RETURN TO WOOLEEN Monday, April 27 at 8pm on ABC1

Frances and David

A lot has happened since Australian Story delivered an epic tale of a young couple whose drastic measures to save Wooleen Station in the Murchison ranges of West Australia captivated our audience on March 5. David Pollock was controversially chosen, ahead of his older brother, when their father was deciding who should take over the family’s pastoral lease. The younger Pollock removed all stock as part of a radical plan to restore a beloved landscape.

Originally the size of a small town, Wooleen station had fallen on hard times as over-grazing and drought decimated the landscape. Pollock may have failed in his quest if not for the arrival of young Frances Jones from Melbourne, one hot summer’s day.

Since Half a Million Acres aired, the couple’s battle to save their property has attracted powerful supporters and a visit by natural landscape ecologist, Peter Andrews who has previously featured on Australian Story to considerable acclaim.

Andrews’ visit to Wooleen was sponsored by the Mulloon Institute, a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation, founded by Tony Coote AM. The Institute, which aims to foster sustainable agricultural practices, subsequently sponsored Pollock and Jones to visit New South Wales to witness Andrews’ transformative work on Coote’s Mulloon Creek Natural Farms.

Peter Andrews suggests that people of Pollock’s capability be paid an environmental service for landscape restoration, having made the extreme sacrifice of income as a result of destocking.

“It’s a mess that he didn’t make” says Andrews. “It’s a mess that exists. So why isn’t he being paid? He knows how to manage it. Pay him to fix the damn thing.”

“David and Frances are like the young pioneers that developed this country in the first place. These people need to be supported … I’m putting that challenge to the government in Western Australia and the federal government, to take on this task in a proper way,” says Coote.

“I suppose Dave and I just keep on going because we think about our future, for us we’re still quite young and we think if we don’t take the time now to make a difference for the future, that we mightn’t be at Wooleen in ten years’ time,” says Frances Jones.

Producer: Wendy Page

Text supplied by Austraian Story ABC

With a group of no more than 24 passengers, the focus is on exploring the natural wonders of Western Australia. The trips set a relaxed pace, with activities to suit varied fitness levels.

APT operate tours each year between Perth and Broome. These 11 day trips include a stop at Wooleen Station where you can appreciate all we have to offer. Arrive for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing in the homestead and enjoying the garden. Take the 2.3km walking trail to stretch your legs and learn a little about landscape ecology, pastoral heritage and the flora before heading off on a sunset tour with David. Be back in time to enjoy a 3 course home cooked meal by Frances before retiring to your beautifully appointed bedroom in the historic 1918 homestead or rammed earth guesthouse. Wake to a glorious sunrise or enjoy the comfort of your bed a little longer before have breakfast and hitting the road to Shark Bay.

To find out more about the trip go to APT’s website by clicking here or contact us for more information. You can see a copy of the 2012 itinerary below.

Day 1. Arrive Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles, Kalbarri

This morning depart Perth and journey into Nambung National Park, home to the Pinnacles. Enjoy time to admire these eerie limestone pillars, which rise up to six metres from the shifting golden sand. Afterwards, continue to Kalbarri, the gateway to Kalbarri National Park on Western Australia’s spectacular Coral Coast.

Stay: Kalbarri Edge Resort

Daily Meal Included:  • Dinner

Day 2. Kalbarri National Park, Wooleen Station

Discover the sights of Kalbarri National Park this morning. Take in amazing vistas from the natural rock formation, known as Nature’s Lookout, and see the spectacular Murchison River. This afternoon travel to Wooleen Station, which is committed to preserving the unique ecology of the region through limited energy consumption. Gather before dinner and head to a special visiting area to witness a dramatic sunset.

Stay: Wooleen Station, historic homestead or cottages, shared facilities

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 3. World Heritage-listed Shark Bay

Spend time at leisure exploring Wooleen Station, a working cattle and sheep station this morning. Journey to World Heritage-listed Shark Bay, one of the world’s greatest wilderness treasures. The shallow waters of the beautiful area are divided by striking banks, peninsulas and islands, including Dirk Hartog Island, which was discovered by the Dutch almost four hundred years ago in 1616. Shark Bay is a region of major zoological importance, home to around 26 species of endangered mammals. Continue to Shell Beach and tonight enjoy a seafood dinner.

