WOLLOGORANG STATION, Northern Territory
 
 

RAINFALL
Approximately 1000 mm or 39 inches at Homestead. 1250 mm per year on coast 1000 mm per year at Wentworth out station 800 mm per year at Wollogorang which is an official Meteorological reporting station.

FACILITIES
30 KVA 3 phase lighting plant Correspondence Schooling and School of the Air STD Telephone and fax service Rail trucking yards Cloncurry 800 km

AREA AND TENURE
Wollogorang Northern Territory Government Perpetual Lease Area-2206 square miles (1,411,840 acres) Wentworth Queensland Government Pastoral Leasman- Area -500 sq miles (320,000 acres).

TOTAL AREA
1,731,840 acres (2706 sq miles).

COUNTRY
Wentworth is interspersed with many creeks that break over seasonally and run into each other. This is all excellent country and carries a great number of cattle. If this 40-50 inch rainfall country were to be improved the cattle carrying capacity would be increased dramatically. Some marine couch along coast running back to large areas of creek frontage country through Wentworth. Wollogorang lease contains large areas of hills well grassed interspersed with big watercourses and well grassed valleys. Soil types are mostly box grey – large areas of red with small areas of black soil along southern boundary. Grasses, Spear; Button; Buffell; Mitchell; Other soft grasses. Timber, Bloodwood, Ironwood, Gum, Box. Areas of Marine Habitat Mangrove Along Coastal Areas.

WATER
Bore at H.S. – balance natural waters

FENCING
Fencing all good repair – 7 main paddocks, numerous holding paddocks. Approximately 350 km of fencing.

YARDS
Steel yards at H.S. capacity 3000 head. Set portable yards – 300 panels.

BUILDINGS
Main H.S./Roadhouse built 1926 extensively rebuilt to Northern Territory Liquor standards 1984. 60 ft x 30 ft store – workshop – car shed 30 ft car shed. Amenities block for campers. 40 ft x 30 ft dwelling Wentworth Out station. 80 ft x 30 ft shed on Wentworth beach.

ROADHOUSE
The licence in a Northern Territory Roadhouse Inn licence with the Northern Territory Liquor Commission. This is a 24 hour licence if one wishes to trade these hours. Now trading 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Selling beer, fuel, meals, groceries, clothing etc. 6 air-conditioned motel units, camping ground, caravan area, amenities block.

CARRYING CAPACITY
Wollogorang was comfortable carrying 30,000 head before BTEC. Potential for at least 60,000 cattle depending on areas put under improved pasture on the high rainfall coastal belt. Currently running 10,000 head. T.B. and Brucellosis clean

Wollogorang was for sale in July 1997 at around $10 million.
 

Copied from a real estate agent's page in July 1997.
Bob Shadforth, Founder of Wollogorang

Hells Gate on the Doomadgee to Borroloola Road was the absolute frontier in pioneering Queensland. The native mounted police guaranteed security as far as this rock formation, thereafter western travellers were on their own.

The travellers would congregate at Burketown and Normanton until they were able to travel in convoy from Hells Gate for mutual protection. Given the conditions of the day with most people travelling either on foot or by horseback this journey was an arduous task.

Lee and Bill Olive established the Hell's Gate Roadhouse. The Roadhouse's shady camp grounds and lawns are a welcome oasis for travellers making the long drive from Burketown or Borroloola. 81 kilometres north west of Doomadgee on Borroloola Road, trading hours are from 7:30am to 8:00pm, 7 days a week.

Each Sunday night during the tourist season they have a barbecue, with prior notice appreciated for catering purposes. . Phone 070 458 258 or Fax 070 458 225.

There is camp ground facilities and accommodation by prior booking. Tours may also be available.

Season runs from March to end of November, weather permitting.

(The information above borrowed in part from one of the tourist pages on the web, 7/97)