Bowes Station

Bowes Station is a pastoral lease and sheep station located in the Mid West region of Western Australia.

Situated approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) to the south-east of Kalbarri and 84 kilometres (52 mi) to the west of Mullewa.

The station was established in 1850 by brothers William and Lockier Burges, when they applied for land in the newly discovered Champion Bay district. William Burges moved from his original property, Tipperary (near York), and by 1857 was grazing sheep on 93,000 acres. He subsequently bought rams descended from the royal flock of George II, settling them first at Bowes and later taking them to Yuin Station.

In 1859, Thomas Burges, William's nephew, took over Bowes Station. Thomas' son William Burges was born on the station in December 1865 and following his schooling returned to the property to manage Bowes. He retired in about 1912 and died in 1942.

In 1869, a 15-year-old Edward Wittenoom worked as a jackaroo at Bowes, and was joined by his brother Frank in 1874. The Wittenooms went on to acquire over 2 million acres in crown leases including Boolardy, Murgoo, Nookawarra and Mileura Stations.

Following good conditions in 1869, rams cut out at an average of 18½lb. of wool each on Bowes. Feed was heavy on the ground that same year causing kangaroos to breed up in large numbers and act as a pest to the squatters.

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