Nocoleche
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1870 |
| Founder | Walter Gamson (manager from 1870) |
| Defunct | 1978 |
| Fate | Sold to National Parks authorities and converted into Nocoleche Nature Reserve |
| Headquarters | Near White Cliffs , Australia |
Area served | New South Wales, Australia |
Key people | Walter Gamson (manager 1870–1898), George Treweeke, John Peken |
| Products | Sheep and cattle grazing, wool production |
Nocoleche Station, currently known as Nocoleche Nature Reserve, functioned as a pastoral lease supporting both sheep and cattle grazing in the remote regions of New South Wales. Situated roughly 150 km northeast of White Cliffs and 178 km west of Bourke, it lies along the Paroo River close to the Queensland border.
Around 1894, the station was home to an estimated 110,000 sheep. Walter Gamson, an early station manager, directed its activities from 1870 until his death in 1898. Besides managing Nocoleche, he also oversaw several properties for Frederick Armytage across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.
In 1925, Australian Sheep Farms Limited, whose board included Sir Arthur Stanley, R. H. Caird, and G. Slade, secured £400,000 to purchase Toorale, Dunlop, and Nocoleche Stations. By 1927, the condition of these properties had deteriorated; cattle were introduced as part of diversification efforts, and a portion of Nocoleche was reclaimed by government authorities.
An auction held in 1966 offered three parcels of Nocoleche: the homestead block covering 14,400 acres and two larger blocks measuring 82,200 and 79,030 acres respectively. However, none of these reached the minimum asking price. Since acquiring the station in 1928, the Treweeke family maintained an average stock of 30,000 sheep and 700 cattle. From 1960 onward, production typically yielded approximately 800 wool bales and 8,000 lambs annually.
Following the death of George Treweeke, his grandson John Peken obtained full ownership in 1974 and resided on the property until 1978. That year marked the sale to National Parks authorities who transformed the site into what is now known as Nocoleche Nature Reserve.