Stay: Two Nights: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 4. Denham

Explore Denham, Australia’s most westerly town, situated on the Peron Peninsula. Take in the interactive displays at the Shark Bay Interpretive Centre, where you can learn more about the incredible natural wonders and historic treasures of the local region. Take a stroll around the village and enjoy the exceptional views from Eagle Bluff.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 5. Monkey Mia, Hamelin Pool

This morning at Monkey Mia, see the wild dolphins that swim close to shore (subject to appearance). The famously playful bottlenose dolphins have delighted APT’s guests for years, as we were one of the first tour operators to escort visitors to this stunning location. Visit Hamelin Pool to see the stromatolites, dome-shaped layered structures formed in shallow water and known to be the world’s oldest known living organisms. Continue to Carnarvon.

Stay: Carnarvon, Fascine Lodge

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 6. Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, Exmouth

Journey to Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, Australia’s largest and most accessible fringing reef. On arrival at Coral Bay, join a cruise aboard a glass-bottom boat and view the colourful tropical fish and forests of corals that make up this reef. Depending on season, look out for the famous whale shark, as well as dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and humpback whales. The beaches of the reef are vital to loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles, who breed along the shore. Later, continue to Exmouth, the gateway to the Coral Coast where you’ll stay for two nights.

Stay: Two Nights: Exmouth, Novotel Ningaloo Resort

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 7. Cape Range National Park

Enjoy a full day today to explore Cape Range National Park, a spectacular place of rugged limestone ranges, breathtaking deep canyons and 50 kilometres of pristine beaches. The national park, which encompasses Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, is famous for the striking contrast of the turquoise waters of the nearby bay with the rocky, yet verdant topography of Cape Range itself. During your time in the park, you’ll enjoy a cruise on Yardie Creek through Yardie Gorge. Fed by the nearby ocean, the gorge boasts deep-blue water, red limestone cliff faces and a wonderful array of birds and wildlife, including the rare black-footed wallaby and red kangaroos.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 8. Tom Price, Karijini National Park

Travel through the mining town of Tom Price. At the base of Mount Nameless, the town is a showcase for the rich red and gold hues of the Pilbara. Continue on to Karijini National Park, known for its rugged red landscapes, spectacular gorges, waterfalls and refreshing swimming holes. With a two night stay in the heart of this beautiful national park, you’ll enjoy plenty of time to explore all that Karijini has to offer.

Stay: Two Nights: Karijini Eco Retreat in a Deluxe Eco Tent with ensuite

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 9. Karijini National Park

Enjoy a full day to discover the contrasting landscapes of Karijini National Park. Here, the ever-changing light, colours and reflections highlight the intriguing geological structures of the park. Spectacular gorges, waterfalls and leafy verdure provide a luscious setting compared to the arid landscapes of the Pilbara, while the tropical climate has allowed a vast range of flora and fauna to thrive. Visit Dales Gorge, Fortescue Falls and Oxers Lookout. Perhaps walk to stunning Joffre Falls, located near the eco retreat.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 10. Millstream-Chichester National Park, Port Hedland

Visit Millstream-Chichester National Park, one of the most pleasant stopovers in the state’s north west. In between the rocky escarpments and spinifex-covered hills, the park’s rock pools and gorges form refreshing oases. Continue to the largest town in the Pilbara, Port Hedland. It’s one of the world’s highest tonnage ports due to the rich Iron Ore mining industry in the region. Huge ships export this sought after mineral to Japan, China, South Korea and Europe where it’s turned into steel, most commonly used in these parts of the world for car manufacturing.

Stay: Port Hedland, All Seasons Hotel

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 11. Eighty Mile Beach, Broome

Break your journey to Broome with a stop at Eighty Mile Beach. Located half way between Port Hedland and Broome, Eighty Mile Beach forms a 220 kilometre-long coastline where the Great Sandy Desert meets the Indian Ocean. in On arrival to Broom your tour concludes.

Daily Meal Included:  • Breakfast

Around The Top End

Brett Pollock is off again in his A Model Ford to raise funds for the RFDS.

