STATION COOK – VAN ROOK STATION – 2027

Gulf Coast Agricultural Co; Karumba; On-site; AUD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site accommodation

High-speed WiFi

Remote Outback setting

Job summary

Gulf Coast Agricultural Co, based at Van Rook Station near Karumba, seeks a mature cook to prepare up to 4 meals daily for up to 30 staff. The role runs 5–6 days weekly with most Sundays off, and on-site accommodation is provided.

Ideal candidate will have at least 2 years' experience cooking on a cattle station or in a commercial kitchen, with strong food safety, stock control, and a friendly, team-oriented approach. Remote Outback setting with outdoor recreation on days off.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years cooking on cattle station or in a commercial kitchen.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and hygiene.
• Ability to manage inventory and stock for fortnightly orders.

Responsibilities

• Prepare up to 4 meals a day for station staff of up to 30 people.
• Manage stock and fortnightly ordering of supplies.
• Assist with butchering, dry-aging & cryovac prep.
• Maintain highest standards of food safety and kitchen hygiene.
• Work 5–6 days a week with Sundays off.

Skills

Meal preparation

Stock management

Food safety

Time management

Education

Culinary training

Job description

1mo ago , from Gulf Coast Agricultural Co

Based at Van Rook Station (approx. 135 km north east of the tourist town of Karumba in the Northern Queensland Gulf), the role would involve preparing up to 4 meals a day for the station staff of up to 30 people, working 5-6 days a week (Monday to Friday/Saturday with most Sundays/weekends off). This is a key position on the station that would suit a mature person with restaurant or commercial kitchen training.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Preparing 4 meals a day for station staff: cooked breakfast, smoko (morning tea), supplies for sandwiches/wraps at lunch (staff make their own lunch) and cooked dinner – all served in the station kitchen at regular set meal times.

Managing & calculating food stock for fortnightly ordering of supplies including fresh produce & stores for Van Rook.

• Assisting with butchering, dry-aging & cryovac preparation of fresh meat.
• Managing an inventory of fresh produce and station stores.
• Ensuring the highest standards of food safety and hygiene.
• At least 2 years experience cooking on a cattle station or in a commercial or restaurant kitchen.

Being the face that greets everyone each working day, it is essential that you are a naturally happy, even-tempered person with lots of enthusiasm & a sense of humour!!!! The station cook has a major impact on staff moral and culture and it is imperative that a good and friendly attitude is maintained.

• Must be passionate about cooking and serving delicious & highly nutritious food.

Understanding of food hygiene and safe storage of refrigerated foods.

Must have exceptional time management and be able to keep smoko food up to our staff that usually have a high appetite. The fridge must maintain a constant supply of homemade biscuits, slices and savory pastries.

• Highly organised and able to plan meals well in advance.
• Ability to be creative and resourceful to eliminate any food wastage.
• A desire to minimise the use of processed foods and prepare various foods from scratch using high quality raw and fresh ingredients.
• Must be neat, take pride in your appearance and be able to run a clean & tidy kitchen.
• Ability to work alone and unsupervised as a key and genuinely appreciated member of the team.
• Must be available from early April to mid-December (or until the wet season arrives).

Preferable but not essential

• Rural background.
• Understanding of healthy nutrition / dietary requirements.
• Basic butchery skills.
• Basic knowledge of Keto or gluten & sugar-free cooking.

As the hub of our station, our renovated station kitchen is light and bright with commercial kitchen equipment. We believe it is important to offer a healthy variety of meats (including beef, chicken and freshly caught local fish) and order fresh fruit and veg fortnightly to ensure the cook has an abundance of resources to cook with to fuel our hard-working team.

We offer very comfortable accommodation (double size room with en-suite bathroom, couch and TV), on station grounds with high-speed WiFi.

This is a great opportunity for someone to have the experience of a lifetime working with a fantastic team of fun, genuine people on one of Australia’s largest cattle stations in some of the more interesting scenery of the Outback with excellent fishing & camping opportunities on days off.