Pastoral leases in Western Australia are increasingly known as "stations", and more particular – as either sheep stations or cattle stations. They are usually found in country that is designated as rangeland. In 2013 there were a total of 527 pastoral leases in Western Australia.[1][2] And all leases were put up for renewal or surrender in 2015.[3]
Stations/pastoral leases are a significant part of Western Australian history. At different stages inquiries, pleas for extensions of lease times[4] and royal commissions[5] have been made into the industry.[6]
Nearly 90 million hectares or 36% of the area of Western Australia are covered by these stations.[7][8] Despite the very low population involved in general management of stations, significant numbers of seasonal workers (shearers and others) have moved through the sheep stations to shear for wool. Also more recently stations have been used as holding places of feral goats for export and meat production.
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