The cowboys of the Outback: Photographer captures Australia's stockmen transporting 3,000 cattle on a THOUSAND-MILE round trip to survive drought 

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These stunning pictures show Australia's stockmen transporting 3,000 cattle on a thousand-mile round trip in desperate search for water.

Far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life, these hardy Aussies might seem to be living a Wild West dream in the far south of Queensland.

But their work was cut out when an extreme drought rocked their community and they had to up sticks and leave to find water for their livestock in a race against time before they perished. 

Cowboys of the Outback: 3,000 Australian cattle were escorted home by stockmen three months after they travelled almost 700 miles to find water

Struggle: Their work was cut out when an extreme drought rocked their community and they had to up sticks and leave to find water for their livestock in a race against time before they perished

Mission complete: With the nearest major city, Brisbane, 300 miles away, life for this Outback family depends on their 3,000 cattle - so it came as relief that after three months on the road there was enough rainfall to return home 

With the nearest major city, Brisbane, 300 miles away, life for this Outback family depends on their 3,000 cattle, so it came as relief that after three months on the road, there was enough rainfall to return home. 

Photographer Arlie McCumstie followed the workers as they finished camping and began transporting their herd home near the small town of Hebel. 

Mother-of-three Ms McCumstie, herself an Outback girl who grew up in a 'one pub two house town', met the cattlemen as they loaded up the animals to begin their journey on massive road train truck.

She said: 'This was a 3,000 head mob of cows that was sent 1,100km from their home on assignment because they were in an extreme drought back at their home property.

Challenge: Photographer Arlie McCumstie followed the workers as the finished camping and began transporting their herd home near small town of Hebel

Arduous task: The photographer met the cattlemen as they loaded up the animals to begin their journey on massive road train truck

Push! Stockmen stuggle to close the gates after hours rounding the herd, ready for the next stage of the journey home

'The owners of the cattle camped in a caravan with their cattle for over three months until rains had fallen at their home property.

'So these cows and young calves were being trucked back and a muster of this scale for me was too good an opportunity not to photograph.

'I believe it takes a unique person to live this life. They love their animals and the health and welfare of their cattle is of the utmost importance to them.

'Stockmen like this could not imagine doing anything else. In America they call them cowboys and cowgirls but here in Australia they are known as stockmen, cattlemen and or cattlewomen.' 

Loving: Stockmen discuss the plan of action and count their herd (left) and one kind cattleman assists a tired youngling (right) 

Here boy: A stockman tries to get an animal into the truck. They were camped in a caravan with their cattle for over three months until rains had fallen at their home property

The photographer said: 'I believe it takes a unique person to live this life. They love their animals and the health and welfare of their cattle is of the utmost importance to them'