Yakabindie is a pastoral lease, currently a cattle station and previously a sheep station, located about 31 kilometres (19 mi) north west of Leinster and 114 kilometres (71 mi) south of Wiluna in the Goldfields region of Western Australia,
The station was placed on the market in 1920, and existed as 13 separate leases that encircled Sir Samuel and encompassing an area of 447,000 acres (180,894 ha). 360 cattle, 200 horses and 75 camels were being run on the property, and they were kept watered by 10 wells fitted with windmills.[1] About 38 miles (61 km) of fencing was in place, most around one big paddock but one smaller sheep paddock had its own 5-mile (8 km) fence.
The homestead was situated in Sir Samuel and had four large rooms, vestibule, kitchen, and bathroom constructed of wood and iron. The building was lined with stamped steel. The grazing land was described as typical Murchison country with plenty of mulga, saltbush and edible bushes suited for cattle.
The climate is semi-arid but prone to the occasional deluge of rain; in December 1928 a fall of 5 inches (127 mm) was recorded,[2] and in January 1931 2 inches (51 mm) was recorded in a day[3] and 6 inches (152 mm) over the course of a week in January 1939 to break the drought.[4]
The station occupied an area of 470,000 acres (190,202 ha) in 1923 when it was part owned by Mr. R. H. Adamson.[5] When Adamson and partners acquired the station in 1920 it was running cattle but they introduced sheep in 1923 when they bought 2,000 ewes.
For the first clip in 1924, 3,300 sheep were shorn and with an estimated 500 stragglers to be mustered. About 7.3 pounds (3 kg) of wool per sheep was obtained.[6]
The station was still owned by Adamson in 1953 when he succeeded Sir Langlois Lefroy as President of the Pastoralists' Association of Western Australia.[7]
Presently owned by BHP subsidiary Nickel West, Yakabindie is one of six leases operated by it. The area of the station is now 250,000 hectares (617,763 acres) and runs approximately 1,200 droughtmaster cattle.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Advertising". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 24 July 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ "Pastoral rains". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 December 1928. p. 23. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Pastoral rainfall". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 January 1931. p. 9. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Drought Ends On W.A. Goldfields". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 14 January 1939. p. 22. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Pastoral Inquiry". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 4 July 1940. p. 12. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ "Northern sheep lands". Western Argus. Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 23 September 1924. p. 35. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Pastoralists' President". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 25 February 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "BHP Billiton Job Details – Yakabindie Stationhand". Perth. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2012.