Murchison House Station was founded in 1858 by Charles von Bibra to provide meat and wheat to lead miners at Galena, beef to the growing Perth market and remount horses for the British army in India.
 |
| Original homestead built by Charles von Bibra and convict labourers in 1858 |
We went out there to have a look around. The homestead is about 14 klm east of Kalbarri. It cost $10 per person for a self guided tour including morning tea on the gardens outside Murchison homestead.
 |
| Current Murchison Homestead....had morning tea at one of the tables on the lawn. |
 |
| The lawns and pool |
 |
| Beautiful..... |
Its rich history has been shaped by the hands of pioneering battlers, wealthy wool merchants and even an Indian Prince ~ His Exalted Highness Prince Mukarram Jah Bahadur, 8th Nizam of Hyderabad. The short story is that after Indian independence in 1947, the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad (the Princes' father) refused to join the Indian Union. The State of Hyderabad was invaded in 1948 and forcibly annexed but the 7th Nizam was able to keep most of his assests, including his palaces, servants and private fortune. In 1970, when the Indian Government abolished princely titles, privileges and privy purses, the 8th Nizam took the momentous decision to settle in Australia, to carve out the life of a "gentlemen farmer". He now lives in Turkey.
 |
| The old bridge across the Murchison River |
Today, this 350,000 acre family run property (which includes 60 klms of Indian Ocean shore line and over 30 klm of flood plains) is endeavouring to continue the pastoral traditions of the past and offers an insight into outback life, although the property is scattered with decaying wrecks of machinery and vehicles which makes it look rather run down.
 |
| "Water Buffalo....a 1943 landing craft built in the USA and brought to the property by the Prince. |
These days, Murchison House Station focuses on the production of beef cattle, rangeland goats as well as offering a range of tours such as quad bike safaris and canoe safaris on the Murchison River and accommodation such as camping along the banks of the river...not good for caravans though...too much soft sand.
 |
Easter Cottage - the original Blacksmiths residence and workshop complete in 1901.
Currently under repair and it certainly needs a lot of work. |
 |
| Shearers Cottage |
In the cemetery lies the graves of RN Fawcett and EW Broad who where the pilot and mechanic aboard one of planes that were participating in Australia's first commercial air service. They were tragically killed when their plan crashed on Murchison House Station in 1921
 |
| RIP |
.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you reading about our journey and for your comments. I read all comments but may not aways be able to respond.