Murgoo Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1873 |
| Founder | Edward Wittenoom, Frank Wittenoom |
| Headquarters | Mid West region , Australia |
| Products | Sheep grazing, wool production |
Murgoo Station operates as a pastoral lease and sheep grazing property situated in the Mid West region of Western Australia.
Positioned approximately north of Yalgoo and westward from Cue, Murgoo encompasses an expanse of saltbush plains and mulga terrain, lying at an estimated elevation of .
The station was founded in 1873 by the Wittenoom brothers, Edward and Frank. In 1875, ownership briefly transferred to the Mungarra Squatting Company. The existing homestead dates back to 1880. By 1891, Richard Holmes and H. Maloney had acquired the property, with Maloney becoming sole proprietor until his passing in 1903.
In 1905, the station was placed on the market, boasting a livestock inventory of 19,000 sheep, 500 cattle, and 55 horses. The property featured numerous shallow wells alongside 23 windmills and was segmented into various paddocks designated for sheep, cattle, and horses. Later that year, agents representing Charles Atkins purchased Murgoo for £23,200.
The Atkins family improved livestock genetics by introducing Merino rams from Victoria in 1908. By 1918, they had sold 298 rams as part of their breeding program.
Under the management of R. W. Fremlin starting in 1919, substantial enhancements were made to infrastructure; by 1928, the station operated up to 70 windmills and had installed over of fencing. Fremlin also oversaw other Atkins holdings such as Mount Narryer Station and Tibradden Station, collectively maintaining a flock exceeding 40,000 sheep and producing between 1,200 and 1,400 wool bales annually before his retirement in the 1930s.
Throughout the 1920s, Murgoo transported sheep to export ports like Derby via two-day trucking routes. Sheep numbers varied due to drought conditions—20,000 were shorn in 1920, rising to a peak of 32,000 in 1927 with wool production surpassing 900 bales. In 1924, the Atkins recorded a notable sale of 5,000 wethers at a price of 42 shillings each.
By the late 1920s, ownership rested with the Aitken Brothers from South Australia, who also managed the adjacent Mt. Narryer station. Together, both properties sold up to 21,000 sheep.
Currently leased by Reginald Seaman under Crown Lease CL573-1966 and Land Act LA3114/578, the Seaman family has overseen Murgoo since 1974. Following a severe drought spanning from 2000 to 2010 accompanied by below-average rainfall—only recorded in 2010—the station underwent destocking.
Races
In an effort to encourage local engagement, Charles Atkins organized a race meeting in 1915. The inaugural event occurred in 1917 at Manfred Station—approximately 75 miles from Murgoo—then owned by Frank and Edward Wittenoom. Racing continued at Manfred until 1920 when the Murgoo Picnic Race Club was formed.
A dedicated racecourse was constructed; the shearing shed served as clubrooms and hosted the race ball. Initially, women attended clubroom events by invitation only and were offered champagne.
From 1920 through 1929, two-day race meetings were held annually before being suspended due to the Great Depression and drought conditions; activities resumed in 1935. During World War II, biannual races were organized by the Murchison Patriotic Funds Committee with regular meetings recommencing in 1947.
No races took place during drought years of 1950, 1951, 1955, and 1956; however, events continued regularly through at least 1963. On-course bookmakers were banned while all jockeys were station workers or overseers.