Nambi
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1899 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Goldfields, Western Australia |
| Products | Sheep, wool, cattle |
| Owner | Glencore Australia |
Nambi is a sheep station and pastoral lease situated roughly northeast of Leonora and southeast of Leinster within the Goldfields area of Western Australia.
The station was founded in 1899 and by 1925 was under the ownership of the Leonora Pastoral Company, initially operating as a cattle enterprise. Between 1929 and 1930, the company marketed mixed cattle at Midland Junction sales. The shift toward sheep farming commenced in 1925, accompanied by investments in fencing and transport vehicles. Nambi marketed its inaugural wool clip in 1926, selling 55 bales in Perth, followed by a subsequent sale of 46 bales in 1928.
In 1928, shearing took place on approximately 10,000 sheep, yielding 252 wool bales. The shearing shed underwent modernization with the installation of six stands of Lister shearing equipment, replacing previous manual methods.
The Leonora Pastoral Company put the property up for auction in 1930, describing it as encompassing with leasehold rights extending until 1948. The station was equipped with sheep-proof fencing covering , dividing the land into 14 paddocks, along with cattle fencing spanning . Water was sourced from 23 wells fitted with windmills to support a flock numbering around 11,000 sheep—including 6,000 breeding ewes—as well as 70 cattle and 100 horses.
In August 1930, ownership transferred to the Murrum Pastoral Company and Mrs C. Fitzgerald for £18,600; this sale included all equipment but excluded livestock. At that time, Nambi covered an area of with fencing exceeding , sustaining a flock of approximately 9,500 sheep nourished by 28 wells. Adjacent properties include Clover Downs Station.
Following the death of William Fitzgerald of the Murrum Pastoral Company in December 1933, management responsibilities were assumed by his sons: Cyril Irwin Fitzgerald at Nambi and Victor Fitzgerald at Murrum Stations. During the late 1930s, Nambi enhanced its flock quality by introducing Bungaree blood rams.
The station reported robust results in 1948, shearing a total of 17,715 sheep to produce 465 wool bales—an increase of about 3,500 sheep compared to the previous year—with lambing percentages estimated at 81%. In 1949, shearing operations were temporarily postponed after two shearers became lost amid wet weather conditions; both individuals were eventually found unharmed.
By 1950, Nambi had sold approximately 3,000 sheep to nearby Wilbah Station. Cyril Irwin Joseph Fitzgerald passed away in January 1951 at age 41; he had managed and owned Nambi since 1933 and bequeathed his estate to his widow.
Currently under the ownership of Glencore Australia, Nambi functions alongside three other local properties: Glenorn, Yundamindera, and Minara Stations. As of 2012, Glenorn and Nambi collectively maintained around 1,700 cattle; by 2016 all four stations were engaged in cattle production.