Durrie Station

Durrie is situated about {{convert|91|km|mi|0}} east of Birdsville and {{convert|230|km|mi|0}} north of Innamincka. The Diamantina River and several of its associated tributaries run through the property.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2009/03/31/2531135.htm|title=Station kids|date=31 March 2009|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} The {{convert|292|km2|sqmi|0}} Diamantina overflow swamp is situated on Durrie, the swamp is a DIWA nationally important wetland.{{cite web|url=http://wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/diwa-wetland-diamantina-overflow-swamp-durrie-station/|title=Diamantina Overflow Swamp – Durrie Station DIWA nationally important wetland|year=2012|accessdate=21 June 2013|publisher=Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Queensland}}

The property occupies an area of {{convert|6600|km2|sqmi|0}} in the Channel Country of far west Queensland. {{as of|2012}} it was being stocked with 9,000 head of cattle in an average season.{{cite web| url=https://www.kidman.com.au/locations/durrie/| title=Durrie Station – S. Kidman|year=2012|access-date=22 June 2020| publisher=S. Kidman & Co}}

The traditional owners of the area are the Karuwali people, who have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years.{{cite web|url=http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/karuwali.htm|title=Karuwali (QLD)|work=Tindale's Catalogue of Australian Aboriginal Tribes|date=1 November 2011|accessdate=25 June 2013|publisher=South Australian Museum| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506064413/https://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/karuwali.htm| archive-date=6 May 2021}} Karuwali is a language of far western Queensland. The Karuwali language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Diamantina Shire Council, including the localities of Betoota and Haddon Corner.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY| url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/80?embed=true|title=Indigenous languages map of Queensland|website= State Library of Queensland|access-date=5 February 2020}}

The area was first investigated for pastoral purposes by British colonists in 1873, when Robert Collins travelled through the region. John Conrick, who explored the region in 1874, recorded that a recent Native Police raid had resulted in the deaths of 43 Aboriginal people near Thundaperty waterhole.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129318113 |title=THE STORY OF JOHN CONRICK, PIONEER |newspaper=The News |volume=I |issue=116 |location=South Australia |date=5 December 1923 |accessdate=25 July 2023 |page=11 (HOME EDITION) |via=National Library of Australia}} Two main runs were formed not long after: the Thundaperty lease taken up by John Mack in 1876, and the Cooningheera lease to William and John Hastie Howie in about 1877. These stations were formed around the two main waterholes in the region, both of which had been well populated by Aboriginal people.{{cite book |last1=Perry |first1=Harry |title=Pioneering, the life of the Hon. R. M. Collins |date=1923 |publisher=Watson Ferguson |location=Brisbane}}

In 1879, the cook at Cooningheera, which was then part of the Nurdah (Murgah) run, was killed by Aboriginal men for interfering with local women. A stockman named John "Johnny-cake" Miller escaped being speared and rode 90 miles to the nearest Native Police camp at McKinlay Downs. Miller led Sub-Inspectors Henry Gough and Henry Kaye and their troopers back to Cooningheera, from where they conducted an extensive punitive expedition, culminating in two large massacres of Aboriginal people killing an estimated 60 people.{{cite book |last1=Farwell |first1=George |title=Land of Mirage |date=1950 |publisher=Angus & Robertson |location=London |isbn=0207144478}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165962336 |title=A Station Tragedy of the 'Seventies |newspaper=Sydney Mail |volume=XLIV |issue=1128 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=8 November 1933 |accessdate=25 July 2023 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article884621 |title=Pioneers at the Mercy of the Blacks. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |volume=XXXIII |issue=3,707 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=5 April 1879 |accessdate=25 July 2023 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article883742 |title=Native Police Duty in the North. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |volume=XXXIII |issue=3,747 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=22 May 1879 |accessdate=25 July 2023 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} "Johnny-cake" Miller later became a famous station manager for Sidney Kidman, while Sub-Inspector Henry Kaye was killed in a skirmish with Aboriginal people in 1881 in the north of the colony.{{Citation

| author1=Australian Geographical Society

| title=EARLY DAYS ON THE BARKLY TABLELAND (Northern Territory)

| journal=Walkabout| year=1934| volume=20| issue=2 (1 February 1954)| location=Melbourne| publisher=Australian National Travel Association| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-741022361| id=nla.obj-741022361| access-date=25 July 2023| via=Trove

