White Peak Station facts for kids

White Peak Station, also known as White Peak Homestead, is a historic property in Western Australia. It is located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Geraldton. This property was one of the first five large farms, called "pastoral leases," started in the area. A pioneer named John Drummond settled it.

The main house at White Peak is very large and detailed, especially compared to other farmhouses from that time. Many original buildings are still there. These include stone stables, a tack room, a shearing shed, and machinery sheds. Some old stone walls have been taken down over time.

History of White Peak Station

Early Days and Naming

In 1849, John Drummond explored the land north of Champion Bay with William Burges. They were looking for good places to set up large farms. Both men ended up starting their own pastoral leases in the area.

In 1851, John Drummond claimed a lease of 4,000 acres. He named this land White Peak. The name came from a cone-shaped hill on the property. This hill had a large, white limestone rock face at its top. Later, Drummond added another 3,000 acres to the southern part of White Peak.

Red Cliffs Cottage

Drummond also bought 10 acres of land near the Buller River. Here, he built a small cottage and other buildings for his new wife, Mary. He named this place Red Cliffs. John and Mary Drummond lived at Red Cliffs for about 10 years. Mary is thought to be the first white woman to settle in that district. Their daughter, who sadly died very young, was believed to be the first white child born in the region. The buildings at Red Cliffs are no longer standing today.

Copper Discovery

In 1855, something exciting happened: copper was found on the White Peak property! John Drummond and George Shenton started a company called The White Peak Copper Mining Company. However, the company only produced a small amount of copper. It stopped operating in 1858.

Building the Homestead

In 1857, John Drummond decided to leave the police force. He moved permanently to White Peak and began building the larger White Peak Homestead. This big house was made from local stone. The stone came from the White Peak Quarry, which was right on the property. The homestead also had walled gardens. These walls helped keep sheep and cattle away from the plants. Grapes were grown there, and wine was even made on the property.

New Owners and Changes

In 1881, Edward Charles Wittenoom bought White Peak. He was related to Drummond through marriage. Edward Wittenoom started a famous sheep breeding program at the station. He also added new parts to the homestead. You can still see these additions today, including two large rooms on the western side of the house. White Peak Station even had its own railway stop, called the Wokarena Siding.

Unlike some other large farms, White Peak Station was not bought back by the government for smaller settlements. Instead, different parts of the property have been sold privately over the years.