What is "moonaree"

Moonaree Station is a pastoral lease that operates as a sheep station in South Australia.

It is situated approximately north east of Minnipa and south west of Woomera. The property is adjacent to Lake Gairdner in the Gawler Range.

The station was established at some time prior to 1885. At this time the property was owned by Messrs Davies and Co.

The area around Moonaree and Kumberta Downs was subjected to a prolonged heat wave in 1894 with a temperature of recorded in the sun at Moonaree at the hottest part of the day with temperatures of recorded two hours after sunset.

Davies, Todd and Co. placed Moonaree up for auction in 1895 when it occupied an area of and was stocked with over 16,000 sheep and 50 horses. Acquired by the Hawker brothers, the property was struck by drought in 1902 and plagued by feral dogs. The Hawkers sold off Moonaree, Carriewerloo, Paralana and Kolenda Station.

The station is currently owned by Catherine Hollingsworth and Alistair McTaggart and is still producing wool.

The land occupying the extent of the Moonaree pastoral lease was gazetted by the Government of South Australia as a locality in April 2013 under the name 'Moonaree '.