Yeeda Station
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Founder | Murray Squatting Company (William Paterson, George Paterson, H. Cornish, Alexander Richardson, Samuel Elliott) |
| Headquarters | Kimberley region , Australia |
Area served | Kimberley region, Western Australia |
| Products | Cattle, sheep, meat processing |
Yeeda Station functions as a pastoral lease and operates as a cattle station situated in Western Australia's Kimberley region.
Description
Positioned approximately 41 km to the south of Derby and 71 km northwest of Looma, Yeeda covers a large portion of the northern stretches of the Fitzroy and Yeeda Rivers, including the mouth of the Fitzroy River and vast coastal floodplain areas. It shares the landscape with other nearby stations such as Kilto and Mount Jowlaenger.
History
The land traditionally belongs to the Nyikina and Warwa peoples, who have occupied this area for more than 40,000 years. The river and its floodplains, locally known as Mardoowarra, hold deep cultural significance and ecological importance.
European incursion into the area started with George Grey’s 1837 expedition reaching the mouth of the Fitzroy River. Yeeda Station was founded in 1880 by the Murray Squatting Company—comprising William Paterson, George Paterson, H. Cornish, Alexander Richardson, and Samuel Elliott—during the West Kimberley opening. Initially established for sheep grazing, the station switched to cattle by 1882 due to better environmental compatibility.
The primary homestead was built in 1881 by Geo P. Patterson along the banks of the Yeeda River and is believed to be the first dwelling constructed in the Kimberley. The nearest neighbors at that time were over 100 miles away at De Grey Station. In 1883, ownership passed from the Murray Squatting Company to London financier Mr. Game, who appointed George Rose as manager.
With a gold rush occurring in the region in 1884, Yeeda became a frequent starting point for miners heading out prospecting. The station endured major flooding in 1894 and again in 1896, resulting in substantial livestock fatalities and damage to infrastructure. By 1902, cattle numbers reached close to 10,000; although drought struck in 1906, its impact was less severe compared to adjacent stations.
Further record floods hit in 1914, disrupting operations once more; by 1916 cattle ticks had appeared, triggering outbreaks of red-water fever. By 1920, Yeeda encompassed roughly one million acres (1,562 sq mi) with a herd estimated at around 20,000 cattle under manager Mr. English's supervision and owned by Sir Sidney Kidman.
Following Kidman’s death in 1935, Yeeda was sold in 1939 to Yeeda Station Ltd., headed by managing director Hubert Evans. The station faced additional hardships during the 1940s including manager deaths and incidents of cattle theft.
After World War II, floods in 1947 complicated cattle transportation logistics. A prolonged drought from 1949 to 1952 caused significant stock depletion; heavy rainfall returned during 1953-54 but led to tragic events such as a stockman drowning.
At one point, prominent Sydney barrister Frank Stratton McAlary owned Yeeda along with Mount House Station. In 1999, Vicki and Jack Burton purchased Yeeda following their tenure at neighboring Kilto Station. The Yeeda Pastoral Company—formed by families including Burton, Taberer, and Keys—grew its holdings by acquiring adjacent properties and now manages approximately 80,000 cattle and 20,000 sheep across Kimberley stations. Their operation focuses on free-range livestock production without using inoculations, antibiotics, or hormones.
The company established a meat processing facility at Kilto which received approval in 2011 as a trial for a larger abattoir planned for Yeeda. Expansion continued with acquisitions of Mt Jowlaenga Station in 2001 and Springvale Station aggregation (comprising Mabel Downs, Texas, and Alice Downs) in 2003 near Halls Creek in East Kimberley, adding about 20,000 head of cattle.
In 2019, after initially selling a minority stake in 2017, the Burton family divested their interest in Yeeda Pastoral Company to ADM Capital. The Keys family remains involved among other shareholders. A new management team was appointed in 2020 to oversee operations.