Sidney Kidman

Sidney Kidman
Portrait of Sir Sidney Kidman in 1927
Born	9 May 1857 near Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Died	2 September 1935 (1935-09-03) (aged 78) Millswood, South Australia, Australia
Occupation	Landowner
Parent(s)	George Kidman Elizabeth Mary (Nunn) Kidman

Sir Sidney Kidman (9 May 1857 – 2 September 1935) was an Australian pastoralist who owned or co-owned large areas of land in Australia in his lifetime.

Sidney Kidman was born in Adelaide, third son of George Kidman (died December 1857), farmer, and his wife Elizabeth Mary, née Nunn. Kidman was educated at private schools in Norwood and left his home near Adelaide at age 13 with only 5 shillings and a one-eyed horse that he had bought with his savings. He joined a drover, and learned quickly. He worked as a roustabout and bullock-driver at Poolamacca and Mount Gipps Station. and later as a drover, and livestock trader. He made money trading whatever was needed, and supplying services (transport, goods, a butcher shop) to new mining towns springing up in outback New South Wales and South Australia (including Cobar, Kapunda, Burra and eventually Broken Hill). Eventually he and his brothers ended up working on the same station, then bought their own.

Kidman saved money and bought a bullock team, opened a butcher's shop and store at the Cobar copper rush and made good profits. When he was 21 he inherited £400 from his grandfather's estate and traded with it successfully in horses and cattle. Kidman was in his middle twenties when he acquired a one-fourteenth share in the Broken Hill Proprietary mine for 10 bullocks worth about £4 each. He sold his share for £150 less £50 commission and was satisfied with the profit. He had mail contracts on a fairly large scale and in 1886 bought Owen Springs station. Gradually he extended his holdings until they reached out into Queensland and New South Wales.

In 1895 Kidman in partnership with his brother Sackville acquired Cowarie Station.

In 1896 Kidman bought his first property in Queensland, Annandale Station, situated in the Channel Country and described as ideal fattening country for cattle.