Alice Downs
{{Short description|Pastoral lease in Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Location map|Western Australia|label=Alice Downs
|position=center
|lat_deg=17.756|lat_dir=S
|lon_deg=127.939|lon_dir=E
|caption=Location in Western Australia}}
{{coord|17.756|S|127.939|E|type:landmark_region:AU|name=Alice Downs|display=title}}
File:StateLibQld 1 78415 Homestead at Alice Downs Station, 1908.jpg
Alice Downs Station is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in Western Australia. {{as of|March 2022}} it is one of four stations known as the Springvale Aggregation, owned by Harvest Road.
History
The property was established prior to 1901; the manager that year was F. G. Taylor. The area had been struck by ticks at the same time, though Alice Downs had not been largely affected.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33219621 |title=Tick in East Kimberley |newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth |date=2 November 1901 |accessdate=30 June 2014 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}
The owners of the property, Yates, Taylor and Cranwell,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28841328 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=12 May 1908 |accessdate=30 June 2014 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} placed the {{convert|151000|acre|ha|0|adj=on}} property on the market in 1908, at which time it was stocked with 1,800 head of shorthorn cattle.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25718336 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=19 March 1908 |accessdate=30 June 2014 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}
Frank Taylor retained possession of Alice Downs but with a new partner, H. F. Parnell, who was also known as C. H. Newman. The pair placed both Alice Downs and Panton Hills Station on the market in 1919. At this time Alice Downs occupied an area of {{convert|289790|acre|ha|0}} and was stocked with 3,000 head of cattle and 146 horses.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58000437 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=Sunday Times |location=Perth |date=2 March 1919 |accessdate=30 June 2014 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}
In 2003, E. G. Green and sons, the owners of Alice Downs, Springvale Station, Mabel Downs and Texas Downs with a total area of {{convert|5850|km2|sqmi|0}} and that were carrying approximately 32,000 head of Brahman cattle, sold the aggregation to a South African buyer for {{AUD}}15 million.{{cite web |author=Kent Ward |date=24 April 2003 |title=South Africans buy into Kimberley |url=http://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/news/agriculture/property/general-news/south-africans-buy-into-kimberley/39822.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003800/http://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/news/agriculture/property/general-news/south-africans-buy-into-kimberley/39822.aspx |archive-date=3 December 2013 |accessdate=29 June 2014 |work=Queensland Country Life |publisher=Fairfax Media |df=dmy-all}}
In March 2022, Andrew Forrest's agribusiness, Harvest Road, bought the station, along with Springvale Station, Mabel Downs, and Texas Downs, together known as the Springvale Aggregation. Together they cover {{cvt|604,430| ha}} and are stocked with 35,000 head of cattle. Traditional owners of the land were keen to work with the new owners, hoping for some of the land to be developed as tourist destinations, which would create jobs for Indigenous people in a region which has few opportunities. In addition, with Forrest's known interest in improving the lives of Indigenous peoples, it is hoped that his wealth could be used to improve educational outcomes for children in the Halls Creek area.{{cite web | title=Andrew Forrest's purchase of Kimberley cattle stations has traditional owners hopeful of social benefits | website=ABC News| publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=14 March 2022| first=Ted| last= O'Connor |series= ABC Kimberley | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-14/twiggy-indigenous-springvale-sale/100904594 | access-date=31 March 2022}}
Description
Alice Downs is situated approximately {{convert|59|km|mi|0}} north east of Halls Creek and {{convert|86|km|mi|0}} south of Warmun in the Kimberley region. A portion of the Panton River flows through the property, along with many of its tributaries such as Eales Creek, Wild Dog Creek, and Purple Appleseed Creek. Stock can also be watered at numerous springs. The area consists of open downs covered with Mitchell, Flinders and bundle grasses.
{{as of|2003}} the property occupies an area of {{convert|340491|acre|ha|0}}.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Stations of the Kimberley Western Australia}}