Gogo Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Headquarters | Fitzroy Crossing , Australia |
Area served | Kimberley, Western Australia |
| Products | Cattle |
Gogo, also referred to as Gogo Station or Margaret Downs, is a pastoral lease functioning as a cattle station situated approximately south of Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia and northeast of Yungngora Community, Western Australia within the Kimberley area.
The region was explored by Alexander Forrest in 1879 and subsequently attracted lease claims from the Durack and Emanuel families, who collectively secured over one million acres along the banks of the Fitzroy River (Western Australia) and the Ord River. The Durack family established themselves along the Ord River, while the Emanuel family took possession of lands adjacent to the Fitzroy River.
Founded in 1885, by 1902 Gogo encompassed on the Fitzroy River floodplain, featuring abundant growths of Mitchell and Flinders grass. Although drought conditions caused losses in 1906, by 1910 the station supported a cattle herd numbering around 35,000, with its manager earning an annual salary of £600.
In 1911, ownership rested with the Emanuel brothers, with George Piper serving as manager; Piper also held ownership of nearby Noonkanbah Station. Subsequent amendments to the Land Act restricted holdings to one million acres, resulting in Gogo being subdivided into three separate properties: Margaret Downs (also known as Gogo), Cherrabun, and Christmas Creek. These stations, together with Meda Station, remain under the stewardship of descendants from the original proprietors.
In 1912, Moola Bulla Station acquired 50 bulls from Gogo to improve their stock quality. By 1917, Gogo's herd had expanded to approximately 50,000 cattle and was regarded as one of Kimberley’s most efficiently managed stations. The existing homestead, constructed in 1918 using concrete blocks, is located near caves that were excavated during the 1940s.
A severe outbreak of cattle tick during 1918–19 led to a significant drop in branding figures, from 12,000 down to 4,800. In 1920, Gogo was put up for auction alongside Noonkanbah Station; at that time it spanned , contained of fencing, and held a livestock population of 60,000 shorthorn cattle along with horses and mules. Despite being offered for sale, it remained unsold and stayed under Emanuel family ownership through to 1923.
Ted Millard assumed management in 1921 and tackled overgrazing issues by drilling ten wells and installing more than of fencing over seven years. He introduced shorthorn bulls adapted for tropical environments to enhance herd performance. Millard oversaw all Emanuel properties for thirty years and was recognized for his respectful treatment of Aboriginal employees.
By 1928, Gogo had become Western Australia's largest station with an estimated herd size reaching 90,000 head of cattle. Throughout the late 1920s and into the 1930s, the station regularly transported cattle and wool via Derby port.
During bore drilling operations in 1930, natural gas was discovered on-site; exploration rights were held by Freney Oil Company. From 1932 through to 1948, Gogo consistently exported hundreds of cattle annually to ports such as Derby, Port Hedland, and Carnarvon.
The Kimberley influenza epidemic of 1934 resulted in fatalities among Aboriginal inhabitants at Gogo. After World War II, cattle shipments continued at a strong pace; notably in 1947 alone, Gogo dispatched 2,580 cattle from Derby.
In the wet season of 1949, a lightning strike caused injuries to several Aboriginal workers on the property. A government survey conducted in 1950 identified that of Gogo’s land might be suitable for rice farming despite earlier unsuccessful trials.
The Emanuel family further improved their herd in 1950 by acquiring poll shorthorn bulls from Melara stud. Between 1951 and 1953 a severe drought reduced cattle numbers across Gogo and neighboring stations by half; pastoralists responded by investing heavily in water bores and supplementary feed to maintain their livestock.
In 1985 roughly was excised from Gogo to create the Yakanarra Aboriginal community which now houses about 150 residents.
By 2010 ownership had shifted to the Harris family based in New South Wales. That year featured a large-scale wet season cropping experiment involving planting sorghum across to enhance cattle fattening prior to export.
In 2011 thousands of hectares at Gogo were damaged by an intentionally set fire near Fitzroy Crossing; a local individual was apprehended for arson following community reports.