
Faraway Downs is a fictional cattle ranch in the Australian Outback, spanning one million acres. It is the setting for the 2008 film Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann, and its 2023 reimagining as a six-part television series of the same name. The story centres on Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocrat who inherits the ranch after the death of her husband and must fight to protect it from a ruthless cattle baron.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Faraway Downs is a fictional cattle station in the Australian Outback, located in the Northern Territory. |
| Size | The exact size of Faraway Downs is not mentioned, but it is described as a massive cattle station. Australian cattle stations can range from 50,000 to over 2 million acres. |
| Distance from Darwin | In the movie, it is mentioned that Faraway Downs is a 10-day drive from Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. |
| Climate | The region where Faraway Downs is located experiences a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. |
| Terrain | The terrain of Faraway Downs includes a mix of grasslands, savanna, and desert, characteristic of the Australian Outback. |
| Isolation | Due to its remote location, Faraway Downs is extremely isolated and far from civilization. |
| Wildlife | The area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, and numerous bird species. |
| Nearest Town | The fictional town of Walkabout Creek is depicted as the nearest town to Faraway Downs. |
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What You'll Learn
- Faraway Downs is a million-acre cattle ranch
- It is owned by Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocrat
- It is located in the Australian Outback
- It is the setting for Baz Luhrmann's film 'Australia' and its TV adaptation
- The story centres on Lady Ashley's efforts to save Faraway Downs from ruthless cattle baron King Carney

Faraway Downs is a million-acre cattle ranch
The series delves deeper into the love story between Lady Sarah and the Drover, as seen through the perspective of young Nullah (Brandon Walters), a bi-racial Indigenous Australian child. Nullah's family works on the grounds of Faraway Downs, and he forms a bond with Lady Sarah, sharing the land's secrets with her. The series also explores the political backdrop of the time, showcasing the profound effects of World War II on Northern Australia.
In the film, Faraway Downs is faced with the 1942 Japanese attack on Darwin, during which Lady Ashley, the Drover, and Nullah reunite before Nullah leaves with King George. The series features an alternate ending, where the Drover is killed after the attack, leaving Lady Ashley to face her next chapter alone.
The story also addresses Australia's tragic history of removing Aboriginal children from their families and assimilating them into white culture, known as the "Stolen Generations". Nullah represents this theme, as he is caught between his Indigenous heritage and the comfort of his surrogate family with Sarah and the Drover.
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It is owned by Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocrat
Faraway Downs, the sprawling Australian cattle station depicted in the 2008 film "Australia," is a fictional estate, but its size and scope are reflective of the vastness of real-life cattle stations in the country. Now, on to the details about its owner, Lady Sarah Ashley.
Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocrat, is the proud owner of Faraway Downs. She is a woman of means and sophistication, having inherited wealth and a prestigious title. Lady Ashley is an independent and strong-willed individual who is not afraid to speak her mind, a trait that sometimes gets her into trouble in the male-dominated world of cattle ranching. Her decision to travel to Australia and take ownership of Faraway Downs showcases her adventurous spirit and willingness to embrace new challenges.
As an English aristocrat, Lady Ashley brings a sense of elegance and old-world charm to the rugged Australian landscape. Her refined manners and sophisticated style are in stark contrast to the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of the Outback. However, beneath her polished exterior lies a determined and resilient woman who is not afraid to get her hands dirty. She embraces the challenges of managing a cattle station and adapts to the unique demands of life in the Outback.
Lady Ashley's ownership of Faraway Downs is not without its challenges and controversies. When she first arrives, she faces resistance from the station's manager, Neil Fletcher, who undermines her authority. Additionally, she finds herself in the midst of a contentious situation involving rival cattle ranchers and the theft of her herd. Despite these obstacles, Lady Ashley navigates the complex world of cattle station ownership with grace and determination.
The character of Lady Sarah Ashley adds an intriguing layer to the story of Faraway Downs. Her presence as an English aristocrat in the Australian Outback creates a cultural contrast and brings a unique dynamic to the narrative. Through her character, the film explores themes of female empowerment, cultural clashes, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Overall, the ownership of Faraway Downs by Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocrat, serves as a pivotal element in the film "Australia," providing a backdrop for romance, adventure, and personal growth against the stunning and rugged landscape of the country's vast cattle stations.
