Explanation of the territory’s land ownership hierarchy

Warning: contains spoilers for Territory season 1TerritoryThe dramatic family dynamics and power struggles over the land have fans of the Netflix show questioning who exactly is responsible for the different locations seen throughout the series. TerritoryThe main story revolves around the Lawson family, as different members of the family compete for control of Marianne Station while, at the same time, outside competitors try to take the land from them, culminating in intense conflicts like the one that occurred in Territory end of season 1.

As the title indicates, land ownership was fundamental to the lives of the people who occupied the region and the period portrayed in the series. Much of the program’s complexity revolves around the line of succession in control of Marianne Station and which groups actually have rights to the land, but the program itself provides some useful information about Territoryhierarchy of land ownership.

Land ownership is divided between Aboriginal native title, pastoral leases and mining leases

Each group makes its own land claim at Marianne Station

One of the main land claims within Marianne Station is made by Aboriginal groups living on and near the station. This ownership claim is primarily based on the historical occupation of the area and the legal protection of sacred sites. The older native Australian characters are vehemently against doing business with the Lawson family, Campbell Miller and Sandra Kirby because of their interference and disregard for Aboriginal customs. However, younger Aboriginal characters Nolan and Keeley enter into business deals with Sandra Kirby to expand their business and funnel money back into their community respectively.

Pastoral leases also make up a large percentage of land ownership in Territory, with the main pastoral tenancies being held by the Lawson family, Campbell Miller and Nolan Brannock. Although the Lawsons, owners of Marianne Station, have the largest land area, Campbell Miller plans to tear them down throughout the show, and Nolan plans to develop his own station. Pastoral leases are also the most complex type of land claim because pastoral leases must be transferred to both Aboriginal native title and mining leases on pastoral land.

In Territory episode 1, Sandra Kirby explains to her son, Lachie, that she can buy a mine that is technically on Lawson land because mining leases are at the top of the hierarchy. Sandra states that although ranchers own everything on their land, there is flexibility in who controls the land itself. As she has the right licenses and works around Aboriginal Native Title, the other characters cannot stop her from using the mine for business.

How much power do the Lawsons really have over the land in Marianne Station

The Lawsons have less power than they claim

Marianne Station is the largest cattle ranch in the world, but the Lawsons don’t always have power over what actually happens on the vast expanse of land that Marianne Station covers. Their lack of control partly stems from the fact that the Lawsons cannot completely govern such a vast amount of land. Marianne Station is simply too big for the Lawsons to know what is happening at all times throughout the station area.. This is proven several times throughout Territoryas several other characters steal their livestock and use their land to live or hunt.

In addition to the physical struggle to maintain power over their land, there are also competing legal claims that undermine their overall ownership. Although the Lawsons nominally hold power over the land at Marianne Station, their actual control over the land and their cattle business is much more tenuous. All over Territory In the first season, Sandra Kirby plans to build a road through Marianne Station and the Lawsons are powerless to stop her. Likewise, Aboriginal native title in certain locations on Marianne Station, such as the “Pitiful Place”, prevents anyone from building on that land.

Why is Sandra able to build a mining road in Lawson Land, in the territory

Sandra finds a way around the Lawsons’ land claim

In Territory episode 1, Sandra and Lachie are seen flying over Marianne Station on their way to Daniel Lawson’s funeral, and Sandra points out a mine she is buying on Lawson’s land. However, throughout season 1 it is revealed that not only is she buying the mine, Sandra also plans to build a road directly through Marianne Stationfrom the mine to the coast. Since the Lawsons do not technically own all of the Marianne Station land, Sandra Kirby only needs to maintain the correct government permits for the road and her mining business to build on the Lawson land.

Additionally, Sandra Kirby makes several shady deals with other characters to advance the road construction more quickly.. She convinces Keeley to let her drive through Aboriginal land, despite this land being sacred, and she convinces Nolan to let her build a port on his land. By making these deals without fully revealing her intentions, Sandra obtains the approval she needs for her mining road. It’s just in Territory At the end of the first season, the audience finally discovers Sandra’s entire plan and is left wondering if the other characters will be able to stop her.