Austin Downs

Austin Downs Station or Austin Downs is a pastoral lease in the Mid West of Western Australia.

The property covers an area of 160,000 hectares (395,369 acres) and has traditionally farmed sheep for the production of wool. The station is located in the Murchison region of Western Australia and the nearest town is Cue which is found 17 kilometres (11 mi) to the South East from the Homestead. An area of 118 square kilometres (46 sq mi) within the station is composed of reserves and crown land. The soil has a low level of erosion with 96% of the land being described as nil or minor. The perenniel vegetation condition is good with 15% of vegetation cover being described as poor or very poor. The station contains part of Lake Austin and close to Nallan Creek.

128 bales of greasy wool from the station were sold in London in 1910 at 11d. per pound. Later the same year a bank clerk named Studds from Cue was found to have committed suicide on the property and was found several weeks later with his revolver still in his hand.

A tragedy occurred at the station in 1911 when a character from the Day Dawn goldfields, Jimmy the Fiddler, left the station in very hot weather and was found a week later 7 miles (11 km) from a well. The 70-year-old was thought to have died of dehydration.

By 1912 the station had a flock of 10,000 sheep that were to be sheared in early August using 9 stands.

The station suffered some damage during an intense storm in 1914, when some out-buildings were destroyed hy the wind. J. P. Meehan reported that 2.5 inches (64 mm) rain fell in 20 minutes and several trees were hit by lightning.

In 1918 the station shore 28,000 sheep and in 1921 the second shearing of the season saw 8,000 shorn for 214 bales of wool.

During the 1919 season two men were struck down with influenza and Meehan took them to Cue for treatment. Upon arrival the men were isolated at the Cue State School. Another man was taken from the station to join them a few days later. Five other men remained at the station but confined to bed for several days. Shearing operations were suspended until the men recovered.

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Wikipedia