Air Adventure Australia

Destination Profile - Burrawang West Station, New South Wales

Legendary Burrawang West Station stretches across 12,000 acres of Lachlan River country in Central New South Wales. The fully-operational cattle station produces some of Australia's finest quality beef and is the home of the premium brand, Burrawang Beef. Nestled within Burrawang's rich pastures and endless skies, is a magnificent country estate, Burrawang West Station Retreat. Burrawang West Station's retreat offers adventuresome, yet discerning guests, an opportunity to experience outback Australia in complete style and luxury. With its quintessential Australian homestead, luxurious individual boutique lodges, and creative fine dining, Burrawang West Station retreat offers quests a unique blend of adventure and relaxation.

In 1836, during a period in which the government restricted settlement beyond the Blue Mountains, one of the early "squatters", Thomas Kite, stocked an area west of the Blue Mountains and called the area "Burrawang Run". The area later became known as Burrawang Station.

By 1866, Burrawang Station encompassed over 520,000 acres of central New South Wales. Extending south to the Lachlan River, north to the village of Trundle, west to within 14km of Condobolin and east to within 20km of Forbes. Within the station's boundaries were the current villages and towns of Bogan Gate, Yarrabandai, Derriwong and Ootha. Over the next 20 years, Burrawang Station became legendary for its record wool production (over 5,000 bales in 1884) and for one of the state's largest shearing sheds. Teams of more than 250 men worked the shed's 101 stands. Bullock drays transported wool to the nearest railhead in Bathurst. Portions of Burrawang Station were progressively sold off during the early 1900s. Sales accelerated in 1907 when, in an effort to encourage rural settlement, the state government required subdivision of large areas of NSW. Land was then allocated by tender and ballot to new settlers.

Current boundaries of Burrawang West Station date from this time. Principal owners of Burrawang West Station during this century include the Edols and Maloney families, and The Scottish Australian Investment Company. In 1993, the estate's magnificent homestead development was completed by a Japanese corporate owner. In 2000, Australian owners acquired Burrawang West Station and opened the retreat to private bookings.

Burrawang West Station is located within the traditional lands and home of the Calara River people, part of the Wiradjuri Nation of Indigenous People of NSW. Inspired by impressions and shapes left in the earth and waters of Burrawang West Station, local artist, Mark Powell, one of the Calara River People, created this painting "Old Man Burrawang". The painting tells the story of Burrawang, a renowned local tribal leader (known as a 'Cleverman' or 'Man of High Degree'), who held sacred knowledge and teachings of the creation Ancestors. Burrawang is thought to remain here with us to this day, where he is resting, guarding the land and for songs, dances and ceremonies to renew his spirit energy.

According to Aboriginal beliefs, during the "dreamtime" creation period, the ancestors traveled, skirmished, and hunted across the land. Assaults and lovemaking left a permanent mark on the earth's surface. Leaving their imprints in the topography of the land over which they journeyed, the Ancestors brought (sang) into being all the life forms and left behind laws and patterns for social relationships. Upon completing their tasks, Ancestors transferred their energy (spirit) into the hills, creeks, lakes and trees and then departed by going into the earth or rising into the sky.

The trails or tracks of the creation beings (dreaming Tracks or Song lines), stretch in all directions, criss-crossing the entire continent of Australia. Each of these 'journeying pathways' and their associated dreaming places (sacred sites), has energy and power that is continually renewed by the songs, dancing and ceremonies of tribal groups. Each of the tribal groups is responsible for sections of a song or story. 'Clever Men', who are sometimes referred to as 'tribal doctors', 'Featherfoot' or 'Kadaicha', have the ability to perform 'magic' or healing and are known to communicate with and take the shape of totems or other animals. In addition to painting, the artist Mark Powell enthusiastically works with young members of his community teaching traditional Dance, Law and Song. Mark is also our head Didgeridoo instructor.

This destination is currently not part of an Australian Adventure, however we invite you to add this experience to a tailored itinerary.