Milly Milly
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 19th century |
| Headquarters | Mid-West region, Western Australia , Australia |
Area served | Approximately 500000 acres |
| Products | Sheep, cattle, horses, wool |
| Owner | Milly Milly Pastoral company (as of 2012) |
Milly Milly Station, often referred to simply as Milly Milly, is a pastoral lease functioning as a sheep and cattle ranch situated approximately west of Meekatharra in the Mid-West region of Western Australia. It shares boundaries with Nookawarra to the south and Beringarra Station to the northeast.
Description
Encompassing roughly , the station’s homestead is positioned alongside the Murchison River. The property extends about in an east-west direction and from north to south, boasting dual frontage along a segment of the Wooramell River and along the Murchison River. The terrain is rich in mulga, saltbush, and various grasses, which have historically been harvested for hay; for instance, in 1910, 25 tons were cut to feed livestock.
History
The initial establishment was undertaken by T. O'Grady, his brother Robert, and two associates, who constructed a rudimentary hut and shearing shed near where the current homestead stands. Despite early difficulties including health issues, the O'Grady brothers succeeded in founding the existing homestead.
Prior to 1879, ownership transferred to James Aitkin and Mr. Birrell; after Birrell's passing, Aitkin assumed complete ownership. The original homestead succumbed to flood damage in 1884 and was subsequently reconstructed approximately away using locally sourced sandstone, limestone, and salmon gum timber, with cement flooring installed to prevent termite infestation. By 1886, Milly Milly had shorn over 20,000 sheep under the direction of manager Archie Campbell.
Although droughts affected the surrounding area, such as the one in 1891, Milly Milly generally maintained better conditions than neighboring properties. The station also faced significant adversities including two prominent murders in 1893 and 1912; in both instances, suspects were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Severe flooding in 1900 inflicted major damage on buildings and stock. Ownership briefly passed to Archibald M'Kellar before being acquired by Daniel and Michael Mulcahy in 1905, who managed it alongside their hotel ventures. Fred Caeser served as manager from around 1899 into the early decades of the twentieth century.
By 1910, fencing extended over approximately , supporting a flock of 27,000 merino sheep that produced about 480 wool bales annually, as well as 2,700 shorthorn cattle and 300 horses. In 1914, under manager G. R. Monger’s supervision, livestock numbers included between 8,000 and 10,000 sheep and roughly 1,500 cattle sustained by 48 windmills.
Following the deaths of Michael Mulcahy in 1917 and Daniel Mulcahy in 1925, their trustees invested in thoroughbred stallions such as Star Comedy to improve breeding stock quality. Offers to purchase the station were declined during the early twentieth century, including one bid of £80,000 made in 1930.
In more recent times, Milly Milly has contended with environmental challenges like flooding caused by Cyclone Emma in 2006 and drought conditions in 2010 that necessitated supplementary feeding for animals.
As of 2012, Milly Milly operates under Crown Lease CL139-1967 with Land Act registration LA3114/625 and is managed by the Milly Milly Pastoral company.
See also
- List of ranches and stations
- List of reduplicated Australian place names
- List of the largest stations in Australia