About Us
Almerta Station is a family owned property and a unique destination in the Flinders Ranges. We are situated on the Boolcunda Creek 20kms north of Carrieton, three and half hours north of Adelaide. The station stretches from the Carrieton-Quorn-Road as far as up to the peaks of the Mount James Ranges. There are between 5.000 and 8.000 sheep grazing on our lands and we own a Shearing and Crutching contracting business.
About the Property
The Boolcunda Gum Creek runs along a grand old grid line, that was part of the ancient water ways of this country. It was part of an inland sea, which supported the aboriginal of the area, called Nukunu. Now it is a dry place that still holds the memory of that time and with the waterways being the song lines that cross this country. The song lines have anchor points which some call vortex or transition points. There is a such a point at Almerta, that is now known as the Bluff. It was a vantage point and an island in the time of the sea. The Gum Trees in the Boolcunda Creek are supplied by an underground water stream, so that they are green and healthy, even if the creek is not running during most of the year. There is a Billabong near our homestead and a large natural spring, that holds water the whole year round and is home to an abundant wealth of birds and plants.
Our History
In 1930 Arthur and Doris Rowe purchased the Almerta house block. They started to farm and live on the land with their three children. After them, their son Trevor (called Snow) and his wife Gabrielle Rowe moved in with their family of five children in 1981. When they moved to Carrieton in 2006, their son Patrick (called Paddy) and his wife Shane Rowe started to run the property with their three children Courtney, Jack and Eliza. Over time, a lot of amendments have been done to the original main house and the surrounding buildings. Our partnership structure includes Trevor (Snow) Rowe, Patricks dad, who was born and raised on Almerta station, and his wife Gabrielle.
Our Business
Our main enterprise is our grazing property allowing us to
have a prime merino sheep and wool business. Which we have been strengthening
the genetics over the past 35years. Almerta encompasses 32,000acres and an
additional 12,000acres of leased land. Allowing us to graze 4000-8000 sheep
dependent on the seasons.
Today we still have three generations working on Almerta, father
(snow), son (Paddy) and daughter (Courtney), this means we have knowledge of Snow
from 65+ years of working in the sheep industry, Paddy’s knowledge from running
shearing contract teams and upskilling in various farm/sheep courses. And
Courtney’s knowledge with the newer ways and as technology continually changes.
This is important to capture for our business, changing values and adapting to
the current times has led to improvements in our wool production and meat
value.
Currently living on Almerta are the managers/owners Patrick
(Paddy) and Shane, Courtney (23), Jack (21) and Eliza (19) who have been running the property since 2006. In September 2010
they made the positive decision to branch into tourism. Which has since been the
renovation of the Shearers Quarters which sleeps up to 28guests, the opening of
13campsites and now in 2023 the opening of Henders House which sleeps four
guests. We had the goal of bringing Paddy and Snow home from working away running
Shearing Contract teams.
Our Shearing and Crutching Contracting business serviced and
travelled throughout South Australia and New South Wales for over 30years. We
employed 10-40people weekly. Snow managed the main shearing team that was
working more than eleven months of the year. We sold this run and Snow ‘retired’
from the shearing team in 2013. Paddy also had a shearing team that also did
crutching and lamb marking that worked for ten months of the year. We sold Paddy’s
run in 2020 allowing him to be home during the drought.