Alton Downs Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Founder | Whittingham |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Northeastern South Australia |
| Owner | Brook Proprietors |
Alton Downs Station, often referred to simply as Alton Downs, is a pastoral lease functioning as a cattle station situated in the northeastern region of South Australia.
Positioned approximately south west of Birdsville and north west of Innamincka, the station shares its western boundary with the Simpson Desert Regional Reserve, adjoins Clifton Hills Station to the south, and borders Pandie Pandie Station on the eastern side. The property encompasses a variety of landscapes including gibber plains, sandy plains, floodplains, channels, and ephemeral waterways. The Warburton River traverses the station flowing southward toward Lake Eyre.
History
Founded by Whittingham in 1878—the same year Cordillo Downs Station was established by Chapman—Alton Downs remained under Whittingham’s control at least until 1893 despite financial setbacks connected to the Bank of Adelaide, where he held a directorship.
In 1897, well-known pastoralist Sidney Kidman purchased Alton Downs following his acquisition of the nearby Cowarie Station. This purchase was part of Kidman’s larger strategy to expand his holdings within the Channel Country, which also included buying Annandale Station.
The station was deserted in the early 20th century due to extreme drought conditions that also impacted neighboring properties such as Pandie Pandie Station, Miranda Station, and Idra Downs. Around 1904, efforts to restock and revive the station commenced.
By 1927, Alton Downs was again nearly unoccupied after being heavily affected by a severe rabbit plague.
Current use
Currently, Brook Proprietors own Alton Downs along with several other stations including nearby Cordillo Downs, Murnpeowie, and the Queensland-based properties Adria Downs and Kamaran Downs. These stations operate under NASAA Certified Organic Livestock standards.
In April 2013, the land covered by the Alton Downs pastoral lease was officially designated as a locality named "Alton Downs Station" to differentiate it from another locality of the same name located in Queensland.