Rawlinna Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease / Sheep station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Hugh MacLachlan |
| Headquarters | Rawlinna , Australia |
Area served | Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia |
| Products | Sheep, wool |
| Owner | Jumbuck Pastoral Company |
Rawlinna Station is a pastoral lease and sheep station situated approximately east of Kambalda within Western Australia's Goldfields-Esperance region. The station borders the locality of Rawlinna and the Trans-Australian Railway, holding the distinction as the largest sheep station across Australia.
Description
Spanning roughly (2.5 million acres), Rawlinna stands as Australia's most extensive sheep station and is owned by the Jumbuck Pastoral Company. It encompasses the combined leases of Pondana, Rawlinna, and Vanesk, covering a section of the Nullarbor Plain. The terrain transitions from the red soils typical of goldfields to the white limestone outcrops characteristic of the plain. Vegetation varies from eastern woodland areas to drought-hardy shrubs and grasses.
The presence of feral dogs creates ongoing difficulties for livestock managers, leading to the erection of a dog-proof fence extending , which includes marsupial netting at its base. An adjacent parcel is also protected by a solar-powered electric fence. Water supply is maintained through 37 windmill-driven bores, some descending to depths of , distributing water throughout 87 main paddocks along with several holding paddocks.
The homestead is located about southwest of the railway siding. In 1967, a major shearing facility known as the Depot Outstation was constructed centrally on the property. This complex includes a 16-stand shearing shed, housing for an overseer, accommodation for shearers and staff, plus mess and kitchen amenities.
Rawlinna maintains a flock numbering approximately 60,000 sheep, with wool sent to Adelaide for grading and sale. The station’s highest recorded shearing total is 80,000 sheep.
History
The land traditionally belongs to the Mirning, Ngalea, and Wangai peoples, who have occupied this region for over 10,000 years.
During their 1841 Nullarbor expedition, John Eyre and his companion Wylie traversed this area. Eyre described the Nullarbor as "a blot on the face of nature."
Founded in 1962 by Hugh MacLachlan from a South Australian pastoral family, Rawlinna has a comparatively brief history relative to other Australian stations.
Throughout the latter part of the 20th century, favorable seasonal conditions made the area well-suited for pastoralism and breeding. The station usually managed between 40,000 and 60,000 sheep, producing between 1,100 and 1,700 wool bales annually.
In 2001, shearing yielded 78,417 sheep producing 2,177 wool bales; by 2014, approximately 53,000 sheep generated 1,285 bales.
A poor season occurred in 2005 with only 4 inches of rainfall compared to an average of 9 inches. However, conditions improved in 2006 when winter rains reached 6 inches, providing sufficient feed for about 32,000 sheep.
Ross Wood retired as station manager in 2007; he was the third individual to hold this role since 1967 following David Seaton and Murray McQuie. Michael Simons—who started as a jackaroo with Jumbuck in 1983—succeeded Wood. Jimmy Wood took over management duties in 2018.
In April 2023, Fortescue announced intentions to purchase Rawlinna Station for renewable energy projects. After withdrawing due to delays in ministerial approvals, the property was listed for sale later that year.