Austin Downs
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Headquarters | Cue , Australia |
Area served | Mid West, Western Australia |
| Products | Wool, sheep grazing |
Austin Downs Station, commonly known as Austin Downs, operates as a pastoral lease within the Mid West area of Western Australia.
Description
Covering an area of roughly , the station focuses primarily on sheep grazing for wool production. Situated in the Murchison district, its closest settlement is the town of Cue, positioned about southeast from the main homestead. Approximately of the property consists of reserves and crown land. The terrain experiences minimal erosion, with 96% classified as nil or minor impact, and vegetation is mostly in good condition, although 15% falls into poor or very poor categories. The station encompasses sections of Lake Austin and is located near Nallan Creek.
A notable feature within the property boundaries is Walga Rock, a prominent granite outcrop.
History
In 1910, Austin Downs marketed 128 bales of greasy wool in London, achieving a price of 11d. per pound. By 1912, the station maintained a flock numbering around 10,000 sheep and utilized nine shearing stands. Despite facing severe weather disturbances such as a significant storm in 1914 and flash flooding in 1929, the station consistently delivered strong wool outputs: 28,000 sheep were shorn in 1918; in 1925, 279 bales were produced from a flock of 15,500 sheep; and by 1929, 377 bales came from 16,081 sheep.
Leslie Keamy, known for his expertise in merino breeding and ownership of Cardo Station, once held ownership stakes in Austin Downs alongside Yarraquin Station.
Operational difficulties included an influenza outbreak in 1919 that temporarily ceased shearing activities. Additionally, floods during 1933 and 1934 hindered transportation routes but did not interrupt wool production.
Following one of the region’s most prolonged drought periods, rainfall returned in 2010. At that time, the Jackson family leased Austin Downs with Tom Jackson overseeing management under Crown Lease CL192-1972 and Land Act LA3114/600.
Austin Downs is also the subject of Jo Jackson King's publication The Station at Austin Downs.