Dulkaninna
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Founder | George William Barrett |
| Headquarters | Marree (nearest town) , Australia |
Area served | South Australia |
| Products | Organic beef cattle, stock and quarter horses |
| Owner | Bell family |
Dulkaninna Station is a pastoral lease situated in the remote regions of South Australia, evolving from its origins as a sheep station into a cattle station operation.
Positioned along the Birdsville Track roughly north of Marree, the station lies at the southern boundary of the Tirari Desert. Its terrain encompasses a variety of landforms, such as gibber plains, black soil floodplains, sand dunes, tablelands, and creek networks. Lake Gregory is located within the property’s north-eastern sector. The station shares borders with Clayton Station to the south-west, Murnpeowie to the south-east, and Etadunna Station to the north.
Spanning an area close to , Dulkaninna functions as a certified organic beef cattle enterprise. The Bell family has been its proprietors for over 110 years, managing a herd composed of Poll Hereford crossed with Black Angus cattle. Additionally, they breed both stock and quarter horses.
The region experienced geological explorations and bore drilling activities in 1885.
Initially part of the larger Mundowdna holding owned by Sidney Kidman, a portion called Dulkaninna North East was resumed by the Department of Lands in 1896 and subsequently leased to George William Barrett. By 1914, Sinclair, Scott and Company owned the station, running both sheep and cattle enterprises.
The property was deserted in 1920 before coming under the ownership of Avon Downs Pastoral Company by 1923. The Bell family took possession in 1933. Amidst drought conditions in 1935, then-owner D. D. Bell intended to recommence horse breeding activities. Prior to 1929, Bell had also installed a pedal wireless system at the homestead.
George Bell began his association with Dulkaninna at age 13 and managed the station throughout his lifetime until passing away in 2007 at 87 years old. His son, Daryl Bell, assumed management thereafter.
In April 2013, the South Australian Government formally recognized the pastoral lease area as the locality named 'Dulkaninna'.