Durham Downs Station
Durham Downs Station most commonly known as Durham Downs is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in South West Queensland, Australia. The property is situated in a remote and arid location along Coopers Creek where it often experiences drought and floods. It was originally established in the 1870s and now belongs to the Kidman family. In the 1940s, overgrazing by wild horses left little food for stock and led to the implementation of a culling program.
Durham Downs is located about 138 kilometres (86 mi) north east of Innamincka and 200 kilometres (124 mi) south of Windorah in Queensland. Situated amongst the channel country of outback Queensland the property includes frontage to a 43 miles (69 km) portion of Coopers Creek and its associated tributaries including Tooratchie, Wammanooka, Warreena, Parkamlnna and Windula Creeks and the fertile floodplain country. Occupying an area of 8,910 square kilometres (3,440 sq mi) along with the Woomanooka outstation it is currently owned by S. Kidman & Co.
Established prior to 1873 the property was producing quality cattle for market and Messrs McGregor and Co., who owned the station, sold a batch of 205 bullocks and cows in 1875 averaging a price of about A£11 apiece.
In 1883 the station was put up for sale, following a couple of years of drought, when the partnership between Duncan McGregor and D and R Mailler dissolved. The station was advertised as being composed of 42 blocks with an area of 2,456 square miles (6,361 km2) containing over 14,000 head of cattle, 2,500 sheep and 309 horses. Duncan McGregor formed a new company and purchased the property in 1884 for A£78,582.
The sale was later the cause of a lawsuit in 1886 against the Maillers and McGregor when Mr Edwarde and Mr Bell attempted to recover A£78,582 for a short delivery on the delivery of stock from the station. The plaintiffs complained that there were only 9,000 cattle and 400 sheep instead of 12,000 cattle and 2,000 sheep as a minimum as promised. The defendants offered a rebate of A£7,752. The court found in favour of the plaintiffs, but charges of fraud against the defendants were dropped.
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