Bungaree, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BungareeSouth Australia |
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Sheep Station at Bungaree, ca. 1925
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 Bungaree
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1841 |
| Postcode(s) | 5464 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys |
| Region | Mid North |
| State electorate(s) | Frome |
| Federal Division(s) | Grey |
Bungaree, also known as Bungaree Station, is a special place in the Mid North region of South Australia. It's located north of Clare, right along the Main North Road. It's a historic sheep station that has been around for a very long time!
Contents
Discovering Bungaree's Past
How Bungaree Station Began
Bungaree Station was started in 1841 by an English settler named James Collins Hawker and his two brothers, George Charles Hawker and Charles Hawker. They were looking for a good place to raise their sheep.
On December 22, 1841, James Hawker found a great supply of water at this spot. This was super important because water is key for farming! So, they dug a well and moved all their animals from their old farm at Nuriootpa, which hadn't worked out.
Growing a Big Sheep Farm
The Hawker brothers started raising sheep on a huge area of land – about 80,000 acres (that's 32,000 hectares!). Over many years, Bungaree grew into a large settlement. It wasn't just a farm; it had a main house (called the homestead) and many other buildings. These included a church, which shows how important the community became.
Bungaree's Historic Buildings
Many of the old buildings at Bungaree are still standing today. This collection of buildings is known as the Bungaree Homestead Complex. It includes:
- The main homestead (the family's house)
- A manager's house
- Stables for horses
- An office and a store
- A kitchen for the workers
- A shearing shed, where sheep were shorn
- Quarters for the shearers to sleep
- A small hut for travelers (called a swagman's hut)
- A special box for a stallion (a male horse)
- A gate house
These buildings are so important that they are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means they are protected because of their historical value.
Bungaree Today: A Living History
What is Bungaree Now?
Even today, Bungaree is still a working sheep station. This means the Hawker family, who started it all, still owns and runs it! It's amazing that a family business has lasted for so many generations.
Visiting Bungaree
Besides being a sheep farm, Bungaree has also become a popular place for visitors. People can stay there, making it a unique place for tourism. It also has a conference center, which means it can host meetings and events. It's a great way for people to experience a piece of Australian history and see how a traditional sheep station operates.
How Bungaree is Governed
Bungaree is part of the District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys. For state government elections, it's in the Frome district. For federal government elections, it's in the Grey division.
