AN Alice Springs-based pastoralist, who recently invested $7.5 million in two stations to add to his family enterprise, said the Central Australian rural industry is the best he has seen in his lifetime. 
Tony and Pam Davis purchased Glen Helen and Derwent stations, featuring 308,000ha of land and 8000 head of cattle, adjoining their Hamilton Downs and Amburla stations.
The four stations, framed by the MacDonnell Ranges, will be run from Hamilton Downs.
"It makes it a bit more efficient than running them all as individual properties," Mr Davis said. "We've sold our Top End country so we're regrouping down there, where the Davis family originally came from." Mr Davis said the rural market was very positive at the moment. "It's the best I've seen it in my life," he said. "There is another property we're in the process of buying next door.
"We're getting paid better money for our beef and that's a result of the Asian demand and the American demand and low cattle numbers." Mr Davis said while cattle prices were high, dry weather had impacted the industry.
NT Cattlemen's Association Alice Springs chair Chris Nott said the purchase of the stations was significant."It gives the industry a boost and the flow-on effects will help the Alice Springs economy and there's a chance more people can be employed," he said.