Moonaree facts for kids
Moonaree Station is a large sheep station located in South Australia. A sheep station is like a big farm where thousands of sheep are raised for their wool and meat.
This station is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) northeast of Minnipa. It is also about 125 kilometres (78 mi) southwest of Woomera. Moonaree Station is right next to Lake Gairdner, which is a huge salt lake, and it's part of the Gawler Range.
Contents
The History of Moonaree Station
Moonaree Station has a long history, starting before the year 1885. Back then, a company called Messrs Davies and Co. owned the property.
Early Challenges
In 1894, the area around Moonaree experienced a very long and intense heat wave. It was incredibly hot, even hours after the sun went down!
In 1895, Davies, Todd and Co. decided to sell Moonaree. At that time, the station was huge, covering about 541 square miles (1,401 km2). It was home to over 16,000 sheep and 50 horses.
New Owners and More Challenges
The Hawker brothers bought Moonaree Station. However, they faced tough times. In 1902, a severe drought hit the area, meaning there was very little rain. This made it hard for the sheep to find enough food and water.
On top of the drought, the station was also troubled by feral dogs. These wild dogs could harm the sheep. Because of these difficulties, the Hawker brothers eventually sold Moonaree and some other stations they owned.
Moonaree Becomes an Official Place
In April 2013, the Government of South Australia officially recognized the land of Moonaree pastoral lease as a specific place. This means "Moonaree" is now an official name for that area on maps and records.
