Born in Italy in 1936, Leo Venturin boarded a boat bound for Australia in 1961, At only 25 years of age, he wanted to explore what Australia had to offer. On his arrival in Sydney 30 days later, he heard that the pay rate was better if you weren’t afraid to venture north into the heart of the Northern Territory. As a Boiler Maker by trade, he found himself employed in the building industry, finding plenty of work as he moved north through towns such as Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and finally onto Darwin. He climbed the ranks quickly, earning the title of Head Foreman for a local building company. Within a couple of years, he had started his own construction company, Venturin Constructions. Specialising in bush construction jobs, Leo won a tender to build the Avon Downs Police Station in 1963 in the heart of cattle country, The Barkley Tablelands. It was this job that influenced the desire to own his own cattle property one day. In 1987 his dream was realised when Leo purchased Finniss River Station, 120klms southwest of Darwin. Leo is now in his eighties, with 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Finniss River Station has been running Brahman cattle for over 30 years, exporting live cattle to Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

On one of his many return trips to his home country, Leo explained to his mother Theresa that he has branded her initials on the rumps of three thousand cattle. Finniss Rivers brand is “TLV”, Theresa Leo Venturin. Theresa wasn’t aware that all Northern Territory cattle properties must include the letter “T” in the brand, but none the less she was a very proud mother.

We hope you enjoy your stay at Finniss River Lodge and enjoy the wonderful natural features that Finniss River Station has to offer.