}}{{cite book |last1=Richards |first1=Jonathan |title=The Secret War |date=2008 |publisher=UQP |location=St Lucia |isbn=9780702236396}}

Durrie station was consolidated from the Thundaperty, Cooningheera and other neighbouring leases in the 1890s, when it was feared that ticks from cattle in the Northern Territory would infect the Queensland herd unless a quarantine line, which included Durrie, was formed.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3651382 |title=The Tick question |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland |date=22 May 1897 |accessdate=23 June 2013 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In around 1908, when it consisted of an area of {{convert|2000|sqmi|km2|0}}, Durrie was taken up by William Naughton, a prominent pastoralist of the time, who stocked it over the course of two years with 8,000 head of cattle.{{cite web|url=http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:216975/AU4021_Foxs_History_Queensland_3b.pdf|title=History of Queensland – Its people and industries|page=225|year=2006|accessdate=23 June 2013|publisher=University of Queensland}}

Sidney Kidman acquired Durrie in 1913 when he bought it from the Naughton Brothers. Durrie adjoined Monkira and Bluff Stations, both already owned by Kidman.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53313504 |title=Sale of Station property |newspaper=Morning Bulletin|location=Rockhampton, Queensland|date=8 November 1913 |accessdate=23 June 2013|page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}

The area was struck by drought from 1913 to early 1915, resulting in the deaths of huge numbers of stock. Kidman estimated that he lost 60,000 head on his properties in the Channel Country like Durrie, Diamantina Lakes, Durham Downs, Morney Plains and Carrawilla.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75407945 |title=The drought in Queensland |newspaper=The Northern Times |location=Carnarvon, Western Australia |date=23 October 1915 |accessdate=23 June 2013 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Airmail delivery to remote properties in outback South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland commenced in 1949. Durrie, along with other remote properties including Mungerannie, Clifton Hills, Glengyle, Davenport Downs, Morney Plains, Mount Leonard, Mulka, Cordillo Downs, 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 |accessdate=23 August 2014 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

After heavy rains in 1950 the Diamantina floodwaters reached records levels and the homestead was inundated. The McAuley family, who were living at the homestead, had to seek higher ground,{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50210717|title=Family Flooded Out of Homestead. |newspaper=The Advertiser|location=Adelaide |date=21 March 1950 |accessdate=23 June 2013 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} and camped on a nearby sandhill for a week until the floodwaters receded.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48619967 |title=To Go Back to Home. |newspaper=The Barrier Miner |location=Broken Hill, New South Wales |date=28 March 1950 |accessdate=23 June 2013 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 2016 S. Kidman & Co was bought by Hancock Prospecting, which is owned by Gina Rinehart. In April 2023, Durrie was sold to the Appleton Cattle Company,{{cite web | last=Brann | first=Matt | title=Gina Rinehart sells four more S. Kidman and Co cattle stations in Queensland, NT | website=ABC News (Australia)| date=11 April 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-04-11/gina-rinehart-sells-more-kidman-cattle-stations/102205502 | access-date=11 April 2023}} a family-owned beef cattle enterprise which has organic certification,{{cite web | title=Appleton Cattle Company | website=Organic Industries of Australia | url=https://organicindustries.org.au/Members/appleton-cattle-company | access-date=11 April 2023}} along with Naryilco and Glengyle stations.

The swamp extends over {{convert|25|km|mi|0}} long with a width of up to {{convert|22|km|mi|0}} that falls within the Diamantina catchment covering a total area of {{convert|292|km2|sqmi|0}}. It is composed of floodplain, swamps and anastomosing channels of the Diamantina River composed of very deep grey cracking clays. The water in the swamp is fresh and remains wet well into the dry season.

The major habitats found within the area include vast areas of lignum, Muehlenbeckia florulenta, open shrubland and of sedgeland dominated by Eleocharis between the lignum.{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands/report.pl?smode=DOIW&doiw_refcodelist=QLD029|title=Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia – Information sheet|year=2011|accessdate=23 June 2013|publisher=Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities}}

• List of ranches and stations
• List of the largest stations in Australia

{{Reflist}}

{{Coord|25.67472|S|140.23200|E|type:landmark_region:AU-NT|display=title}}

{{Stations of Sidney Kidman}}

Category:Stations in Queensland

Category:Central West Queensland