Lambina facts for kids
Lambina Station is a very large piece of land in the outback of South Australia. It used to be a sheep station, where many sheep were raised. Now, it is a cattle station, meaning it raises cattle instead.
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Where is Lambina Station?
Lambina Station is located about 70 kilometres (43 miles) northeast of Marla. It is also about 150 kilometres (93 miles) northwest of Oodnadatta.
The property shares its borders with other large stations. To the west is Granite Downs, and to the east is Todmorden Station. A river called the Alberga River flows through Lambina. This river is "ephemeral," which means it only flows sometimes, usually after heavy rain.
Size and Landscape
Today, Lambina Station covers a huge area of 4,047 square kilometres (1,563 square miles). This is bigger than many small countries! The land is a mix of flat, stony areas called gibber plains and parts of the Pedirka desert. On average, Lambina gets about 177 millimetres (7 inches) of rain each year.
The History of Lambina Station
Lambina Station was already an active property before 1905. Over the years, it has seen many changes and challenges.
Early Years and Droughts
In 1906, the owner, Joseph H. Harding, had to sell his animals because of a severe drought. A drought is a long period with very little rain, which makes it hard for plants and animals to survive. Harding started getting new animals the next year. By early 1908, he had 1,580 sheep and 10 horses.
By 1914, T. Williams owned the station. Another drought hit in 1925. Sadly, Williams died in an accident that same year.
New Owners and Changes
Later in 1925, Joe Harden bought Lambina. In 1927, he sold a large number of cattle. Twenty-two truckloads of cattle were sent to market from the station.
By 1934, A. J. Robb was the owner. He had a special circular fence built around the main house, called the homestead. This fence helped protect the house from sand that would blow in the wind.
In 1938, there were very heavy rains in the area. The homestead and a car belonging to Mr. Paige, the station manager, were buried under 6 feet (1.8 metres) of mud! Mr. Paige and his workers were stuck for three days until supplies arrived by truck.
Recent Challenges
Lambina Station has faced more challenges in recent times, including large bushfires and land value discussions.
Bushfires in 2011
In 2011, huge bushfires swept through the area. About 50,000 hectares (123,553 acres) of land used for grazing animals were destroyed by the flames at Lambina. The fires started because of Lightning strikes. They burned for almost two weeks. Firefighters finally got them under control by setting a controlled fire, called a backburn, that was 40 kilometres (25 miles) long.
Land Value Discussions in 2012
In 2012, the owner, Alan Fennell, had a disagreement about the value of the land. The government wanted to increase the rent for the land by a lot, about 200%. Fennell hired an independent expert to check the land's value. The government's expert said the land was worth $380,000 Australian Dollars, but the independent expert said it was only worth $50,000 Australian Dollars. This shows how different people can value the same land very differently!
Lambina Becomes a Locality
In April 2013, the land that makes up Lambina Station was officially named a "locality." This means it became a recognized place name on maps and for official purposes.
