About Crown Pastoral Land Types

Crown pastoral land is made up of pastoral leases, pastoral occupation licences and special leases.

Pastoral leases

Pastoral leases are generally held by farmers who have a 33-year lease with a perpetual right of renewal. Leases allow grazing of the land for pastoral farming purposes. Leaseholders are subject to a range of restrictions on other land uses. Under tenure review a leaseholder has the opportunity to acquire part of their leasehold land.

Pastoral occupation licences

Pastoral occupation licences give the licensee (person with the licence) a fixed term use of pastoral land subject to a range of conditions. The conditions are generally more restrictive than with pastoral leases and there is no automatic right to renew a licence when it expires.

Pastoral occupation licences are being phased out under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998. The few remaining licences are subject to a compulsory review at the end of the licence period.

Special leases

These are leases that are created for a special purpose that allow grazing of the land for pastoral farming purposes. Leaseholders are subject to a range of restrictions on other land uses.