Toorale Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1857 |
| Headquarters | Bourke (approximate) , Australia |
| Products | Sheep, cattle, wool |
Toorale Station was previously a pastoral lease functioning as both a sheep station and a cattle station in New South Wales. Acquired jointly by the Federal and New South Wales Governments, a portion of the land was designated as Toorale National Park in 2010, while the rest became a state conservation area.
Situated roughly southwest of Bourke and north of Cobar, the estate encompasses the meeting point of the Warrego River and the Darling River.
History
Founded in 1857, Toorale's historic shearing shed was constructed in 1873. Ownership passed to Sir Samuel Wilson by 1880. Following Wilson's relocation to England, Samuel McCaughey took over Toorale along with Dunlop Station, managing them until 1913. In 1894, the property saw the shearing of approximately 265,000 sheep.
The renowned poet Henry Lawson served as a roustabout in the Toorale woolshed during 1892, drawing inspiration from the region for several of his works.
The theatre impresario and actress Kathleen Mary Robinson, born on the station in 1901 to pastoralist parents, retired there after her career and passed away in 1983.
In 1925, Australian Sheep Farms Limited, with directors including Sir Arthur Stanley, raised £400,000 to purchase Toorale alongside Dunlop and Nocoleche Stations.
By 1931, a team of 24 shearers processed 81,000 sheep over nine weeks, yielding 2,095 wool bales. When offered for sale in 1936, Toorale covered , supporting a stock of 54,355 sheep and 1,089 mixed cattle.
The final significant wool harvest occurred in 1953 under Berawinnia Pastoral Company ownership, producing 2,100 bales. Prior to extensive land resumptions for soldier settlement, the station maintained flocks ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 sheep.
In 2008, Toorale spanned . That year it was acquired by Federal and NSW Governments for AUD 24 million with intentions to establish a National Park. Plans included removing century-old dams to reinstate natural river flows. The Toorale National Park was officially created in 2010; the remaining land was classified as state conservation area.