Bowes Station

{{Short description|Pastoral lease in Western Australia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Use Australian English|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Bowes Station

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| map_type = Western Australia

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location of Bowes Station in Western Australia

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| map_dot_label = Bowes Station

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| building_type = Station

| location = {{convert|90|km|mi|0}} to the south-east of Kalbarri, Western Australia

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| coordinates = {{coord|28|22|58|S|114|40|08|E|type:landmark_region:AU|name=Bowes Station|display=inline,title}}

{{Infobox designation list

| embed = yes

| designation1 = State Register of Heritage Places

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| designation1_date = 6 September 1996

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| designation1_number = {{SRHP|3270}}

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

It is approximately {{convert|90|km|mi|0}} to the south-east of Kalbarri and {{convert|84|km|mi|0}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/burges-william-1852|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography – Burges, William (1806–1876)|year=2010|accessdate=20 June 2012}} He subsequently bought rams descended from the royal flock of George II, settling them first at Bowes and later taking them to Yuin Station.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47889599 |title=Merinos And The State's Beginnings. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=30 September 1950 |accessdate=24 June 2012 |page=21 Edition: 1st EDITION |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

In 1859, Thomas Burges, William's nephew, took over Bowes Station.{{cite web|url=http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/PDF_Files/N%20-%20A-D/Narra%20Tarra%20(I-AD).PDF|title=Register of Heritage places – Assessment documentation – Narratarra Homested|year=2003|accessdate=24 June 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922090651/http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/PDF_Files/N%20-%20A-D/Narra%20Tarra%20%28I-AD%29.PDF|archivedate=22 September 2009}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47354798 |title=Pastoralist's death.|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=14 November 1942 |accessdate=23 June 2012 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

In 1869, 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.{{cite web|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wittenoom-sir-edward-charles-horne-9166|title=Wittenoom, Sir Edward Charles (Horne) (1854–1936)|year=2010|accessdate=20 June 2012}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3238718 |title=Telegrams.|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=17 November 1899 |accessdate=23 June 2012 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Mr J. A. Wellington managed the station from the 1870s for Burges and remained in the area until his death in 1904.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38686680 |title=MR. J. A. Wellington |newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth|date=13 August 1904 |accessdate=22 June 2012 |page=19 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Burges and his wife left for a 15-month holiday to Europe and the United States, returning to the property in August 1908.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66256684 |title=Personal Items. |newspaper=Geraldton Guardian |location=Western Australia |date=25 August 1908 |accessdate=22 June 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

In 1874 the Wittenooms took 15,000 sheep from Bowes to establish Yuin Station.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38415208 |title=Pastoral and Stud Review. |newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth |date=7 September 1939 |accessdate=26 June 2012 |page=24 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

A shearer, William John Pearce, went missing in 1896 after going for a walk in the bush. Mr W. Burges informed the police and then the constable, an Aboriginal tracker and several other shearers formed a search party to find him. After three days no trace of Pearce was found.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66537058 |title=Mysterious Disappearance. |newspaper=The Inquirer & Commercial News |location=Perth |date=18 September 1896 |accessdate=23 June 2012 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Large bushfires swept across the area in 1900 with many paddocks at Bowes being lost to the flames.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23848161 |title=Geraldton.|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=21 November 1900 |accessdate=23 June 2012 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

In 1902 the Land Board resumed a total of {{convert|5540|acre|ha|0}}, split into at least 6 blocks, from the station area for other selectors. Burges applied for Block 1 but was unsuccessful and the block was given to E. Sims who had an adjoining selection.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24737595 |title=Northampton.|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=1 February 1902 |accessdate=23 June 2012 |page=9 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

S. L. Burges sold 7,000 sheep from Bowes in 1914 following a very dry season in the district.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37970327 |title=Sheep sale at Northampton.|newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth |date=10 July 1914 |accessdate=23 June 2012 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}