Anna Creek station
Coordinates: 28°51′0″S 138°8′0″E / 28.85°S 138.133333°E
Anna Creek Station is the world's largest working cattle station.[1] It is located in the Australian state of South Australia. Its area is roughly 6,000,000 acres (24,000 km2; 9,400 sq mi) which is slightly larger than Israel. It is 8,000 km² larger than Alexandria Station (its nearest rival) in the country's Northern Territory and eight times the size of America's biggest ranch, King Ranch in Texas, which is 825,000 acres (3,340 km2; 1,289 sq mi). [2]
The nearest township is William Creek (which is surrounded by the Anna Creek station), but the nearest town for freight etc. is Coober Pedy.
Contents |
[edit] History
The property was originally established in 1863 but moved to its current location in 1872.
The property was originally used for sheep, but due to losses from dingo attacks, they switched to cattle.[2]
[edit] Anna Creek in the 2000s
Despite its size, in 2007 Anna Creek Station was carrying only 3,000 head of cattle due to the drought which started back in 2001. In 2008, the station was owned by S. Kidman and Co Ltd, there were eight full time staff and they were destocking all their cattle.[3] Following floods in 2010, conditions improved and the station has restocked. It had 10,000 head of cattle in May 2011.[4]
They raise Santa Gertrudis cattle as they are suitable for hot, dry climates.
[edit] Life at Anna Creek
There is a main homestead at Anna Creek and an outstation at The Peake. Although the homesteads are very isolated, they have satellite telecommunications including television and internet. The Coober Pedy Oodnadatta One Day Mail Run delivers mail twice a week and can bring a small amount of freight.[5]
Once there was a large workforce of stockmen at Anna Creek, who mustered the cattle on horses. Today light aircraft are used for spotting animals which are rounded up by stockmen on trail bikes, requiring a much smaller workforce.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Mercer, Phil (2008-06-09). "Cattle farms lure Australian women". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7443625.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ a b "Anna Creek Station". Wrightsair. http://www.wrightsair.com.au/anna.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "Creek Dries Up". ABC. http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s2267560.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
- ^ "S Kidman and Co". S Kidman and Co. http://www.kidman.com.au/. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
- ^ "Main Run Tour". http://www.desertdiversity.com/mail.htm.
