Wondoola
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle station |
| Founded | before 1880 |
| Headquarters | Normanton (approximate) , Australia |
Area served | Queensland's Gulf country |
| Products | Cattle |
| Owner | Australian Agricultural Company |
Wondoola—also referred to as Wondoola Station and sometimes incorrectly spelled Woondoola—is a pastoral lease functioning as a cattle station situated approximately south of Normanton and west of Croydon in Queensland.
Covering an expanse of within Queensland's Gulf country, this property supports a herd of around 23,000 cattle and is owned by the Australian Agricultural Company. The station derives its name from Wondoola Creek, a tributary feeding into the Saxby River, and boasts extensive water access: 24 miles along the Saxby River and an additional 33 miles bordering the Flinders River, ensuring reliable permanent waterholes for livestock.
Wondoola was established prior to 1880 and was offered for auction that year. At that time, it neighbored significant stations such as Iffley and Taldora, encompassing across seven parcels characterized by "fine rolling downs and open plains," predominantly covered with Mitchell grass and saltbush. Initially dedicated to sheep grazing with about 5,300 sheep, the property included homestead structures, equipment, supplies, and a stable of 20 horses.
By 1891, ownership had passed to Messrs Haydon and Loughnan, with the station running approximately 7,000 cattle featuring distinguished Lee bulls. The area suffered a tick infestation in 1895; over 1,200 bullocks were inoculated and transferred to Cunnamulla, though some losses occurred due to tick fever and pleuropneumonia.
In January 1903, Wondoola was sold along with Vena Park to Messrs Collins and sons. Later that year, the Queensland National Bank took possession but swiftly resold it to D. C. McConnell and sons, who subsequently made a profitable sale to Mr Alison from New South Wales. At this juncture, the herd numbered between 12,000 and 13,000 cattle.
During the Second World War, an airstrip was constructed on the station grounds for occasional use by the Royal Australian Air Force; however, no permanent RAAF units were based there.
From 1988 until 1997, Henry Burke served as manager of Wondoola on behalf of AACo before transitioning to oversee the larger Brunette Downs Station in the Northern Territory.
Presently, Wondoola along with neighboring Canobie Station forms part of the Saxby nickel exploration initiative—a collaboration between Anglo American and Falcon Minerals—with drilling operations still underway as of 2009.