Toorale Station, located at the junction of the Warrego and Darling rivers in north-west NSW near Bourke, is a former pastoral property that has been transformed into Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area.

Its story is a fascinating blend of pastoral history, significant Aboriginal heritage, and modern conservation efforts.

By National Library of Australia from Canberra, Australia - "Flooded out!", a homestead lease on Toorale Station, Darling River, New South Wales 1886

Cultural and Environmental Significance

Toorale is a place of immense importance to the Kurnu-Baakandji Traditional Owners. The land, water, plants, and animals are central to their culture, and their ongoing connection to Country is maintained through a joint management program with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. There are over 500 known Aboriginal cultural sites on the property, including scar trees, stone arrangements, and burial sites, which demonstrate thousands of years of occupation.

The property's natural environment is equally significant. Situated in a Australia’s quintessential boom and bust landscape, Toorale comes to life after rain and flooding. The Warrego River's vast Western Floodplain wetland provides vital habitat for a wide array of birds, frogs, fish, and native vegetation, including nationally threatened species. The conservation efforts are aimed at supporting this unique ecosystem, which is otherwise absent from the surrounding semi-arid landscape.

A famous Toorale roustabout – poet Henry Lawson

Toorale holds a place of literary and historical significance, with the famous Australian poet Henry Lawson working there as a roustabout in the 1890s.

Henry Lawson's time at Toorale Station in the 1890s was a pivotal period in his development as a writer. While he may not have written all of his most famous works on the station itself, the experiences he had there, and in the surrounding region, profoundly influenced his poetry and short stories.

The Journey to Toorale

In 1892, a young Henry Lawson was struggling to make a living as a writer in Sydney. The editor of The Bulletin, J.F. Archibald, recognized his talent and paid for his train fare and some living expenses to travel to Bourke, with the hope that the experience would inspire him to write more about bush life.

Lawson's journey took him to the far west of NSW, where he experienced firsthand the harsh realities of the Australian outback—a stark contrast to the romanticised bush ballads of his poetic rival, Banjo Paterson. After spending some time in Bourke, Lawson and a mate walked to Toorale Station, where they worked as roustabouts in the massive woolshed.

The Influence of His Time at Toorale

Working as a roustabout—a general labourer in a shearing shed—Lawson was immersed in the world of itinerant workers, shearers, and bushmen. This experience gave him a deep understanding of their lives, their struggles, and their unique character.

While at Toorale, and during his subsequent travels in the region, he gathered the raw material that would become the foundation of his most powerful and realistic work. He saw the effects of drought, the back-breaking labour, and the poverty that many bush workers faced. These observations fuelled his writing, giving it an authentic and often sombre tone.

Writing from the Experience

While it's difficult to pinpoint exactly which works were written on the station, it is clear that his time there directly inspired several pieces.

"When the Ladies Come to the Shearing Shed": Some sources suggest that Lawson may have written this poem while working at Toorale. It captures the humor and awkwardness of a visit from city folk to the rough-and-tumble world of a shearing shed, a scene he would have witnessed firsthand.

"The Drover's Wife": Although this iconic short story was written after his bush travels, the raw, gritty reality of a woman's life on an isolated selection is a direct result of the observations he made during this period.

His work in general: The experience at Toorale helped Lawson define his perspective on the bush. He became known for his realistic portrayal of hardship and the resilience of the Australian people, which was often in direct opposition to the more romanticized versions of bush life popular at the time. His time at Toorale was a critical element in the development of his distinctive literary voice.

Lawson's time as a roustabout was relatively short, but the experiences he gained were immeasurable. They gave him the authority to write about the bush from a place of genuine understanding, cementing his legacy as one of Australia's most important literary figures.

From pastoral powerhouse to protected land

Toorale Station operated as a pastoral lease for over 130 years, beginning in the mid-19th century. At its peak, it was one of the legendary giant sheep and cattle stations that dominated the lands along the Darling River. The station was known for its innovative infrastructure, including perhaps having Australia's first shearing shed with electric lighting.

Toorale Station holds a unique place in Australian pastoral history as one of the first properties to embrace new technologies, particularly in its shearing operations. While there is some debate about whether the shearing shed itself was the very first in Australia to have electric lighting, it is definitively known that the station was an early adopter of this groundbreaking technology.

Historical records indicate that electric lighting was first used on a sheep station in Australia at the Toorale Wool Scour in 1887. This was a significant step forward, allowing workers to process wool around the clock, increasing productivity.

The station's owner at the time, Sir Samuel McCaughey, was a visionary pastoralist and a pioneer in agricultural innovation. He was a key figure in the introduction of both mechanical shearing and electricity to the Australian pastoral industry. It is important to note that Toorale's sister station, Dunlop, is often credited with having the first successful season of shearing with the new Wolseley mechanical shears in 1887, with Toorale introducing them the following season. This highlights a period of intense technological advancement across McCaughey's properties.

In 2008, the Australian and NSW governments jointly purchased the 91,000-hectare property to protect its outstanding environmental and cultural values. A key part of the acquisition was the water entitlements, which were transferred to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to return water to the Darling River and its downstream environments. This action also aimed to restore natural flows to the Warrego River's Western Floodplain, a critical wetland habitat. Since the purchase, dams and other water infrastructure on the property have been modified or removed to improve river connectivity and fish passage.

Visiting Toorale

Nowadays, Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area is a destination for travellers seeking to experience the outback's rich history and stunning natural beauty. It's a great place for:

Self-guided tours: Visitors can explore the heritage-listed Toorale Homestead precinct, which includes the grand homestead and its outbuildings, and learn about the station's pastoral past.

Birdwatching: The park's wetlands are a haven for birdlife, especially after rainfall, with sightings of ibis, spoonbills, pelicans, brolgas, and other species.

Camping: Riverside camping is available at the Darling River campground (Yapara Paaka Thuru), offering a chance to enjoy the vast outback skies and starry nights.

Scenic Drives and Walks: The park offers a 41km loop drive and various walking tracks to take in the red sand hills and floodplain views.

Aboriginal Culture: Guided Discovery tours are available to learn about the culture and heritage of the Kurnu-Baakandji people and the region's bush tucker.

It is recommended to visit during the cooler months between April and September. Visitors should be prepared with their own food and water, as the roads can become impassable after rain, and some areas may require a 4WD.

Image: NSW National Parks & Wildlife