Belele Station

Belele Station is a pastoral lease in Western Australia that operates as a cattle station and as a sheep station for the production of wool.

The station is located in the Murchison region of Western Australia and the nearest town is Meekatharra which is located approximately 53 kilometres (33 mi) to the south east. Occupying an area of 2,797 square kilometres (1,080 sq mi) the property contains 114 square kilometres (44 sq mi) of nature reserves and vacant crown land. The soil has a low level of erosion with 95% of the land being described as nil or minor. The perenniel vegetation condition is described as fair with 40% of vegetation cover being described as poor or very poor. It is estimated that the property is able to carry 16,500 sheep in summer conditions

The station was initially established by Frank Wittenoom in the early 1880s after he had established both Nookawarra and Mileura stations further west of Belele. Wittenoom sold the property to Ernest Augustus Lee Steere and his partners in 1888, after Lee Steere had been working in the Murchison on various stations during the 1880s. The area was largely undeveloped at the time and over the course of several years he was able to bring it to full production. Belele occupied an area of 250,000 acres (101,171 ha) at this stage which was stocked with both cattle and sheep. The area was struck by drought shortly afterward so Lee-Steere invested in mail transport between Nannine and Peak Hill, in a butchers and the Nannine general store to provide an income.

Seven Aboriginal men were arrested and charged with murder and cannibalism at Belele in 1895. The unfortunate victim was another Aborigine named Callynognoo who came from the North West. The men, and the skull of the victim, were taken to Perth for trial after two of the group had decided to turn Queens evidence.

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