Douglas-Daly Experiment Station

The Douglas-Daly Experiment Station was an extensive research site of the Northern Territory Administration (NTA) of the Government of Australia and, after statehood, of the Northern Territory Government. It formed part of a string of similar research sites in northern Australia. Located at the junction of the Douglas and Daly Rivers and covering an area of approximately 100 km², the site spanned three major soil types of the Top End of the Northern Territory - Blain, Tippera and Florina soil types.

The climate is hot-humid tropical with a distinct six-month dry season and an annual rainfall of around 1 m. It was used mainly for pasture, forage, and grazing experiments with its main research activity beginning in the 1960s and continuing until the break-up of the site into development farms in the 1980s.

Research from the site is mainly documented in scientific journal papers and annals of the NTA. Among the researchers on the site have been Bruce Franks, John Sturtz, John Austin and Lindsay Falvey, who were supported by the manager Heinz Mollman. The site was also used by CSIRO, especially for the rock-phosphate research of Ray Swaby.

Further reading

• Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 17:724-727. "Response of steers to dry season supplementation on improved pastures." (1977).