Drysdale River Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | 1882 |
| Founder | Victorian Squatting Company |
| Headquarters | Kimberley , Australia |
Area served | Kimberley region, Western Australia |
| Products | Cattle |
| Owner | Koeyers family (since 1985) |
Drysdale River Station functions as a cattle station under a pastoral lease in Western Australia.
Location
Situated near Kalumburu Road, the station lies approximately westward of Kununurra and eastward from Derby within the Kimberley area.
Description
Encompassing an area close to , the property supports a herd of roughly 7,000 cattle.
History
The land is traditionally owned by the Ngarinjin, Miwa, and Wilawila groups.
Ownership has been with the Koeyers family since 1985, who currently oversee around 8,000 head of cattle on the station.
The station was originally established in 1882 by the Victorian Squatting Company. In 1886, surveyor Charles Burrowes conducted an assessment of the region and highlighted its promising qualities. The lease was acquired in 1891 by Captain Joe Bradshaw along the Prince Regent River. During his explorations, Bradshaw uncovered the Indigenous Gwion Gwion rock paintings, believed to be over 50,000 years old. Bradshaw's attempt to drive cattle overland from Queensland was thwarted by a livestock tax imposed at the Western Australian border, prompting him to establish another property along the Victoria River instead.
Access to the station was enhanced in 1954 with the building of Kalumburu Road, which connects to the Gibb River Road.
In 1967, Dick Condon acquired Drysdale River Station and made significant investments, including constructing a new homestead positioned to avoid flood damage experienced in subsequent years. The property later changed hands to an international company and subsequently experienced neglect.
Because of seasonal flooding occurring between December and May, road access becomes restricted; therefore, the station depends on an airstrip that underwent upgrades in 2002 with assistance from the state government.
By 2012, Sunlight Holdings held the lease. Drysdale River Station operates under Crown Lease numbers CL515-1967 and CL539-1995 as well as Land Act numbers LA398/446 and LA398/844.
See also
- List of ranches and stations
- List of pastoral leases in Western Australia
- List of the largest stations in Australia