Arckaringa Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | before 1908 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | South Australia |
| Products | Cattle |
Arckaringa Station is a pastoral lease situated in South Australia, initially established as a sheep station and currently operating as a cattle station. It lies approximately southwest of Oodnadatta and north of Coober Pedy. The terrain includes gibber plains, flood-out creek areas, and breakaway landscapes, with the temporary Arckaringa Creek traversing the property. Both the creek and station derive their names from Mount Arckaringa located within the Painted Desert, with the name originating from an Aboriginal language of uncertain meaning.
Spanning roughly , Arckaringa Station sustains an estimated 2,100 cattle. The locale experiences an average yearly rainfall of , supported by water infrastructure consisting of 17 bores and 20 dams. In 1883, a government bore was drilled on the upper reaches of Arckaringa Creek to provide water for livestock along a nearby stock route from the Musgrave Ranges.
The station was established prior to 1908, originally occupying about and running a flock of 2,000 sheep. By 1912, under the proprietorship of F. C. Staer, it covered during a period marked by drought, prompting plans to drill bores to alleviate losses. The following year, grass samples from Arckaringa were sent to Adelaide for experimental cultivation.
By 1925, ownership had passed to Alexander McLeod amid a season characterized by substantial rainfall. A notable event occurred in 1935 when heavy rains resulted in widespread flooding across the property.
In 2000, the endangered plant species Olearia arckaringensis was discovered on the station, with approximately 200 individual plants recorded. The property encountered drought conditions again in 2004.
In April 2013, the area encompassing Arckaringa Station was officially designated as the locality named 'Arckaringa'.