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It is located in the Australian Outback
Faraway Downs is a fictional cattle station in Northern Australia, located in the Australian Outback. It is the setting for Baz Luhrmann's 2008 film "Australia" and its 2023 reimagined limited series of the same name.
The story centres on an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), who travels to Australia to confront her husband and sell their million-acre cattle ranch, Faraway Downs. Upon her arrival, she learns of her husband's death and becomes the caretaker of the property. Lady Ashley discovers that a ruthless cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown), is plotting to steal her land. She reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to protect her ranch, and the two fall in love.
The story is told through the eyes of young Nullah (Brandon Walters), a bi-racial Indigenous Australian child. Nullah's family works on the grounds of Faraway Downs, and he forms a bond with Lady Ashley. The film and series explore the impact of World War II on Northern Australia and the country's racist history, including the "Stolen Generations" policy, where Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and placed in internment camps.
The Outback is a vast and remote region in Australia, known for its arid climate and rugged terrain. It encompasses large areas of the country's interior and is sparsely populated, with a unique and diverse landscape that includes deserts, grasslands, and rocky outcroppings. The isolation and expanse of the Outback provide a dramatic backdrop for the story of Faraway Downs, emphasising the characters' struggles and the vast distances they must travel.
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It is the setting for Baz Luhrmann's film 'Australia' and its TV adaptation
Baz Luhrmann's 2008 film "Australia" is a romantic epic set in the Australian Outback in the Northern Territory between 1939 and 1942. The story unfolds in the fictional Faraway Downs, a million-acre cattle ranch owned by an English aristocrat, which is under threat due to the impending World War II. The film follows the journey of Sarah Ashley (played by Nicole Kidman), who travels to Australia to confront her husband and sell the ranch. She teams up with a cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) and an Aboriginal boy named Nullah, who becomes her surrogate family.
The film explores themes of reconciliation, the Stolen Generations program, and the exploitation of Aboriginal workers. However, it has been criticised for taking liberties with history and glossing over the harsh realities of Aboriginal exploitation. Despite this, the film was well-received by Australian audiences, and Luhrmann described it as depicting "a mythologised Australia".
In 2023, Luhrmann revisited the film and reimagined it as a six-part limited series called "Faraway Downs", streaming on Hulu. The series delves deeper into the story, with more focus on Nullah and the Stolen Generations. It also includes new footage, an alternate ending, and a shift in tone. While the series has been criticised for not addressing the deficiencies of the original film, it represents Luhrmann's experimentation with episodic storytelling and his desire to explore a darker chapter in Australia's history.
The series begins in 1939, with Sarah Ashley crossing the world to reach Faraway Downs, the million-acre cattle station owned by her late husband. She must navigate the challenges of leading a cattle drive and confront the villainous King Carney. With World War II looming, Sarah makes sacrifices for Nullah, and the series explores his difficult choices between his family and heritage. The series ends with the Japanese attack on Darwin, where Drover is killed, leaving Lady Ashley to face her future alone.
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The story centres on Lady Ashley's efforts to save Faraway Downs from ruthless cattle baron King Carney
Faraway Downs is a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian Outback. In the story, Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocrat, travels to Australia to confront her husband and sell the ranch. However, following her husband's death, a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney, plots to take her land.
Lady Ashley then reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover, known as "The Drover," to save Faraway Downs. Together, they must outsmart Carney and his men, leading 1,000 head of cattle across the challenging Outback terrain. Lady Ashley also discovers the truth about her husband and the extent of Carney's ambitions.
Carney intends to ruin the Ashley cattle business and establish a beef monopoly. The manager of Faraway Downs, Neil Fletcher, is revealed to be complicit in Carney's scheme, persuading Lady Ashley to sell her land and cattle at a low price. Despite the challenges, Lady Ashley and The Drover form an alliance and work together to protect her ranch and beat Carney at his own game.
The story, told largely through the eyes of an Aboriginal child named Nullah, highlights a significant theme in Australia's history—the Stolen Generations program, where Aboriginal children were taken from their families and assimilated into white culture. Nullah, with a white father and an Aboriginal mother, builds a surrogate family with Lady Ashley and The Drover. The trio experiences life-altering events, including a love affair between Lady Ashley and The Drover, and the impact of World War II on Northern Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Faraway Downs was a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian Outback.
Faraway Downs was owned by a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney, who was plotting to steal the estate.
King Carney was played by Bryan Brown.



























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