Yuin Station

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

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

{{Location map|Western Australia|label=Yuin Station

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|lat_deg=27|lat_min=58|lat_sec=52|lat_dir=S

|lon_deg=116|lon_min=02|lon_sec=09|lon_dir=E

|caption=Location in Western Australia}}

File:Gone Driveabout 17, Bush at Yuin Station, Western Australia, 24 Oct. 2010 - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg

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

Situated approximately {{convert|75|km|mi|0}} to the north-west of Yalgoo and {{convert|81|km|mi|0}} northeast of Mullewa, the property occupies an area of {{convert|189807|ha|acre|0}} and has a maximum carrying capacity of 15,370 sheep.{{cite web|url=http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/lwe/rpm/catman/84%20part%203.pdf|title=Station Reports Appendix 1|year=1987|access-date=29 March 2014|publisher=Department of Agriculture}}

The station was established in 1870 by Thomas Burges{{cite web|url=http://westaust1.150m.com/TR_WA_Yuin1_Body.htm|title=Yuin Station homestead|year=2010|access-date=24 June 2012}} and was one of the first settlements in the area.

In 1874 the Wittenooms moved 15,000 sheep from Bowes Station to Yuin.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38415208 |title=Pastoral and Stud Review. |newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth |date=7 September 1939 |access-date=26 June 2012 |page=24 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} An outbreak of influenza wreaked havoc among the station employees in 1883. Sheep washing had just commenced at the station and the 25 crew members, all of whom were Aboriginal, were struck down, with several dying.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2989425 |title=Occasional notes.|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=4 September 1883 |access-date=24 June 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Struck by drought between 1884 and 1886, the station had very little feed on the ground available for stock.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3760396 |title=The Murchison |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=31 May 1886 |access-date=26 July 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

In 1888, following two days of heavy rain, the Greenough River flooded, inundating most of the station's buildings with the exception of the shearing shed and the store, which was surrounded by a dirt embankment. The men's quarters, the kitchen and one end of the overseer's house were washed away along with fencing and troughing. No stock losses were reported.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3117031 |title=Splendid rains in the Murchison District|newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=2 March 1888 |access-date=24 June 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

By 1906 the station was owned by William Burges but managed by Mr. F. Turnbull and was running 15,000 to 16,000 sheep.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38820710 |title=Yuin Station.|newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth |date=28 July 1906 |access-date=24 June 2012 |page=9 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} In 1912 the station expected to shear a flock of 15,000 sheep using all 10 stands in the shearing shed.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37421706 |title=Shearing dates |newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth |date=13 July 1912 |access-date=6 August 2012 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Burges sold the station in 1928 to Cecil J. Levien for £100,000. The station occupied an area of {{convert|408000|acre|ha|0}} and was running a flock of 30,000 sheep.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3957890 |title=Yuin Station sold. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne, Victoria.|date=20 September 1928 |access-date=24 June 2012 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} It was also carrying 70 cattle and 20 horses and had a good homestead. By this stage the station had {{convert|45|mi|km|0}} of fencing and 46 wells equipped with windmills.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34436579 |title=Yuin Station sold|newspaper=Western Argus |location=Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |date=25 September 1928 |access-date=24 June 2012 |page=29 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

William Fremlin was the manager of the station at some point. He later ran all of the Atkins brothers' holdings, including Murgoo, Mount Narryer and Tibradden Station.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49880465 |title=Former Station Manager Dies, Aged 80. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=15 September 1954 |access-date=25 June 2012 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Tragedy struck the station in 1949 when a 38-year-old Aboriginal employee, Don Wheelock, was thrown from his horse and died as a result of his injuries.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47640883 |title=Native fatally injured |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=27 January 1949 |access-date=25 June 2012 |page=26 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Douglas Charles Foulkes Taylor bought into the station in 1928 after he left the goldfields at Leonora where he had managed Glenorn Station.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34440607 |title=Leonora Items |newspaper=Western Argus |location=Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |date=18 December 1928 |access-date=26 June 2012 |page=16 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} When Foulkes Taylor died in 1953 he left an estate valued for probate at £65,702.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49083937 |title=Two Men Left Big Estates. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=4 March 1953 |access-date=25 June 2012 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Ross and Emma Foulkes Taylor owned Yuin in 2006 when the property was inundated with {{convert|128|mm|in|0}} of rain in less than 24 hours after Cyclone Clare crossed the Western Australian coastline. The homestead was flooded and much of the surrounding area submerged.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rural/wa/content/2005/s1546610.htm |title=Cyclone rain dumps on farmers|date=12 January 2006 |access-date=17 February 2013|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}