Tootra shearing sheds & golf course site

Statement of Significance

The place demonstrates significant associations with the development of the pastoral industry and poneers of the Moora area. It further demonstrates a way of life associated with the pastoral industry.

Physical Description

Timber construction, a wooden wool press. Separate quarters for the shearers consist of 2 bed cubicles with a separate kitchen complete with wood stoves for bread making. A corrugated iron shed was the golf club house.

History

In 1868, the Clune Brothers came fron New Norcia to take up 8 pastoral leases that comprised their holding called "Coordo". The Midland Railway Company acquired the property northwards from Midland was proceeding in the 1890's. In 1910, the new Zealand and Australian Land company purchased the 52000 acre property and emplyed Rupert Bottrill at the first manager of "Tootra Station". The NZALC turned their attention to Western Australia in 1910, as an investment opportunity and purchased a number of other properties in WA. Together with their exisitng properties throughout Australia, Tootra Station, networked within the organisation. Tootra's stud merino rams were purchased from Bundure Stud (NZALC) in NSW. One objective of Tootra was to supply sheep to Beringarra Station (NZALC) in the Upper Murchison.

When the NZALC took over, the property was alrgely uncleared, having been a pastoral lease. 300 Italian clearers worked to clear the property, by hand and it was divided up into 127 paddocks, with a 70 mile dog (dingo) fence. Numerous wells and 16 dams, some with mills, supplied reliable water to the property.

The Oregon timber for the 12 stand sheaing shed was landed at Albany by ship and railed to Calingiri from whereit was transported by traction to Tootra. In 1930, it was claimed that the shed could hold 1000 sheep under cover and handle up to 20,000 that year. Sheep dip and vetting race? still there??

By 1930 almost the entire property was under crop on a share farm basis. In the late 1940's the property was divided into 28 farms for the war Service land settlemnet scheme. the first soldier settlers in 1949 were based at the shearing sheds. The Tootra Golf Club was estalished in 193, after farms were established on the "Tootra" homestead and settled under the Soldier Settlement Scheme. The first President of the club was R Wood and Captain was R Gliddon. In 1968, the club closed.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact or Redeemable
Authenticity: High Degree

Condition

Fair-Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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