Chirritta
Chirritta Station most often referred to as Chirritta or Cherratta is a pastoral lease operating as a sheep station in Western Australia.
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The property is situated approximately 46 kilometres (29 mi) south of Roebourne and 86 kilometres (53 mi) north east of Pannawonica in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. A portion of the Maitland River runs through the property.
The property was established by Donald Norman McLeod in the 1872[1][2] who returned to Victoria in 1882 and purchased Yannarie Estate near Portland and later returned to Western Australia acquiring Minilya Station.[1] In 1884 Chirritta was reportedly sold for £18,000.[3] By 1888 the property was put up for auction on behalf of D.N. McLeod and Company, the property was stocked with 17,000 sheep along with about 200 head of cattle.[4]
The property was owned by Richardson, Edgar and Gillam in 1893.[5] Gillam introduced merino rams into the flock in 1899.[6] A cyclone passed through the area later the same year depositing 3 inches (76 mm) of rain at the station and tearing the roof from the old homestead.[7]
Gillam became the sole owner of Chirritta at some time prior to 1905. He sold it in 1907 to the Withnell brothers who owned the neighbouring Karratha Station.[8] At the time the property supported about 16,000 sheep and shearing that year produced 288 bales of wool.[9]
Cases of leprosy were reported amongst the Aboriginal people who were living at Chirritta in 1912.[10]
The Withnells sold Chirritta in 1920 to Clarence Meares who paid an estimated £30,000 for the property.[11] The property was stocked with about 22,000 sheep when Meares took possession.[12]
References
- "McLeod, Donald Norman". Parliament of Victoria. 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- "Advertising". The Inquirer & Commercial News. Perth. 19 June 1878. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Occasional Notes". The West Australian. Perth. 7 June 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Advertising". The Daily News. Perth. 13 April 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "The Aborigines protection board". The West Australian. Perth. 4 July 1893. p. 6. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Stud sheep for Westralia". The Inquirer & Commercial News. Perth. 31 March 1899. p. 9. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "The Recent Milly-Willy in the Nor'-West". Kalgoorlie Miner. Western Australia. 4 April 1899. p. 3. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Stock and Station news". The Northern Times. Carnarvon, Western Australia. 9 February 1907. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Roebourne news". The Northern Times. Carnarvon, Western Australia. 19 October 1907. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Leprosy in the west". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 2 August 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Local and General". The Northern Times. Carnarvon, Western Australia. 6 November 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Roebourne Notes". The Northern Times. Carnarvon, Western Australia. 13 November 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.