Springvale Station
{{Short description|Pastoral lease in Western Australia}}
{{distinguish|Springvale station|Spring Vale railway station}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Location map|Western Australia|label=Springvale
|position=left
|lat_deg=17.784737|lat_dir=S
|lon_deg=127.6849988|lon_dir=E
|caption=Location in Western Australia}}
{{coord|17.784737|S|127.6849988|E|type:landmark_region:AU|name=Springvale|display=title}}
Springvale or Springvale Station is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. The Springvale Aggregation was created when Springvale was purchased along with Alice Downs, Mabel Downs, and Texas Downs by a South African company in 2003. {{as of|March 2022}} the four properties are owned by Harvest Road, an agribusiness owned by Andrew Forrest.
Springvale Station is situated about {{convert|48|km|mi|0}} north of Halls Creek and {{convert|84|km|mi|0}} south west of Warmun in the Kimberley region.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} The cluster of stations known as Springvale Aggregation covers {{cvt|604,430| ha}}.
History
J. W. McAdam acquired Springvale in 1932 from E. Bridge and Sons.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32657586 |title=North-West news |newspaper=The West Australian|location=Perth|date=25 May 1932|accessdate=1 December 2013|page=17|via=National Library of Australia}}
The family business Quilty and Sons acquired Springvale in 1948 from W. J. McAdam in 1948. The Quiltys already owned neighbouring Bedford Downs Station.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75551879 |title=Halls Creek news |newspaper=The Northern Times |location=Carnarvon, Western Australia|date=2 April 1948 |accessdate=1 December 2013|page=4|via=National Library of Australia}}
In 2003 the {{convert|1344|km2|sqmi|0|adj=on}} property was sold as part of a A$15-million four-property deal to South African interests. The four adjoining stations of Springvale, Bedford Downs, Mabel Downs and Alice Downs comprised an area of {{convert|5850|km2|sqmi|0}} and were stocked with approximately 32,000 head of cattle.{{cite web|url=http://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/news/agriculture/property/general-news/south-africans-buy-into-kimberley/39822.aspx|title=South Africans buy into Kimberley|author=Kent Ward|date=24 April 2003|accessdate=1 December 2013|work=Queensland Country Life|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003800/http://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/news/agriculture/property/general-news/south-africans-buy-into-kimberley/39822.aspx|archivedate=3 December 2013}}
Today
In March 2022, Andrew Forrest's agribusiness, Harvest Road, bought the station, along with Mabel Downs, Alice 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 | publisher=ABC News|location=Australia | 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}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Stations of the Kimberley Western Australia}}