Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 - 1956), Saturday 9 June 1928, page 14


SHEEP OUST CATTLE

m The coming of the sheep men to the country beyond Kalgoorlie represents one of the most remarkably quick changes from one industry to another that Australia has ever experienced,

though the stage has always been noticeable in America particularly, and then South Africa as one of the chief manifestations of primary progress.

Within the short space of three ? years the huge territory that ex- j tends for hundreds of miles to the north and east of Kalgoorlie has been stocked with hundreds of thousands of sheep bred from the finest ?trains in the Eastern States. Country that was almost solely devoted to cattle-aaising under conditions that were proving but moderately profitable has been taken over by scores of South Australian squatters, who, in under three and a half years, have invested over £1,500,000 in station properties extending from Menzies to Wiluna in the north. IDEAL. SHEEP COUNTRY The country is ideal for sheep breeding, those inevitable raisers of sweet mutton and good wool, saltbush and cotton bush serve as excellent fodder, and fresh water is available all the year round at a depth of 30 to 40 feet. About £100,000 has been spent on converting ISdjudina from a cattle run to a sheep

station. Approximately the same amount has been spent on Sturt Meadows station, which is now carrying over 20,000 sheep. Erlistoun station in the Laverton district is still raising cattle, but approximately £90,000 has been expended on the property in the purchase of sheep and in effecting the necessary improvements. The conversion from cattle-raising to sheep-raising has been PRACTICALLY UNIVERSAL throughout the area, and some 30 to 40 stations, most of which have been taken over by South Australian owners, had spent enormous sums on importing sheep from the Eastern States. Kalgoorlie is the railway centre for practically the whole of the districts, and tens of thousands of sheep have come across the Great Western line from the Eastern States, being^ unloaded at Parkeslon. a mile or so east of Kalgoorjie. for the northern stations or the runs lying e«st and north east of Kalgoorlie.