Durrie Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | 1870s |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Queensland, Australia |
| Products | Cattle |
| Owner | Appleton Cattle Company (since 2023) |
Durrie Station operates as a pastoral lease functioning as a cattle station located in Queensland, Australia.
Description
Situated roughly east of Birdsville and north of Innamincka, Durrie is intersected by the Diamantina River along with its smaller tributaries. Within the property lies the Diamantina overflow swamp, recognized nationally for its wetland significance.
Spanning an area of in Queensland's Channel Country, the station maintained a herd of about 9,000 cattle during average seasonal conditions as recorded in 2012.
History
The land is traditionally owned by the Karuwali people, whose linguistic territory encompasses this section of far western Queensland.
European pastoral activities commenced in 1873 when Robert Collins conducted explorations. Early pastoral leases such as Thundaperty (1876) and Cooningheera (circa 1877) were established close to vital waterholes historically used by Aboriginal groups.
In 1879, a violent episode at Cooningheera resulted in the death of a cook. Subsequent punitive expeditions caused substantial Aboriginal casualties. John "Johnny-cake" Miller, who survived the attack and later managed properties for Sidney Kidman, was instrumental during these events.
During the 1890s, Durrie was formed by amalgamating neighboring leases amid concerns over cattle tick outbreaks and related quarantine restrictions.
By 1908, pastoralist William Naughton had acquired control of Durrie (approximately ), successfully building its cattle stock to around 8,000 within two years.
Sidney Kidman purchased Durrie from the Naughton Brothers in 1913; it bordered his Monkira and Bluff Stations. Between 1913 and 1915, severe drought conditions led to extensive livestock losses across Kidman's Channel Country properties, including Durrie.
In 1949, Durrie was incorporated into an airmail service route connecting remote outback stations across South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Following exceptional flooding in 1950 that submerged the homestead, occupants temporarily moved to elevated areas until floodwaters subsided.
In 2016, S. Kidman & Co was acquired by Hancock Prospecting, owned by Gina Rinehart. Later, in April 2023, ownership of Durrie transferred to Appleton Cattle Company—a family-operated organic-certified beef producer—along with Naryilco and Glengyle stations.
Diamantina Overflow Swamp
This swamp extends roughly in length and reaches widths up to , situated within the Diamantina catchment area covering about . It comprises floodplains, swamps, and interconnected channels of the Diamantina River characterized by deep grey cracking clay soils. The freshwater supply remains available well into dry periods.
Dominant vegetation includes widespread lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) shrublands and sedgelands primarily consisting of Eleocharis, providing critical ecological functions important for both land management and agricultural practices.