Boorara Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | Early 19th century |
| Founder | Alexander Hood, James Hood, James Torrance |
| Headquarters | Near Hungerford and Cunnamulla , Australia |
Area served | Queensland's Channel Country |
| Products | Sheep, cattle |
Boorara Station, often referred to simply as Boorara, is a pastoral lease functioning as both a sheep and cattle station located in the southwestern region of Queensland.
Geography
Situated to the north of Hungerford and southwest of Cunnamulla within Queensland's Channel Country, Boorara encompasses an area of . In 2013, the property supported a livestock population of 1,500 cattle and 25,000 sheep, organized into 23 paddocks across the Paroo River catchment area.
History
The initial lease for Boorara was secured in the early 19th century by Alexander Hood, James Hood, and James Torrance, alongside the adjacent Currawinya property. By 1874, ownership had transferred to Hector and Norman Wilson, who later sold both holdings in 1881 to Hew, Blackwood, Patterson and Company.
By the year 1894, Boorara was processing around 140,000 sheep annually during shearing. In 1908, the station—stocked with approximately 80,000 sheep, 590 cattle, and 259 horses—was put up for auction but did not attract any bids and was subsequently offered for private sale.
Prominent cattleman Sidney Kidman purchased Boorara in 1913 before selling it in 1924 to Edmund Jowett for roughly £20,000. In 1927, Jowett enhanced the water supply infrastructure after a well driller discovered a daily water flow of , leading to additional bores being sunk to ensure a reliable water source. He shifted the station's focus from cattle to sheep prior to selling it in 1930 to William George McGrath. McGrath retained ownership until his passing in 1949, after which control passed to his sons J. D. and A. McGrath.
By 2008, Boorara extended over and continued to use the HT3 brand initially registered by Hood and Torrance in 1866. Eventually, the Queensland Government acquired the station and integrated it into Currawinya National Park.
In September 2012, all agricultural machinery on the property was put up for sale as part of its conversion process.