In Australia, ranches, known as cattle stations, are colossal, with the largest clocking in at 5.8 million acres. 
Compare that to the United States, where the average ranch is around four hundred and fifty acres—Outback Australia is an arid, unforgiving, but beautiful environment.

To tame the wild lands, the stockman or ringer, the counterpart to the American cowboy, calls the Outback home. Unlike American cowboys, Australian stockmen use R22 helicopters, motorbikes, quads, and bull catchers—a device with a bionic arm to catch stray cattle—for mustering because the horses alone are not enough to direct cattle amid the expansive region of the Outback. The terrain is rugged. The wildlife is dangerous. The eastern brown snake, the third deadliest snake in the world, frequently roams the lands. And water is scarce. Australia struggles with severe drought. It’s rugged. That’s the best word to describe it, says Brodie Sweeney, an Australian photographer who documents ringers and stockmen. Cattle stations can be as large as New Jersey. Stockmen camp out for days at outstations, mustering mobs of cattle to the closest yards so they can be tucked away. They focus fiercely on what matters—the animals, the land, their crew—and setting aside trivial worries. I don’t remember the last time I washed my hair, says Madeline Curr, a sixth-generation stockman.

Like most stockmen, Madeline was born into the lifestyle. Her family worked with Brahman cattle for generations until her parents invested in Wagyu beef. Now, she travels the country to work cattle stations. The living is minimal. Madeline's home away from home is a tiny cattle trailer with living quarters, called dongas, sitting on top. It is a no-fixed-address lifestyle as the team travels from remote station to station for work. There are few modern conveniences. Or creature comforts of home. There’s no running water. There are certainly no kitchens. Every meal must be prepared fireside. It’s hard work. We’ve got a crew of about eight or nine jackaroos and jillaroos—young cowboys and cowgirls—and we cook every single night on the fire. But that’s part of the allure. It’s a bold and courageous existence.

Like most stockmen, Madeline was born into the lifestyle. Her family worked with Brahman cattle for generations until her parents invested in Wagyu beef. Now, she travels the country to work cattle stations. The living is minimal. Madeline's home away from home is a tiny cattle trailer with living quarters, called dongas, sitting on top. It is a no-fixed-address lifestyle as the team travels from remote station to station for work. There are few modern conveniences. Or creature comforts of home. There’s no running water. There are certainly no kitchens. Every meal must be prepared fireside. It’s hard work. We’ve got a crew of about eight or nine jackaroos and jillaroos—young cowboys and cowgirls—and we cook every single night on the fire. But that’s part of the allure. It’s a bold and courageous existence.

While the off-the-grid life entices, the isolation of living in the Outback creates unimaginable dangers. When the fire burns too rapidly, or your horse gets injured, you only have yourself to rely on, Madeline explains. There’s no neighbor’s house you can walk to. There’s scarce Wi-Fi to call for help. That’s why the Australian stockman must be resilient. A grade-A problem-solver. When shit goes wrong. It’s up to you. Most people who live and work on the cattle stations have tangible skills. If you’re a stockman, you’re also a mechanic, a plumber, and a chef. You need to know how to change a tire and also what temperature to grill the meat. The biggest life lesson is that you have to just figure it out yourself, and you can probably do it, says Madeline. You got to keep pushing on.

This mentality is imperative for traveling anywhere on the terrain. Stockman must plan their trips carefully and fuel up before they head out. There’s literally no fuel station because there’s literally nothing around.

Never mind trouble with the elements. The nearest doctor could be five to seven hours away. Australians use The Royal Flying Doctor Service or the flying doctor that provides emergency relief for those who can’t access a hospital or doctor due to the vastness of the Outback. When Curr’s brother broke his leg, he was hours away from anything. The flying doctor rescued him and flew him to the hospital.

Then, there’s the emotional aspect-the loneliness. They’re often on their own, but they fight through that. Madeline explains, The Outback is known as Big Sky Country. You can see right into the horizon in every direction and literally not come across any sign of human habitation. Everyone is so spread out. But that doesn’t stop us from socializing. People of the Outback have big hearts and a great sense of community. It is nothing for us to travel hundreds of miles to visit a neighbor for a catch-up. When there is a chance to connect with someone, it’s important to cultivate that friendship. You need to find community because you need support.

Never mind trouble with the elements. The nearest doctor could be five to seven hours away. Australians use The Royal Flying Doctor Service or the flying doctor that provides emergency relief for those who can’t access a hospital or doctor due to the vastness of the Outback. When Curr’s brother broke his leg, he was hours away from anything. The flying doctor rescued him and flew him to the hospital.

Then, there’s the emotional aspect-the loneliness. They’re often on their own, but they fight through that. Madeline explains, The Outback is known as Big Sky Country. You can see right into the horizon in every direction and literally not come across any sign of human habitation. Everyone is so spread out. But that doesn’t stop us from socializing. People of the Outback have big hearts and a great sense of community. It is nothing for us to travel hundreds of miles to visit a neighbor for a catch-up. When there is a chance to connect with someone, it’s important to cultivate that friendship. You need to find community because you need support.

The Australian stockman requires hard, laborious work within a lonely existence. But a life under the Australian starlit sky makes it more than worthwhile.

As the sun sets and the fire simmers from another fireside-cooked meal, the midnight Southern Hemisphere comes into full view. The naked eye can see galactic and intergalactic objects that aren’t visible in the Northern Hemisphere. Madeline explains, The stars ground you. They make you feel more connected to the land. Sweeney adds, Working in the Outback gives you perspective, life skills, and work ethic. You can’t have a day off. You become less reliant on your phone.

It's a life everyone should experience, if even for a short period. It would help society to understand how farmers and ranchers work for the food on their table, Sweeny explains. Most people can’t fathom where it comes from.

Whereas in the city, it’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae of everyday life. The Outback creates opportunities to relax on superficial things. Everyone looks like crazy little wildlings because we've just been living out in the flat freaking desert for months. It's just such a vibe, Curr laughs. I’m a sucker for the nostalgia. For the old-school way of life and the freedom the Outback gives us.