Wondoola

{{Short description|Pastoral lease in Queensland}}

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

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

{{Location map|Queensland|label=Wondoola Station

|position=top

|lat_deg=18.57282 |lat_dir=S

|lon_deg=140.89699|lon_dir=E

|caption=Location in Queensland}}

Wondoola or Wondoola Station, often misspelt as Woondoola, is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station. It is located about {{convert|102|km|mi|0}} south of Normanton and {{convert|148|km|mi|0}} west of Croydon in Queensland.

The property occupies an area of {{convert|2525|km2|sqmi|0}} of Queensland's Gulf country and is able to carry a herd of approximately 23,000 cattle. It is currently owned by the Australian Agricultural Company.{{cite web|url=http://www.aaco.com.au/operations/properties/qld/wondoola-station/|title=Wondoola Station|year=2012|accessdate=4 March 2013|publisher=Australian Agricultural Company}} The property takes its name from Wondoola Creek, a tributary of the Saxby River, both of which run through the property. The Saxby provides {{convert|24|mi|km|0}} of double frontage to Wondoola then goes on to flow into the Flinders River to which the station has a {{convert|33|mi|km|0|adj=on}} frontage. These watercourses offer permanent waterholes available to stock.

The station was established prior to 1880 but was advertised in February of that year to be auctioned in April. At that time, the property adjoined Iffley, Taldora, Tempe Downs and other well known properties. The station was grazing sheep and had a flock of approximately 5,300 grazing its seven blocks of "fine rolling downs and open plains country, alternating with sound well-grassed sand ridges" and having a total area of {{convert|294|sqmi|km2|0}}. The plains were clothed in Mitchell grass, blue grass and had an abundance of saltbush and other herbage. The homestead, plant, stores and 20 horses were included in the property.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20331099|title=Classified Advertising. |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Brisbane|date=7 February 1880|accessdate=4 March 2013|page=162|via=National Library of Australia}}

By 1891 the property was owned by Messrs Haydon and Loughnan and was carrying about 7,000 head of cattle amongst which there were many well known Lee bulls.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18997309 |title=the Gulf Country of Queensland.|newspaper=The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser|location=New South Wales |date=7 March 1891 |accessdate=4 March 2013 |page=3|via=National Library of Australia}}

The area suffered from a tick plague amongst the cattle in 1895. At least 1,200 bullocks were infested and suffering from tick fever; they were cut from the herd, inoculated and square tailed and sent off to Cunnamulla. About 30 stragglers died from tick fever or pleuropneumonia.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3664249|title=The tick plague|newspaper=The Brisbane Courier|date=7 January 1898 |accessdate=4 March 2013 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In January 1903, the station was sold along with Vena Park station to Messrs Collins and sons.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76368715|title=State and Interstate.|newspaper=The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts |location=Barcaldine, Queensland|date=22 February 1903 |accessdate=4 March 2013 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} In June of the same year, the property was taken over by the Queensland National Bank, who promptly sold it to D. C. McConnell and sons for an undisclosed price.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84414223|title=Richmond Notes.|newspaper=The North Queensland Register|location=Townsville, Queensland|date=22 June 1903 |accessdate=4 March 2013 |page=36 |via=National Library of Australia}} They onsold the property almost immediately to Mr Alison, a squatter from New South Wales, for a large profit.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84414505|title=Normanton news|newspaper=The North Queensland Register|location=Townsville|date=22 June 1903 |accessdate=4 March 2013 |page=28 |via=National Library of Australia}} The station had between 12,000 and 13,000 cattle on it at the time.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76369655|title=Stock Station Commercial|newspaper=The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts|location=Barcaldine, Queensland|date=28 June 1903 |accessdate=4 March 2013 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}

An aircraft landing ground was built at the property in 1941 for landing RAAF aircraft during World War II. While landing occurred infrequently, no RAAF unit was ever quartered in the area.{{cite web|url=http://www.publicworks.qld.gov.au/sites/qldwwiiplaces/pages/Places.aspx?PlaceCode=QWWIIHP-1941|title=WWII – Historic places – Wondoola Station Airfield|year=2012|accessdate=4 March 2013|publisher=Queensland Government}}

The property was managed for AACo by Henry Burke from 1988 to 1997; he then took on the much larger Brunette Downs Station in the Northern Territory.{{cite web|url=http://www.ntca.org.au/our_people/burke.html|title=Lives and Livelihoods – Henry Burke|year=2012|accessdate=4 March 2013|website=Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association}}

Both Wondoola and Canobie Station are being explored for nickel deposits by a joint partnership between Anglo American and Falcon minerals. The development is known as the Saxby project and further drilling was to occur in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/general-pdf/cdi0058_angloamericanexploration_v2.pdf|title=Collaborative Drilling Initiative Proposal: Saxby Project, NW Qld|date=1 March 2008|accessdate=6 March 2013|publisher=Queensland Government}}{{update inline|date=April 2013}}