Todmorden Station (pastoral lease)
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | 1890s |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | South Australia |
| Products | Poll Hereford cattle |
| Owner | Todmorden Cattle Company (Gordon, Mary, and Douglas Lillecrapp; Mary-Ann McMichael) |
Todmorden Station, often referred to simply as Todmorden, is a pastoral lease functioning as a cattle station situated in South Australia.
Location
Positioned roughly northwest of Oodnadatta and eastward from Marla, the station occupies an arid landscape marked by several intermittent waterways such as the Alberga River, Olarinna Creek, and Coongra Creek. Many of these creeks contain semi-permanent waterholes that serve as vital water sources for livestock. The Oodnadatta Track traverses the property, linking Oodnadatta and Marla. Surrounding pastoral leases include Lambina and Hamilton to the north; Macumba lies to the east; to the west is Wellbourn Hill; while Arckaringa and Wintinna border it on the southern side.
Description
Encompassing an area of , Todmorden is divided into 32 paddocks and supports a herd ranging between 5,000 and 7,000 cattle. The region experiences an average rainfall of , though this varies significantly year to year. Water for stock is predominantly supplied by 32 bores scattered across the property. The landscape features sand dunes and northern expanses of mulga country, central gibber plains, along with sandy gravel creek beds lined with stands of coolibah trees adjacent to creeks that feed extensive clay pans. Vegetation includes large tracts of Mitchell grass and saltbush, which provide excellent grazing conditions.
The station is owned by the Todmorden Cattle Company, a family-run partnership comprising Gordon, Mary, and Douglas Lillecrapp together with Mary-Ann McMichael. Their primary cattle breed is Poll Hereford. Additionally, this company manages three other properties located further south in the Mid North district.
History
The land traditionally belongs to the Yankunytjatjara and Antikirinya peoples, who maintain cultural ties with the northern Arrernte people. European exploration began when John McDouall Stuart passed through in 1860. The construction of the Overland Telegraph in 1872 ran through what is now Todmorden, leading to early pastoral leases primarily held by speculators. By 1885, most leases were under Mr Wooldridge’s control. The extension of the Great Northern Railway reaching Oodnadatta in 1891 facilitated improved livestock transport to markets in Adelaide, thereby encouraging pastoral development. Edmund and Walter Parke, brothers originating from Todmorden in West Yorkshire, joined forces with Charles Walker to acquire multiple leases within today’s station boundaries, naming their property Mount Todmorden Station. The homestead was established along Alberga Creek during the 1890s.
This partnership owned both Todmorden and Henbury Station until Edmund Parke passed away in 1901.
In 1902, Joseph Albert Breaden acquired Todmorden from Parke and Walker’s partnership. At that time, the station spanned approximately , inclusive of all livestock. During a drought in 1906, Breaden sold off his cattle. Explorer Frank Hann documented that Alberga Creek was dry in 1907; however, heavy rainfall in 1908 caused flooding that submerged Todmorden and neighboring stations.
Breaden retired in 1923, selling the property—then well-maintained—to the Young brothers along with a herd of 3,000 cattle and 1,500 horses. Another drought struck the area in 1927.
Management passed to Molly Breaden, Joseph’s daughter, who ran Todmorden from 1945 alongside her nephew David Gardiner until it was purchased by the Lillecrapp family in 1962 following several years of drought.
An Indigenous land use agreement was formalized in 2004 with the Yankunytjatjara and Antakirinja peoples, permitting land access while safeguarding lessee interests.
In early 2011, intense rainfall isolated five individuals including manager Douglas Lillecrapp; within just 30 hours, the property received its average annual precipitation resulting in widespread flooding. Later that same year, lightning ignited bushfires that destroyed about of grazing terrain before being contained through controlled backburning.
In April 2013, the expanse occupied by Todmorden Station was officially designated as a locality under the name "Todmorden".
See also