Boolathana Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Headquarters | Carnarvon , Australia |
| Products | Cattle, previously sheep |
Boolathana Station operates as a cattle station under a pastoral lease in Western Australia, having previously functioned as a sheep station.
Description
Situated roughly north of Carnarvon and south of Coral Bay within the Gascoyne region, Boolathana shares its western and northern boundaries with Quobba station. The homestead is positioned adjacent to a substantial dam measuring about in length and in width. The terrain consists of coastal sand ridges alongside salt bush flats, featuring native grasses and Wanu wattle, which contribute to high-quality grazing. Boolathana was among the pioneers in utilizing artesian water bores; one such bore produces approximately of water daily.
History
Exploration of the area began in 1876 by Charles Brockman and George Hamersley. Subsequently, Brockman acquired the Boolathana lease for . In 1915, drover Alf Cream transported 2,350 sheep over nine weeks to Meeberrie Station, a journey delayed due to significant flooding.
In 1928, ownership transferred when James and Charles Butcher sold Boolathana to Chenery and McIntyre for £130,000. At that time, the property spanned , contained extensive bores delivering more than daily, and maintained a flock exceeding 40,000 sheep.
By 1949, under the proprietorship of Harry Butcher (not related to the former owners), the station had just emerged from a three-year drought concluding in 1951. That year saw the shearing of 25,000 sheep—less than the three-decade high of 50,000 but surpassing the typical annual count of 20,000. Additionally, the property functioned as a bird sanctuary, with numerous cockatoos frequenting areas near the homestead.
In 2012, bushfires impacted Boolathana along with neighboring stations including Jimba Jimba Station, Doorawarrah, and Meedo, burning approximately .
The leaseholders renegotiated terms with the state government in 2015, resulting in parts of the pastoral lease adjacent to the world-heritage listed Ningaloo Coast being excised for purposes of conservation and tourism expansion.