Boologooroo Explained

-24.335°N 114.033°WBoologooroo Station, commonly referred to as Boologooroo, is a pastoral lease that operates as a sheep station in Western Australia.

Description

It is situated about 71km (44miles) north east of Carnarvon and 137km (85miles) south of Coral Bay in the Gascoyne region. The station is bordered to the south by Boolathana Station, to the north by Minilya Station and to the east by Cooralya Station.[1] Lake MacLeod forms the western boundary of the station.

The property occupies an area of 741km2, of which 653km2 is described as being in good or fair condition. It has a carrying capacity of 10,500 sheep. The country is mostly alluvial plains with duplex soils and many sandy rises. The vegetation is mixed shrubland of currant bush, many acacias and some Gascoyne bluebush. The western portion of the station is made up of flat, saline alluvial plains that support salt bush, blue bush and taller acacia species.[2]

History

Boologoroo was established in 1894 by Robert Campbell. Campbell had previously taken up Beringarra Station in 1881 before acquiring Boologooroo.[3] By 1906 the property was owned by Harry Campbell.[4] Robert Campbell died of heart failure in 1909[3] and Harry took full ownership of Boologooroo.

A thunderstorm struck the station in 1911, and the windmill near the homestead was destroyed by the winds. 1.5inches of rain fell in just over an hour and the temperature dropped from 112F to 70F in forty minutes.[5] In 1923 the area was struck by a cyclone, with Boologooroo receiving 12inches over a few days.[6]

The area of the property in 1924 was 183000acres[7] and it had a flock of 23,000 sheep in 1925.[8]

The body of Jack Smith was found in the woolshed in an advanced state of decomposition in 1932. Smith had enquired about work of the station but then committed suicide in the shed.[9]

In 2018 Boologooroo was sold to Gordon Cattle Company.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pilbara – Native Title Applications and Determination Areas. 2009. 13 January 2013. National Library of Australia. bot: unknown. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20110409140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/96703/20110410-0000/www.gumala.com.au/gumala/d/maps/h44czx5aw8g5bbwp8lj656v1l32jbj/k4oq71ere0188hk.pdf/map,+wa_pilbara_ntda_schedule,+nnttd41d.pdf. 9 April 2011. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Station Reports. 1987. 14 January 2014. Department of Agriculture and Food. https://web.archive.org/web/20131105131113/http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/lwe/rpm/catman/73%20part%203.pdf. 5 November 2013. dead.
  3. News: Mr. R. Campbell. . . Perth . 22 May 1909 . 14 January 2014 . 21 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Stock and Station news . . Carnarvon, Western Australia . 6 October 1906 . 14 January 2014 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Booloogooroo. . . Carnarvon, Western Australia . 4 March 1911 . 14 January 2014 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Willy Willy . . Perth . 18 January 1923 . 14 January 2014 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: State Elections. . . Carnarvon, Western Australia . 22 February 1924 . 14 January 2014 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Pastoral Pars. . Perth . 22 November 1925 . 14 January 2014 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: Corpse in Woolshed . . Perth . 31 December 1932 . 14 January 2014 . 6 . National Library of Australia.