Mundowdna Station

Mundowdna Station
Location in South Australia
Mundowdna Woolshed ca. 1897
Horse drawn buggy outside a stone building at Mundowdna Station ca. 1898

Mundowdna Station most commonly known as Mundowdna is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in north east South Australia.

It is situated about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south east of Marree and 62 kilometres (39 mi) north of Lyndhurst along the Frome River.

The lease for a run was first taken out in 1859 by T. and A. Matthews.[1]

The name of the station is Aboriginal in origin and is taken from a water hole found in the area. The Governor of South Australia visited the area during a severe drought in 1859. E. Chapman established Mundowdna in 1860. Shortly afterward the property, along with neighbouring St. Stephen's Pond were owned by the Matthews brothers who complained about Aborigines killing their stock in 1863.[2]

Edgar Chapman was in possession of Mundowdna in 1880 and had it stocked with cattle selling 600 head in two lots at the Adelaide market.[3] Chapman advertised to auction the property in 1883 when it was stocked with 4500 head of cattle and 150 horses and took up an area of 1,212 square miles (3,139 km2).[4] Presumably the property sold and was owned by Edward Russell in 1886[5] who kept it until at least 1893. By 1896 the property was owned by Frank Whyte.[6] The property was still owned by John Whyte and his nephew Frank Whyte in 1891 and was about 800 square miles (2,072 km2) in area. Cattle and sheep had both been stocked on the property to this time.[1]

In 1904 the property was put up for auction following the dissolution of a partnership where one partner, John Whyte, died. Mundowdna was offered along with neighbouring Lake Torrens station. Together the leases occupied an area of approximately 1,260 square miles (3,263 km2) and were stocked with 15,000 sheep, 65 horses and 18 cattle. The bidders included Sidney Kidman but the property was sold to Mr. W. Leslie Whyte for the sum of £10,700 along with all plant and stock.[7] The Messrs Whyte and Co. put up the property for sale later the same year along with about 10,000 sheep on 638 square miles (1,652 km2).[8] The property was not sold until later, in 1906, when it was purchased by Sidney Kidman.[9] Kidman acquired the property as it lies at the southern end of the Birdsville Track and close to the railway terminus at Marree.[1]

The property was struck by drought in 1908 and Kidman had his store cattle sent north by rail on a special train to The Peake to find feed and water.[10]

Over 2,000 horses were destroyed at Mundowdna over seven months in 1925 after horse-breeding had become unprofitable.[11]

In 1930 the station received its best rain for 20 years with 2.67 inches (68 mm) falling over a short period. Creeks are running and dams were full after the drought breaking falls.[12]

The station currently occupies an area of 2,200 square kilometres (849 sq mi) and is owned by the Litchfield family who also own nearby Wilpoorinna Station. The family arrived in the area in 1958 and raise Santa Gertrudis cattle for the local beef market as well as merino sheep. Recently Dorper sheep have been introduced to produce salt bush mutton.[13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "S.A. Northern Pioneers: F. Thomas". State Library of South Australia. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Mundowdna – Some interesting facts". Flinders Ranges Research. 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Advertising.". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 14 December 1880. p. 7. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Advertising.". South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 29 September 1883. p. 24. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Advertising.". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 1 February 1886. p. 8. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Advertising.". The Chronicle (Adelaide, South Australia: National Library of Australia). 19 September 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Sheep stations at auction Mundowdna and Lake Torrens". The Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 18 February 1904. p. 6. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Advertising.". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 29 September 1904. p. 10. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "The Country". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 20 June 1906. p. 9. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Country". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 1 January 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Over 2000 horses shot.". The Daily News (Perth: National Library of Australia). 30 November 1925. p. 5. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Best rain for 20 years at Mundowdna". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 4 February 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Mundowdna Station". Outback Lakes SA. 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.

Coordinates: 29°43′59″S 138°13′55″E / 29.733°S 138.232°E / -29.733; 138.232

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