Bulgunnia
Station is located 75km South West of Coober
Pedy is one of four adjoining Stations
operated by Jumbuck Pastoral in the North
West of South Australia.
It is only 30km from the Stuart Highway, with Glendambo and Coober Pedy
no more than two hours drive away. 26,000 merino sheep are run with a
staff of 7 by Manager Shane Miller. Shane’s wife Cheryl and his
two children are involved with the Station and Cheryl cooks for the staff.
Climate at Bulgunnia is typical North West, with a rainfall of 160mm
and daytime temperatures ranging from the forties in the summer to a
pleasant 18 in the winter.
February is the usual shearing start time and mobbing up of sheep begins
the month before. Motorbikes have long since replaced the horse and staff
are necessarily proficient in day to day maintenance.
Wool is core tested in Adelaide and then it is either offered for sale
in Melbourne or put on the private market, depending on the conditions
at the time. Sale sheep are regularly sold in Jamestown or privately
on the Station. After the recent drought several road trains of sheep
were transferred to the company’s Stations in New South Wales and
the three busy times in the year are Shearing, Crutching and Lamb marking.
Between these busy times, routine maintenance is focused on and staff
take holidays due to them.
Bulgunnia’s proximity to the Highway encourages participation in
gymkhana’s, field days and B&S Balls at Glendambo and Coober
Pedy.
Training is also a feature of Bulgunnia Station life and a Certificate
III in Agriculture (Sheep and Wool) is offered. This certificate is nationally
recognised and comes at no expense to the trainee. Outside experts are
brought in to deliver modules on Welding, First Aid and OH&S.
