Sherlock Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Founder | John and Emma Withnell |
| Headquarters | Roebourne (approximate) , Australia |
Area served | Pilbara, Western Australia |
| Products | Sheep, cattle, horses |
Sherlock Station is a sheep station and pastoral lease located approximately east of Roebourne within the Pilbara area of Western Australia. Encompassing of grazing territory, it was purchased in 2015 by Bettini Bros (currently operating as Bettini Beef), who also acquired Mallina Station and Pyramid Station at the same time. The Bettini family maintained possession at least until 2018. Sherlock functions under Crown Lease CL311-1966 and Land Act LA3114/558.
The homestead, which entered the Register of the National Estate in 1986, consists of the main dwelling, kitchen wing, meat-house, storeroom, staff quarters, stables, wool-shed, and overseer's residence. The structures are constructed using rubble masonry with corrugated iron roofing, featuring characteristic Pilbara vaulted designs.
In 1879, John and Emma Withnell acquired Sherlock following the sale of Mount Welcome Station; they retired from operations in 1890. Emma gained recognition locally as the Mother of the North West due to her dedication to Aboriginal communities.
By 1890, John Withnell sold Sherlock to Meares and Withnell for £24,000. The transaction included equipment along with livestock consisting of 16,000 sheep, 50 cattle, and 60 horses. The property endured significant trials such as a large grass fire in 1893 that consumed a paddock extending 20 miles. Severe weather also impacted the station: floods in 1894 damaged buildings and resulted in the loss of 8,000 sheep; a cyclone in 1898 destroyed the shearing shed and caused river flooding but left the homestead intact.
Additional storms occurred in 1902 with intense rainfall nearly submerging nearby Balla Balla. In 1908, drought conditions forced the sale of 4,000 wethers. Ownership shifts included J.G. Meares selling his interest to Samuel Peter Mackay in 1910.
The year 1913 brought favorable conditions with plentiful grass growth and successful lambing; more than 10,000 sheep were transferred to Lower Clifton Downs Station. Ernest A. Hall purchased Sherlock in 1916 but sold it to Edward Meares in 1923 while acquiring Wooramel Station.
Heavy rainfall was recorded in 1928 when two inches fell within a single day. In 1938, Messrs A.E. Hardie and Son disposed of Sherlock—stocked with approximately 15,000 sheep along with plant equipment and homestead—for an undisclosed price.
Cyclone Shirley in 1966 delivered of rain to the property; later, Cyclone John in 1999 caused additional flooding with over rainfall reported.
The May family held ownership from the 1970s until 1990. From the early 2000s until its sale in 2015, pharmacist Peter Cook owned Sherlock alongside four other Pilbara stations including Croydon Station, Mallina Station, and Pyramid Station.