Oulnina
| Company type | Pastoral lease / Sheep station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | before 1861 |
| Founder | Unknown |
| Headquarters | Near Mannahill, South Australia , Australia |
| Products | Sheep (wool and livestock) |
Oulnina Station is a pastoral lease functioning as a sheep station situated in South Australia, approximately southeast of Mannahill and east of Yunta.
The station was established prior to 1861 and was under the ownership of Henry Lorenzo Sprigg by 1862. Due to financial strain, both Oulnina and the adjacent Wadnaminga Station were put up for sale in 1868. Combined, these properties encompassed and supported a flock of 21,800 sheep, equipped with facilities including a woolshed, several huts, yards, and 14 wells. Ownership transferred to Philip Levi and Co., who later sold them in 1870 with a reduced stock of 17,000 sheep.
In 1872, the area suffered from a grasshopper infestation that significantly diminished available grazing feed. By 1880, Oulnina had sheared a total of 59,095 sheep. The discovery of gold in 1885 led to the establishment of a syndicate aiming to exploit mineral rights on the land. However, by 1890, the sheep population had decreased to 16,092.
By the year 1897, Oulnina covered an area divided into 17 paddocks and maintained an estimated flock size of around 40,000 sheep. In 1907, W.J. McBride acquired the property from the estate of W.H. Duncan for £53,300. At that time, the station supported 38,597 sheep along with 62 cattle and 64 horses distributed across 38 fenced paddocks. Water was supplied through wells, dams, and a permanent spring.
In 1911, Robert Crawford purchased both Oulnina and the neighboring Outlapa Station with intentions to partition Oulnina into eleven separate blocks for sale. The entire property then spanned , with the largest individual block measuring . Several leases under the collective name 'Oulnina Park' were subsequently acquired by J.G. Terry and sold off in 1917. George Brooks took ownership of substantial portions including approximately , containing the homestead, and maintained possession until his passing in 1926.
By 2013, Maurice Francis was recorded as the owner of the station. In 2017, operation of Oulnina was managed by Michael Burdon and his family following inheritance from his father. That same year, Burdon became involved in a police investigation concerning the suspected homicide of his wife occurring on or near the property; he died by suicide during this inquiry. Subsequently, in March 2018, the station was placed on the market for long-term lease.