Croydon Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Founder | Edward Robinson, John Seabrook, W. Robinson |
| Headquarters | Pilbara , Australia |
Area served | Approximately 400000acre |
| Products | Sheep, cattle, horses, donkeys, camels |
Croydon Station, sometimes spelled Croyden Station, is a pastoral lease operating as a sheep station situated approximately southwest of Port Hedland in the Pilbara area of Western Australia. The estate encompasses around , predominantly consisting of undulating plains, with the Sherlock River traversing the property and supplying dependable water for the livestock.
The smaller neighboring property, Coolawanyah Station, located between Tambrey and Hooley Stations, was initially established as an outstation of both Hamersley Station and Croydon Stations.
History
The Robinson family from Brookton founded the lease in 1878 when Edward Robinson, John Seabrook, and W. Robinson relocated 3,000 sheep from near Pingelly. This flock journeyed through multiple settlements before reaching Croydon in 1879.
Edward Robinson departed Croydon in 1886 to acquire Helena Farm for £3000. During the 1890s, ownership transferred to the McRae Brothers, who employed Aboriginal workers compensated annually with clothing; these workers were permitted to hunt native wildlife only during their leisure hours.
Severe storms in 1894 and 1898 caused considerable damage to the station, including the loss of 800 sheep and destruction to infrastructure; nonetheless, effective livestock management helped reduce stock losses amid flooding events.
Prior to 1915, Ernest Anderton Hall purchased Croydon following the sale of Yandayarra Station. His cousin Harold Aubrey Hall managed the property. Ernest also held ownership of Sherlock Station before selling Croydon to James Nicholas.
By 1919, under Nicholas’s proprietorship, Croydon extended over , supporting a flock of 11,000 sheep and a herd of 2,700 cattle. Ownership had passed to Clarence G. Meares by 1925.
In 1928, Croydon was placed on the market covering , with a lease due to expire in 1948 at a rate of £1 per 1,000 acres. Approximately of land was enclosed within 14 paddocks. The station boasted substantial water assets including about of the Sherlock River featuring roughly 20 permanent pools and at least 14 wells equipped with windmills. The livestock comprised 20,000 sheep, 600 cattle, as well as horses, donkeys, and camels.
Following the deaths of Duncan McRae and Samuel Peter Mackay, ownership changed hands. In 1939, Croydon received a delivery of 60 breeding rams transported via Roebourne aboard the Koolinda.
In 1947, John Minson, then station manager, suffered serious injuries during a mustering operation and was evacuated by truck and flying doctors to Port Hedland for treatment.
As of 2008, ownership of Croydon rested with Peter Cook, a pharmacist who also controlled several other Pilbara properties including Hooley Station, Mallina Station, Pyramid Station, and Sherlock Station.