Wonnangatta Station
| Company type | Cattle station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1860s |
| Founder | Oliver Smith |
| Headquarters | Victorian Alps , Australia |
| Products | Cattle |
Wonnangatta Station was a remote cattle ranch situated within a secluded valley of the Victorian Alps in Australia. During its period of operation, author Harry Stephenson referred to it as "Victoria’s most isolated homestead."
Location
The closest settlements included the gold mining towns of Talbotville, located roughly away, as well as Grant and Dargo to the south-east. The larger township of Mansfield lay about away, accessible by crossing the Great Dividing Range.
In 1957, bushwalkers accidentally set fire to and destroyed the station’s homestead. Present-day remnants consist of several stockyards and a renovated cemetery. Incorporated into the Alpine National Park, this region can only be reached via 4WD, off-road motorcycles, horseback, or on foot. Wonnangatta continues to attract off-road adventurers, providing amenities such as pit toilets and concrete fire rings for camping visitors.
History
Wonnangatta Station was founded in the 1860s by Oliver Smith, a gold prospector from North America, near where the Wonnangatta River meets Conglomerate Creek. Smith’s partner in a common-law relationship, Ellen ("Nancy"), along with her son Harry, joined him in establishing the homestead.
Following Ellen’s death during childbirth—estimated between 1866 and 1873—Smith sold the property to William Bryce and returned to the United States. The Bryce family then took over management of the station while Harry Smith moved further down the valley to Eaglevale. Mrs Bryce passed away in 1914 at age 78 after raising ten children at Wonnangatta. After her passing, ownership transferred in 1916 to parties from Mansfield, who appointed a station manager to oversee operations.
Wonnangatta murders
The station and its surrounding vicinity are notable for the unresolved Wonnangatta murders that occurred during late 1917 and 1918.