, rodeos and bush racing to cattle dogs, huge roadtrains and mustering helicopters. Cattle stations included in the book range from Queenslands remote Cape York Peninsula and Gulf to the arid Channel Country; across the Northern Territorys historic Barkly Tableland and Victoria River District into Western Australias spectacular East and West Kimberley regions. Quirky outback expressions typifying the dry sense of humour commonly found in the bush are sprinkled throughout the captions. Many of these words and expressions are unique to these regions, so they are explained in a comprehensive glossary. As these cattle stations are located in the most remote parts of Australia and not open to the general public, few are fortunate enough to see what they are like in person. "A Million Acre Masterpiece" takes readers on a truly memorable armchair ride through many of Australias most famous cattle stations. Many people have a life-long fascination with Australian cattle stations. They are the largest farms in the world. Quite a few measure more than 10,000 square kilometres in size, running 10,000 head of cattle, upwards. It is these outback properties, which so many dream about, that feature in the coffee-table style book A Million Acre Masterpiece. The "A Million Acre Masterpiece" cover photo was taken on Australias second largest cattle station, Alexandria. Owned by one of the oldest pastoral companies, Alexandria is more than 16,000 square kilometres in area and runs up to 70,000 cattle. Photographer and writer Fiona Lake grew up on a farm and lived and worked in rural Australia for more than two decades. She spent countless hours in bullcatchers, mustering helicopters and on borrowed stockhorses to obtain these images. These authentic photos illustrate many aspects of cattle station life, ranging from the thick of the dusty cattle mustering action and stockhorses at work; to stockcamps, cattle station homesteads and garden oasis; massive windmills, rodeos and bush racing to cattle dogs, huge roadtrains and mustering helicopters.Cattle stations included in the book range from Queenslands remote Cape York Peninsula and Gulf to the arid Channel Country; across the Northern Territorys historic Barkly Tableland and Victoria River District into Western Australias spectacular East and West Kimberley regions. Quirky outback expressions typifying the dry sense of humour commonly found in the bush are sprinkled throughout the captions. Many of these words and expressions are unique to these regions, so they are explained in a comprehensive glossary. As these cattle stations are located in the most remote parts of Australia and not open to the general public, few are fortunate enough to see what they are like in person. "A Million Acre Masterpiece" takes readers on a truly memorable armchair ride through many of Australias most famous cattle stations.

Fiona Lake has specialised in photographing the largest cattle stations for more than 25 years, becoming Australias best-known outback photographer and writer. She has held very popular exhibitions in locations such as Sydneys Bondi Pavilion and Melbournes Sofitel Hotel. Exhibition openers include Governor-General Michael Jeffery, ABC Landline Producer Peter Lewis and businessman Peter Holmes a Court.  Fiona has won numerous art awards and judged many photography competitions. She was the first Australian judge appointed to the panel of 3 awarding the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Star Prize for Photography and her website was selected for inclusion in the National Library of Australias "Pandora" project.

Introduction

1.  Mustering - chasing them out of the scrub

2.  Yards - branding and bangtailing

3.  Working dogs

4.  Dinnercamp - tea and toasted corned beef sandwiches

5.  Bronco yards and cockys gates

6.  Houses and gardens - the big house and surrounds

7.  Stockcamps - buncarts and open fires

8.  Tucker - catching a killer

9.  Windmills, bores and water

10. Horses

11. Races, rodeos and relaxing

12. Roadtrains, river crossings and planes

13. Mustering helicopters and pilots

Acknowledgements

Glossary - unique outback words and expressions

Views from the outdoor office

Authors note