Paralana Station

Wooltana Station

Company type	Pastoral lease
Industry	Agriculture
Founded	1856
Founder	John McTaggart and John McCallum
Headquarters	South Australia , Australia
Area served	Remote South Australia, between Flinders Ranges and Lake Frome
Products	Sheep, cattle, horses, camels

Wooltana Station, often simply referred to as Wooltana, is a pastoral lease functioning as a sheep station situated in the remote regions of South Australia. It occupies land that was traditionally part of the Pilatapa territory and is located approximately northeast of Blinman and northwest of Broken Hill, positioned between the northern sections of the Flinders Ranges and Lake Frome. This area lies within the ancestral lands of the Adnyamathanha people. The station’s name, "Wooltana," is believed to originate from an Aboriginal term, ooltulta, although its exact meaning remains uncertain.

Within the station's boundaries are the Paralana Hot Springs, distinguished by uranium-bearing veins that release gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, radon, and helium. Due to the presence of low levels of uranium and radon, extended exposure could pose health concerns. These Springs support a unique extremophile algal mat that thrives at temperatures around 62 °C under conditions of high radioactivity. The geological importance of these Springs has earned them a place on the South Australian Heritage Register.

History

The foundation of Wooltana was laid by Scottish settler John McTaggart, who arrived in South Australia in 1852. In 1856, McTaggart along with his brother-in-law John McCallum explored lands to the north. Subsequently, they transported a flock of 1,500 sheep along with their families through Port Augusta to establish Wooltana. They became the most northerly European settlers within South Australia at that time, with the closest neighboring property being Arkaba Station, located roughly south. Following drought conditions between 1863 and 1865, McTaggart retired in 1882 and handed over station management to his son Lachlan. The property expanded in 1907 when it absorbed the adjacent Paralana Station, increasing its total size to .

In 1912, Wooltana gained recognition for setting a South Australian shearing record when shearer G. Denman completed shearing 274 sheep within 8 hours and 40 minutes; this record was later eclipsed in 1927 by a shearer from Arkaba who shorn 277 sheep.

The McTaggart family sold Wooltana in 1918 to A.J. McBride and Philip McBride from Burra for £60,000. At the time of sale, the station covered , supporting a stock of 30,000 sheep along with cattle, horses, and camels. A.J. McBride passed away in 1928.

Droughts frequently affected station operations: in 1924, approximately 9,000 sheep were driven off the property towards Hawker for subsequent transport south, while in 1928 over 30,000 sheep were shorn at Wooltana. The severe drought during 1948 compelled the sale of more than 10,000 sheep and led to a reduction of flock size by half; wild dog infestations also became a significant issue at this time. To combat this problem, Wooltana was utilized as a base for aerial distribution of 90,000 strychnine-laced baits targeting wild dogs in 1950.

During the drought year of 1954, rainfall was minimal until December when Wooltana received over two days’ worth of rain. That same year saw the accidental death of long-standing employee John French during a kangaroo hunting expedition. Ownership remained under the McBride family throughout this period.

In 1984, Robert Cameron acquired Wooltana for $1.9 million—a record-breaking sum for pastoral properties in South Australia at that time.

The Government of South Australia officially registered the land under the name "Wooltana" on April 26, 2013.

See also

• List of ranches and stations