Arcoona
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | before 1880 |
| Founder | A. M. Wooldridge |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | South Australia |
| Products | Sheep, cattle, horses, camels |
Arcoona, also known as Arcoona Station, is a pastoral lease functioning as a sheep station situated roughly northeast of Woomera in the remote regions of South Australia. The property extends over an area of about . Established prior to 1880, it was initially owned by A. M. Wooldridge, who retained a portion of the original Parakylia lease and renamed it Arcoona. Adjacent stations include Wirraminna to the south and Andamooka Station to the north.
History
Pastoralist James Gemmell, formerly the manager of Mundi Mundi Station, assumed control of Arcoona in 1893. In 1906, the station purchased the horse Discussion for stud purposes at a price of 190 guineas. By 1909, ownership changed hands from Richardson and Gemmell to John Pick from Terowie, who later served in the House of Assembly. At that time, Arcoona supported a livestock population comprising 12,000 sheep, 600 cattle, 250 horses, and seven camels.
Although located in an arid zone, Arcoona occasionally receives heavy rainfall; notable instances occurred in 1919 and 1921 when nearby lakes rapidly filled. John Pick sold the property in 1920 and acquired Coondambo Station for £37,200. In 1930, Arcoona was replenished with 2,000 ewes sourced from the Matakanna district. The 1938 season recorded a strong lambing outcome with over 6,600 lambs born from nearly 7,000 ewes.
By 1942, ownership under Arcoona Pastoral Co., including partner R. J. McEwin, saw the station endure dry spells but maintain adequate feed for sheep grazing. However, stock numbers diminished during the drought period spanning 1944–1945.
In 1947, J. E. Pick sold Arcoona to Kidman Estates based in Adelaide for more than £75,000. At that point, the property covered an area of , supported an estimated flock of 25,000 sheep, and had recently experienced rainfall above average levels.
In 2003, federal Science Minister Peter McGauran identified Arcoona as a potential site for low-level nuclear waste storage due to its secure location and saline groundwater unsuitable for pastoral activities. The proposal to store approximately of radioactive waste annually was abandoned in 2004 after legal opposition from the Polke family (owners), government resistance, and objections from traditional owners.
The Handbury family acquired Arcoona in 2008; they also own Collinsville Station. At that time, the station encompassed and was managed by Andrew Willis. The operation maintained around 20,000 sheep along with 100 shorthorn cattle.
In April 2013, the Government of South Australia formally gazetted the land covered by the Arcoona pastoral lease as the locality named 'Arcoona'.