Cordillo Downs

First taken up by John Frazer from Victoria in 1875 the station was initially known as Cardilla. Frazer let the property go in 1878 and a ballot was held, the lease going to Edgar Chapman, who sold off in 1883 to Peter Waite of the Beltana Pastoral Company.{{cite web|url=http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/cordillo.htm|title=Cordillo Downs Station|year=2012|access-date=27 December 2012|publisher=Flinders Ranges Research|archive-date=10 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910033851/http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/cordillo.htm|url-status=dead}} The property was stocked with just over 10,000 sheep, nearly 600 cattle and about 30 horses. In 1903 the property was amalgamated with two other stations, Cadelga and Haddon Downs, and had a flock of around 85,000 by 1905. The homestead was abandoned for a few years during the 1930s.{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/heritage/pdfs/surveys/birdsville/sections_1-2.pdf|title=Heritage of the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks|date=December 2012|access-date=19 May 2013|publisher=Department for Environment and Heritage|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040717140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/42990/20040718-0000/www.environment.sa.gov.au/heritage/pdfs/surveys/birdsville/sections_1-2.pdf|archive-date=17 July 2004}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

A plague of rats swept across the property from further north in Queensland in 1940, they were prevented from making it further south by the flooded Cooper Creek.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96328142 |title=Floods only bar to rats |newspaper=Recorder |location=Port Pirie, South Australia |date=19 March 1940 |access-date=26 October 2013 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Cattle replaced sheep on the station in 1942 when the manager, Mr Napier, decided that the wild dogs that were prevalent in the area and were inside the boundary fence at the time would cause less damage.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55766384 |title=Cordillo changes to cattle |newspaper=The Mail |location=Adelaide |date=6 June 1942 |access-date=29 December 2012 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

The entire area was struck by drought in 1946 with many cattle dying and properties destocking.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133046638 |title=Drought Closes On South-West Queensland. |newspaper=Western Grazier |location=Wilcannia, New South Wales |date=15 November 1946 |access-date=9 October 2014 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Airmail delivery to remote properties in outback South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland commenced in 1949. Cordillo Downs along with other remote properties including Mungerannie, Clifton Hills, Glengyle, Davenport Downs, Morney Plains, Mount Leonard, Durrie, Mulka, Tanbar, Durham Downs, Nappa Merrie, Lake Pure and Naryilco were also on the route.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140892061 |title=Airmail Service For Outback Stations Commences Next Week. |newspaper=Barrier Daily Truth |location=Broken Hill, New South Wales |date=15 April 1949 |access-date=23 August 2014 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The Cooper Creek broke its banks in 1950 resulting in widespread flooding through the area.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48626192 |title=Floods in the state have caused heavy damage |newspaper=The Barrier Miner |location=Broken Hill, New South Wales |date=13 June 1950 |access-date=9 October 2014 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

A meteor was thought to have landed somewhere at Cordillo in 1954. The bright flash and ball of fire that lasted for several minutes was spotted from many properties including Innamincka, Muloorina and Narilya, all of whom reported the phenomena to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49956727 |title=Meteor in Outback. |newspaper=The Barrier Miner |location=Broken Hill, New South Wales |date=29 June 1954 |access-date=8 January 2013 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Beltana owned the property until 1981 when they sold it to Brookman Holdings for $1.2 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/cordillo.htm|title=Cordillo Downs Station|year=2012|access-date=27 December 2012|publisher=Flinders Ranges Research|archive-date=10 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910033851/http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/cordillo.htm|url-status=dead}} Brookman holdings is owned by the Brook family, Bill Brook was 81 years old when he bought Cordillo, where he was employed in 1918 as a ringer for 30 shillings per week.{{cite web|url=http://www.herefords.com/pdfs/hf6.pdf|title=David and Nell Brook|year=2012|access-date=29 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110074528/http://www.herefords.com/pdfs/hf6.pdf|archive-date=10 November 2013|url-status=dead}} The property was owned by Anthony and Janet Brook in 2012, both of whom met Prince Charles and Camilla in Longreach during their 2012 tour of the outback.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/at-longreach-the-kingdom-ensures-a-welcome-on-the-warm-side-20121105-28uli.html |title=At Longreach, the kingdom ensures a welcome on the warm side|date=6 November 2012|access-date=28 December 2012|work=The Age }} The Brooks run a herd of approximately 40,000 Hereford cattle and are certified organic producers of beef using the OBE Beef label.{{cite web|url=http://www.herefords.com/pdfs/hf6.pdf|title=David and Nell Brook|year=2012|access-date=29 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110074528/http://www.herefords.com/pdfs/hf6.pdf|archive-date=10 November 2013|url-status=dead}}

Both the historic main Cordillo Downs Homestead and Woolshed and the Cadelga Homestead Ruins are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=26041 | title=Tarcoola Goldfield, Government Battery and Township (designated place of archaeological significance) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215235538/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=26041 | archive-date=15 February 2016 }}{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=39 | title=Homestead and Woolshed | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216060554/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=39 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | url-status=dead }} The woolshed was damaged by a storm in 2017, and restored with the help of Scottish stonemasons, with the work completed in July 2019. The stonework was restored using the traditional techniques, and the roof that had been blown off was replaced.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-01/cordillo-downs-restoration-gets-scottish-stonemasons-touch/11365648 |title=Cordillo Downs woolshed in South Australian outback restored by Scottish stonemasons |work=ABC North and West SA |first1=Shannon |last1=Corvo |first2=Gary-Jon |last2=Lysaght |publisher=ABC News |date=1 August 2019 |access-date=2 August 2019}}

The terrain of the country is flat with undulating gibber plains with sandhills and claypans. The land is prone to drought but otherwise has a light grass covering.{{cite web|url=http://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/176876/Full_extract_1919_expedition.pdf|title=First medical relief expedition, 1919|year=2012|access-date=27 December 2012|publisher=National Museum of Australia|archive-date=10 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110080321/http://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/176876/Full_extract_1919_expedition.pdf|url-status=dead}} Native vegetation found in the area include Mitchell grass, katoora, spinifex, cane grass, sandhill wattle and Bladder saltbush.{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/ca6cccb1-b4d2-4529-9cc7-9e3100cab00c/coongie.pdf|title=Coongie Lakes Ramsar wetalnds|date=November 1999|access-date=28 December 2012|publisher=Department for Environment Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs}} Cordillo Downs is situated in the channel country and is periodically inundated with water from heavy rains further north, resulting in lush vegetation growth immediately afterwards. Some pasture species that appear when the water recede are Nardoo, Cooper Clover, Verbine, Lignum as well as many grasses.{{cite web|url=http://www.saalnrm.sa.gov.au/Portals/8/Publications_Resources/Factsheets_Brochures/saal_greattracks_062012.pdf |title=Birdsville Strzelecki – Legendary tracks of the Marree Innamincka District |year=2011 |access-date=28 December 2012 |publisher=Government of South Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730203929/http://www.saalnrm.sa.gov.au/Portals/8/Publications_Resources/Factsheets_Brochures/saal_greattracks_062012.pdf |archive-date=30 July 2012 }} The Cordillo Downs road links the station with Innamincka and the Birdsville Developmental Road.{{cite web|url=https://birdsvillehotel.com.au/getting-to-birdsville/getting-to-birdsville-by-road/#travel-routes|title=Getting to Birdsville by Road|publisher=Birdsville Hotel|access-date=12 December 2021}}

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Category:Stations in South Australia

Category:Far North (South Australia)

Category:1875 establishments in Australia