VAST AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 18 September 1935, Page 8

VAST AUSTRALIA

CATTLE KING'S HOLDINGS 85,000 SQUARE MILES (Mo* otjs own coautMXßMrf.) SYDNEY, September ft. The death of Sir Sidney Kidman oil September 2 with the stories of his career prompted realisation once again of the vasiness of Australia. Described as "the leading cattleowner in the British Empire with greater holdings than any other gratlep in the world," sir Sidney held cattle runs in Queensland, North" era- Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia aggregating 50,000,000 acres. At his death he held about 85,000 square miles of country carrying about 176,000 Cattle and 125,000 sheep. His holdings constituted an area greater than that of England and Scotland. The largest station owned by Sir Sidney was Innamincka in the far north-east of South Australia. It exceeds 10,090 square mile*. Glenlyle, in Queensland, can run 20,000 cattle in a normal season. About two years ago, Sir Sidney d*» elded to abandon two cattlft stations, each of 3000 square miles, in the northwest of Western Australia. The reasons for this step were the great difficulty of droving cattle to Derby, the prccipitous nature of the country, and the spearing and stampeding of cattle by aborigines. The abandonment of these stations had as a sequel a great droving feat. Stockmen drove the cattle for 2000 miles and the journey occupied a year and a half. In his versatile career, Sir Sidney was in turn station-hand, drover, butcher, stockman, mail-carrier, bullock team owner, cattle dealer, Station proprietor, railway and water works contractor, and mining investor. He was a great pioneer, a man of fine public spirit, great generosity, and practical patriotism. "I hav® had a wonderful lifgs in a wonderful country," sir Sidney re» marked recently. He was 78 when he died—the last of the great "Cattle Kings,"