Arkaba

Arkaba or Arkaba Station is a part-perpetual lease, part-freehold property located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north east of Hawker and 72 kilometres (45 mi) south of Blinman in the Flinders Ranges in the state of South Australia,

The station occupies an area of 60,000 acres (24,281 ha) and was formerly used for grazing sheep, but is now used for tourism.

The property is composed of sandstone bluffs, open plains and creek beds studded with river red gums. The natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound lies at the northern boundary of the property.

The word 'arkaba' is said to mean land of abundance in the local Adnyamathanha language.

The station was initially leased by William James Browne and his brother John Harris Browne in 1851. The brothers had previously run other properties including Lyndoch, Moorak, Buckland Park, and Booborowie. The men stocked the property with 6,000 sheep which cut about 4 pounds (2 kg) of wool.

Put up for auction in 1863 by the managers, Messrs George and Frank Marchant, the station was stocked with approximately 27,000 sheep and was described as occupying an area of 275 square miles (71,225 ha) consisting of lightly timbered country, permanently watered and assessed to carry nearly 35,000 sheep. The reserve price was not met and the property was withdrawn for private sale.

An employee drowned at Arkaba in 1872 when he tried to save some camp appliances from Mundy Creek that was flooded at the time. The man, George Hocart, was moving sheep in the area with several other men when the accident happened.

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Wikipedia