Mundi Mundi
31°53′06″S 141°02′17″E / 31.885°S 141.038°E
Mundi Mundi Station, also known as Mundi Mundi Plains Station or Mundi Mundi Pastoral Run, was a pastoral lease that operated as a sheep station in New South Wales. Originally around 600 sq mi (1,600 km2), the property was sold off and broken up into smaller properties in the late 1970s. The present-day Eldee Station, Purnamoota Station, and Belmont Station are all situated on land that was formerly part of the Mundi Mundi Pastoral Run.
History
[edit]Mundi Mundi is one of the four original stations in the Barrier Range settled through the early 1870s, along with Mount Gipps, Corona, and Alberta Stations.[1] The property was established by the Whitting family, who were running stock in the area from the 1860s when the property had an occupied an area of 372,000 acres (150,543 ha)[2] or 600 sq mi (1,600 km2).[1] The Whittings were running sheep but also were raising horses.[3] The family were the first Europeans to settle in the Barrier Range and their daughter, Tryphena, was the first European to be born in the area.[2]
John Lewis had cattle stolen from the property in 1901.[4] Lewis still owned the property in 1906, when he and other pastoralists in the area formed the Pastoralists' Association of West Darling.[2] Lewis had also once owned other runs such as Nilpena, Wirrealpa, and Nelyambo.[5]
In 1930 the property was carrying 12,000 sheep.[6]
Following a drought in 1943, the station manager, J. D. Kelly, sold off 7,100 sheep from the property, leaving a flock of 9,000.[7]
In the late 1970s the Crown lease for Mundi Mundi had come up for review. The government decided that this prime grazing land – which had been so well managed with stock rotation, compared to aerial photographs of the adjoining properties – would not benefit from renewing the Crown Lease. The adjoining properties would however benefit, as they were in such dire state, the government was convinced they could become more viable if each took a portion of the Mundi Mundi Station land.[citation needed] In effect, the careful management of the Mundi Mundi Station property was not rewarded. The property at that time was owned by Innes and Colin McLeod, (he being the heir of M.S. McLeod, the tyre and rubber family from Adelaide). His wife Innes McLeod simultaneously ran the Silverton Hotel until 2021 when she sold it.[citation needed]
The formal compulsory acquisition process commenced for Mundi Mundi Station around 1978-79 and the services of A.J. Schutz & Associates (valuers from Adelaide) assessed the property on behalf of McLeod for compensation.[citation needed]
Today
[edit]The present-day Eldee, Purnamoota, and Belmont stations are all situated on land that was formerly part of the Mundi Mundi Pastoral Run. The Mundi Mundi Ruins, dating from the 19th century and including the old homestead, a water tank and well and graves, lie on Dense Camp Creek between Belmont and Eldee Stations. The site is of historical significance, and possibly deserving of assessment as a state heritage site.[8]
Eldee Station is situated on land that was formerly part of the Mundi Mundi Pastoral Run.[1]
Film location and description
[edit]"Mundi Mundi Plain Station" is described as "an iconic film location",[9] covering an area of around 69,000 ha (170,000 acres), with 24,000 ha (60,000 acres) of the property lying in the adjoining state of South Australia, approximately 41 kilometres (25 mi) west of Broken Hill and 142 kilometres (88 mi) north west of Menindee, situated just outside of Silverton.[9]
It is described as both flat and mountainous property.[9]
The 1999 Jimeoin film The Craic is set in Mundi Mundi, although the "Mundi Mundi Pub" is actually the nearby Silverton Hotel. In addition, at the beginning of Mad Max 2 (a movie set in a post-apocalyptic world) - a sign with "Mundi Mundi Lookout" can be seen as Max collects petrol.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Outback NSW". Eldee Station. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ a b c "History". The Pastoralists' Association of West Darling. 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ "River District Notes". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 20 May 1875. p. 5. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ "Cattle stealing on Mundi Mundi". The Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, New South Wales: National Library of Australia. 10 December 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ^ "Lewis, John (1857–1922)". Obituaries Australia. Australian National University. 1922. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ^ "Shearing at Mundi Mundi". The Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, New South Wales: National Library of Australia. 1 September 1930. p. 2. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ^ "Mundi Mundi". The Western Grazier. Wilcannia, New South Wales: National Library of Australia. 17 December 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ^ New South Wales Archaeology Pty Ltd (October 2008). "3. Tawny Rock Dragon Report" (PDF). Proposed development of Stage 1b and 1c, Silverton Wind Farm, far western New South Wales. p. 9. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ a b c "Mundi Mundi Plain Station". LocationsHub. Retrieved 22 December 2024.