Ashburton Downs
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1880s |
| Founder | George Throssell and other investors from Northam, Western Australia |
| Headquarters | Pilbara , Australia |
| Products | Sheep (historically), Cattle (currently) |
Ashburton Downs Station, often referred to simply as Ashburton Downs, is a pastoral lease that has evolved from operating as a sheep station to functioning as a cattle station.
Situated roughly west of Paraburdoo and south west of Tom Price within the Pilbara area of Western Australia, this property encompasses and features a segment of the Ashburton River flowing through its terrain. It shares boundaries with multiple stations such as Peake, Kooline, Amelia, Wyloo, Rocklea, Mininer, Pingandy, and Turee Creek, as well as adjoining unallocated crown land.
The station was founded in the 1880s by investors from Northam, Western Australia, among them the prominent George Throssell. Early difficulties included drought conditions that caused the sheep population to decline sharply from 16,000 in 1890 down to 5,300 by 1891. In 1892, Throssell transferred his ownership to John Frederick Hancock, who, together with his brothers after Hancock’s passing in 1902, expanded the station's operations. By 1911, Ashburton Downs was managing a flock of 30,000 sheep and yielding 475 wool bales.
In 1918, the property was formally registered as Ashburton Downs Station Ltd, covering an area of , with stock comprising 19,000 sheep and 320 horses. Despite challenges such as the intense drought during the early 1950s that interrupted shearing activities due to weakened livestock, the station sustained considerable animal numbers. By 1979, its primary livestock focus had shifted to cattle, maintaining approximately 300 head and possessing the capacity to support up to around 5,000 cattle under optimal conditions.