Bungaree Station

We spent a hot, but very enjoyable afternoon exploring Bungaree Station. Clare Valley. What a pleasure to be able to wander around this magnificent property. The audio post scattered around gave a fascinating insight to life on the property.

The story of Bungaree Station begins on Christmas Day 1841, when our ancestor, George C Hawker and his brothers, James and Charles, selected this as the site for their "head station". They had purchased 2000 ewes from NSW, and on advice of the explorer, Edward John Eyre, went looking for sufficient good land along the Hutt River. They found "good drinkable water at a depth of 8 feet and plenty of it" and named the property “Bungaree”, after the aboriginal name for the area.

Bungaree became the headquarters of one of Australia’s most successful sheep flocks, running 100,000 merino sheep at a time when the country was said to "ride on the sheep’s back". With over 50 staff and their families living on the property, Bungaree soon resembled a small village, with its own Store, School, District Council Chambers, Blacksmith Shop and Church, as well as the Woolshed, Shearers Quarters, Homestead, Manager's House and other staff cottages.
The property remains the home of the 4th, 5th and 6th generations of the Hawker family. George and Sally Hawker have handed over the reins for the day-to-day management of the farming activities to their son Edward, while their daughter Vicky manages the hospitality business with her husband Mark Stewart.Read more