cattle station
In Australia and New Zealand, a cattle station is a large farm ( station is equivalent to the American ranch), the main activity of which is the rearing of cattle. The owner of a cattle station is called a '' grazier''. The largest cattle stat ...
Pilbara
The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a g ...
region of
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
. The station has also previously run
sheep
Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated ...
on its pastures.
Covering an area of , the station is situated in a BTV
quarantine
A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have been ...
area and runs a herd of
Brahman
In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...
cattle most of which are exported to
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
. The station consists mostly of open plains that are well covered in Mitchell, bundle-bundle and other grasses. The plains are interspersed with broken hilly country studded with
saltbush Saltbush is a vernacular plant name that most often refers to '' Atriplex'', a genus of about 250 plants distributed worldwide from subtropical to subarctic regions. ''Atriplex'' species are native to Australia, North and South America, and Eurasia. ...
.
The
homestead
Homestead may refer to:
*Homestead (buildings), a farmhouse and its adjacent outbuildings; by extension, it can mean any small cluster of houses
* Homestead (unit), a unit of measurement equal to 160 acres
*Homestead principle, a legal concept t ...
and outbuildings are situated on a level plain overlooking the George River from the eastern bank. King's Pyramid, the hill from which the station takes its name, is located to the south.
The station was initially established in 1865 by Alexander Robert Richardson, his elder brother John Elliott Richardson, and their cousin A.E. Anderson. The Richardsons were among the seven shareholders in the Portland Squatting Company. The group left
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
aboard ''Maria Ross'' along with 1600 ewes and set up the station along the George River then peacock runs out along other watercourses.
In 1869 the group divided their flock with the Richardsons and Jack Edgar controlling 4500 sheep at Pyramid and buying out the other partners from 1869-1872.
Another previous owner of the station was Eva Broadhurst, who was much admired by the explorer
Frank Hann
Frank Hugh Hann (19 October 184521 August 1921) was an Australian pastoralist and explorer.
Early life
Hann was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Hann. Fellow explorer William Hann was his older brother. They were born in Wiltshire, England a ...
, who named several geographical features after her. Her grave is situated not far from the station homestead. Her husband H.T Broadhurst arrived at Pyramid in 1893 and the couple lived there until Eva died at 38 years of age in 1909.
The station suffered damages to the cost of £300 following a storm and resulting floods in 1894.
The Broadhurst family sold the station in 1910; J. G. Meares sold his share of the nearby
Sherlock Station
Sherlock Station is a pastoral lease and sheep station located approximately East of Roebourne in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Covering an area of pasture, the lease provides good grazing land. In 2015 it was purchased by Bettini ...
in 1910 to
Samuel Peter Mackay
Samuel Peter Mackay (1864 – 11 May 1923) was a pastoralist and businessman in Western Australia.
His parents were pioneers from Ben Mohr Estate, Snizort, Isle of Skye, Inverness-shire, who emigrated with their parents, perhaps to Victo ...
and bought Pyramid Station. Meares paid £28,000 for the station, which was considered good value at the time. The station encompassed an area of and supported 20,000 sheep, 400 cattle and 200 horses. The manager of the station at the time was Mr Crofton who later went on to manage
Balfour Downs Station
Balfour Downs Station is a pastoral lease and cattle station located approximately northeast of Newman, east of Roy Hill and southeast of Nullagine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. At , it is among the largest cattle stations i ...
.
In 1911, MacKay unsuccessfully bid £25,000 for the
Croydon Station
Croydon Station, often spelt as Croyden Station, is a pastoral lease and sheep station.
Description
It is located approximately south west of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The property occupies an area of approxima ...
, which adjoins Pyramid.
Meares expanded his land-holding when he purchased Woodbrook and Andover Stations for £32,000 in 1912. Woodbrook adjoined Pyramid in 1912; Meares' purchase included all the stock for both properties.
1914 was a dry year with the district receiving little rain, but 33,000 sheep were shorn that year under the supervision of the Meares family, who still owned the station.
In 1915 Meares received 34
stud
Stud may refer to the following terms:
Animals
* Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding
** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred
Arts and entertainment
* Stud (band), a British progressive rock group
* The Stud (bar), a gay ba ...
rams
In engineering, RAMS (reliability, availability, maintainability and safety)pharmacist named Peter Cook in 2012. Cook also owned four other stations in the Pilbara. The station was managed by Glenn Connell and sold about 500 head of cattle per year which are shipped out via
Port Hedland
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ha ...
. Pyramid is operating under the Crown Lease number CL927-1965 and has the Land Act number LA3114/492.
In 2015 it was purchased by Bettini Bros (now Bettini Beef) in a package with Mallina and Sherlock Stations. The Bettinis still owned the lease in 2018.
See also
*
List of ranches and stations
This is a list of ranches and sheep and cattle stations, organized by continent. Most of these are notable either for the large geographic area which they cover, or for their historical or cultural importance.
West Africa
* Obudu Cattle Ranch
* S ...