Fraser Range Station was the first settled in the Nullarbor Plain area in 1872

The Fraser Range Station was first settled in 1872, making the station the first to be founded in the Nullarbor Plain area.

However, Fraser Range bears very little resemblance to the rest of the Nullarbor Plain. It is surrounded by the largest Eucalyptus Hardwood Forest in the world. The blackbutt, salmon gum and gimlet trees are a spectacular sight with some towering up to 20 to 30 metres, with the dense undergrowth making vehicle access off the main tracks impenetrable. A range of towering granite hills, the highest of which is Mt Pleasant (579m) rear up out of the forest gums presenting a spectacular feature. The length of the station is comprised of vast open grass flats, surrounded by dense forest. It was upon these flats that shepherds moved sheep each week, over a century ago, from flat to flat to eventually end up back at the Fraser Range Homestead for annual shearing.

Fraser Range

After shearing, the wool was taken by horse and cart to Point Malcolm on the Great Australian Bight, to be shipped to Adelaide for sale.

When the station was first settled, Perth was a penal colony and convicts were transported to assist in developing the station and building a number of impressive structures out of stone.

Stone Well

Several of these structures including dams and buildings still exist today, bearing testimony to the engineering skills and the building ability of these amazing pioneers and the extent they went to just for survival. Remember in those days this area was extremely isolated – there was practically no Kalgoorlie or Esperance; there was no telegraph; they were 400 km inland from the ocean – obviously there were no roads as we know them today.

The present owners, The Ryan's and Wibberley's, are the 5th owners of the station since it was settled in 1872 and are keen to resurrect the station to its former glory.

The depressed wool market, drought, years of over grazing and significant damage from pests such as rabbits, and in more recent times plagues of kangaroos has seen the stations productivity decline over the years. Overgrazing, fire and pest damage has also seen areas of the station become subject to severe gully erosion.

The flora, fauna and bird life are unique and abundant. The range has an annual rainfall of 330mm making it a virtual Garden of Eden in a dry land.

Fraser Range Station "Garden of Eden"

Fraser Range is stocked with Damara Fat Tail meat sheep as opposed to merino sheep. Traditionally Fraser Range has run merinos however, due to rainfall pattern and inaccessibility of the Range and Hardwood forest, the grazing operation has always been subject to large sheep losses due to fly strike and the inability to muster animals.

Damara sheep have no wool and are browsers as opposed to sheep that graze and goats that strip vegetation. They are much gentler on the natural vegetation and are selectively harvested in specially designed trap yards.

Damara meat is fat free, very low in cholesterol and has been recommended by the Heart Foundation as being an excellent replacement for traditional cuts of meat for those people who suffer high cholesterol and heart disease. The meat does not have the traditional merino / cross-breed aroma and is highly sought after in the Middle East and much of Africa and Asia. Eating Damara meat is a stand out experience for our “last supper” together utilising the stations cooking, BBQ and kitchen facilities.

Damara Sheep

Few tourists get the opportunity to see an operational station and here you can enjoy the unique surroundings, and peaceful ambience, (there are no neighbours here, in the forest it’s you and Australia, and no one else) and experience the reality of Mother Nature.