I am working on a trilogy. The title is “Buying and Selling Boorara.”
Boorara was a most fascinating and incredible cattle station in Queensland. And the history of Boorara is illuminating and inspirational.
Naturally, there are three volumes in the set. All deal with a very interesting and involved subject that might seem somewhat over-simplified (and even limited_ by the use of the heading Buying and Selling Boorara.
UNBELIEVABLE? The volumes are:
1. The History of Boorara – since 1861.
2. Preparing for Boorara – my own efforts (over 30 years) to be ready.
3. Ownership – The Buying, the Operating, and the Selling of Boorara.
Boorara was, until recently, a remote outback cattle and sheep station. The first squatters were Alexander Hood, James Wise Torrance and James Hood, who established their operation in 1861; it is interesting to note that this happens to be the same year that Burke and Wills died at the Dig Tree, Coopers Creek just 200 km from Boorara.
It sure was remote back then.
But Boorara remained a station, perhaps the quintessential Western Queensland cattle station, for a period of 142 years.
I ended all that in one simple act when I sold Boorara to the Queensland Government. It is now a large slice of the Currawinya National Park.
This then is my story. The record of history belongs to the past. The remainder is a true story – a big slab of my life.
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BUYING AND SELLING BOORARA. VOLUME ONE:
INCREDIBLE HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP.
In the first volume I provide some background and then go deep into the history of Boorara, its location, and the immediate surroundings. We take an even closer look at the different periods of ownership and management. We take a close look at the various owners and their style. We delve into their background, family relationships and their operation of Boorara.
In this history there is much more material dealing with accidents, killings, murders, and mayhem.
There is some material reflecting on the changes wrought upon the First Australians; the impact was severe, but this book is more about Boorara, Cattle Stations, and people working on the land.
When we do take a look at the owners, we quickly realise that this is notable company. Perhaps even exalted company.
Examples:
- Hood and Torrance.
These are the squatters who registered the 3rd registered cattle brand in Queensland. I retain the HT3 brand, but the property was more attractive.
2. Sir Sidney Kidman.
Most people know something about Sid Kidman, the man who was called the Cattle King. He is famous as the man who owned more stations than anyone else in the world. In addition, he owned a big slab of land taking up an area larger than all of England.
3. Edmund Jowett.
Jowett owned (at one time) more sheep than anyone else in the entire world. His story is amazing.
There is more………
You will have to read the first volume.
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BUYING AND SELLING BOORARA.
VOLUME TWO. DESPERATELY SEEKING BOORARA.
In the second volume I begin with a focus on my own instant and irresistible attraction to Boorara,
Way back in the eighties, I thought to myself:
“IF.” – such a small word but oh, what a big meaning.
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1. FINANCIAL. THE BIG BUCKS?
“If I ever had the money?”
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2. COMPETENCE. CAN I MANAGE THE THING?.
“If I had the experience and confidence to take on the job of owning Boorara?”
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3. AVAILABILITY. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN?
“If the owners decided to sell?”
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But let’s be frank. Things “is going” good!
Money? I had two good businesses and I was doing O.K. But I did not feel that I had the necessary capital to take that on. Of course, that was the least of my worries.
Competence? At the time I owned a small but attractive cattle property in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. I had about 50 angus cows and I ran a breeding operation. On Boorara they typically ran 1000 head of mixed cattle and some 20,000 sheep. The property sprawled over 1200 square km. It was wild and rugged.
It was never going to be for sale?
The Magrath family bought the place in 1930. W.G. Magrath, who bought Boorara and founded the Magrath dynasty, was one of the wealthiest men in Australia.
No, the family had held it for 3 generations.
They would not ever sell.
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A dream or not just a dream. Reality check.
Such is life.
A dream? Yes, just dream.
But a dream that became a reality.
It just took 30 years for that particular dream to mature and become a reality.
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VOLUME THREE. BUYING AND SELLING BOORARA.
OH, MY GOD! BOORARA IS FOR SALE.
This is the bit where Boorara is for sale! Amazing news, and exciting stuff!
Buying Boorara becomes a possibility. The good news is I have more money, I have had a fair bit of experience, having owned three cattle properties, I have done lots of reading and even been to University to do Ag Science. I feel ready.
I get about the business of buying Boorara. I don’t want any buying and selling Boorara ideas, as I want to keep it.
Buying Boorara takes a while but I buy it, I own it, and then I sell it because I discover an ugly truth.
Read the story. Fascinating stuff!
In the meantime? Let’s dream on………………………..