Obituaries Australia

Tributes are pouring in following the death of Noel Lynton [sic] Buntine — described as a pioneer and legend in the northern Australian pastoral and transport industries.

Mr Buntine, 66, died on Monday at his home on Queensland's Gold Coast.

After an early career in the Public Service, Mr Buntine established one of the nation's largest transport operations, the Katherine-based Buntine Roadways, a precursor of Road Trains of Australia.

The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Marshall Perron, said Mr Buntine's life and work "had a formative influence on the territory's development in the pastoral, livestock and racing industries".

"He formed one of the biggest road train operations in Australia along the beef roads built in the 1960s, helping to revolutionise livestock transport in the territory," he said.

Mr Buntine had owned the Carbeen Park pastoral property on the Katherine River, and was the first chairman of the NT Pastoral Land Board, established in 1992.

The NT Racing Minister, Barry Coulter, said Mr Buntine was "a pioneer, a man dedicated to the NT racing industry".

He is survived by his wife Patty, and three children.