Chirritta
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Founder | Donald Norman McLeod |
| Headquarters | Pilbara , Australia |
| Products | Sheep (wool, meat) |
Chirritta Station, also referred to as Chirritta or Cherratta, operates as a sheep station under a pastoral lease in Western Australia.
Situated approximately south of Roebourne and northeast of Pannawonica within the Pilbara area, the estate encompasses a section of the Maitland River.
The station was founded in 1872 by Donald Norman McLeod, who later returned to Victoria before regaining stakes in Western Australian properties, including Minilya Station. Chirritta changed hands in 1884 with a sale price of £18,000. By 1888, it was placed on auction on behalf of D.N. McLeod and Company, carrying a stock of 17,000 sheep and nearly 200 cattle.
In 1893, ownership passed to Richardson, Edgar, and Gillam. To enhance wool quality, Gillam introduced merino rams in 1899. That same year, a cyclone inflicted extensive damage, notably removing the roof from the homestead.
Gillam eventually became the sole proprietor before transferring ownership in 1907 to the Withnell brothers, who also possessed nearby Karratha Station. At this point, Chirritta maintained a flock of about 16,000 sheep and yielded 288 wool bales during shearing.
Reports emerged in 1912 of leprosy cases among Aboriginal inhabitants living on the station.
In 1920, the Withnells sold Chirritta to Clarence Meares for an estimated £30,000. Under Meares’ management, the property was stocked with approximately 22,000 sheep.