Esmeralda Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | before 1884 |
| Headquarters | Queensland , Australia |
| Products | Cattle |
Esmeralda Station is a pastoral lease functioning as a cattle station in Queensland, situated roughly southeast of Croydon and southwest of Georgetown. The landscape predominantly consists of flat areas along the Yappar, Clara River, and Esmeralda Creek, including their smaller tributaries.
The station was established prior to 1884 and was originally owned by De Mestre and Rowe, who were engaged in cattle trading. By 1887, the property was listed for sale, stocked with 5,000 head of cattle over an area that included two fenced paddocks. By 1899, ownership had transferred to the Trust and Agency Company of Australasia Limited. In 1902, Esmeralda covered a leasehold plus an occupation license area, supporting 8,000 cattle and 150 horses. John Hendry purchased the station without livestock in 1905. By 1913, Frank Duncombe sold Esmeralda for close to £12,000 to Bourke and Co., based in Hughenden.
In 1934, the Esmeralda Pastoral Company offered the station at auction; it encompassed an extensive area and was stocked with 7,000 cattle.
The property endured significant damage during the 2013 Gulf Country bushfires, which destroyed the original homestead dating back to the 1880s along with thousands of hectares of grazing land. At that time, the Sheahan family owned the station, which was valued at around AUD 40 million.