This trip will take Brett and his team from the A Model Ford Club Inc WA around the Top End of Australia to meet at the biannual rally in Ipswich and then back on to Perth.

“We intend to head North from Gingers Roadhouse in Perth’s Upper Swan on the Great Northern  Hwy at 7.30 am on Sunday 4th March, travelling at 70km per hour and averaging about 400kms per day [ camping out in our swags each night] and planning to arrive in Ipswich by 25th of March for the start of the rally. Leaving on 31st March for Perth via Streaky Bay and Port Lincoln South Australia and the Nullabor Plain to Kalgoolie, then  home.  We will be raising funds on the trip for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)” Says Brett

Half a Million Acres – Australian Story ABC1 Monday the 5th of March 2012

Half a Million Acres tells the story of a young man from remote Western Australia, a young woman from the Melbourne suburbs and the battle to save an historic grazing property in one of the oldest landscapes on the planet.

Frances Jones and David Pollock

David Pollock was just twenty-seven when his father chose him over his older brother to take over the family’s pastoral lease in outback Western Australia. Originally the size of a small town, Wooleen station had fallen on hard times as over-grazing and drought decimated the landscape. David’s radical plans to remove the cattle from the half million acre property and regenerate the country shocked his neighbours. The project may well have failed but for the unexpected arrival of a young woman in her gap year from Melbourne.

The story starts when grazier’s son David Pollock unexpectedly finds himself in charge of the family pastoral lease at the remote Wooleen Station, on the southern rangelands, eight hours’ north of Perth. In an agonising  decision, his father Brett bypassed David’s older brother and decided to support his youngest son in a radical plan to restore the land for future generations. Once highly productive, the rangelands had been devastated by years of over grazing and poor land management.

But David Pollock’s bold plan to destock the property and nurse the land back to health was proving too difficult – until an eighteen year old woman called Frances Jones turned up from Melbourne on an outback adventure.

To the horror of her parents, Frances Jones fell in love with both the property and David Pollock

The young couple joined forces and combined their talents.

Together they are implementing progressive new land management approaches that his once sceptical neighbours are now watching with interest.

It’s a race against time but they believe they are in with a chance of saving the property and restoring the degraded landscape.

OzWest Aviation

OzWest Aviation are about to comence flights to Wooleen Station! Don’t miss this fantastic oppertunity during one of our best seasons ever. Please read below for more information or get in contact with OzWest Aviation on the details list below

Day 1: Perth to Wooleen Station (LD)

• Scenic flight from Jandakot to Wooleen Station with views over the wildflower regions of Mullewa and lower Murchison in max 7 passenger aircraft.
• Aerial view Wooleen Station lakes and the stations Plutonic features.
• Stay in award winning Wooleen Station with hosts Frances Jones and Dave Pollock.
• Lunch at historical station homestead.
• Explore the homestead surrounds, visit the museum, walk the one hour eco-trail.
• 4pm depart with Dave on guided station tour encompassing aboriginal culture, pastoral ecology and bird watching.
• Arrive at a select location for sunset drinks and nibbles.
• 3 course dinner served in formal dining room. Margaret River wines for purchase.

 Day 2: Wooleen Station / Geraldton / Perth (B)

Spectacular Coastal Flight

• Awake to enjoy a sumptuous cooked station breakfast
• Fly to Geraldton, morning tea for purchase at Brearley Café in terminal building.
• Depart Geraldton for a spectacular coastal fight overflying the Pinnacles.
• Arrive Jandakot midday, 29th Sep

Cost: $840* per person twin share. *Some simple conditions apply

Hurry departs 28 Sep 2011

For further info or booking phone Ozwest Aviation (08) 9414 9095 email: info@ozwestaviation.com | web:  click here

For anyone who may have visited Wooleen Station on a camping trip may have had a wonderful time but left feeling that maybe the bathroom facilities could be just a little better. Well never fear! Wooleen has just finished installing its new toilets and showers. And to go with them…. a brand spanking new electric hot water system that will make you scream (as we were previously told by a guest that “Yes there was hot water, but it wouldn’t make you scream”)

We also have 3 new sinks for washing up anything you like, in fact you could probably get in them and do a few laps if you wanted!

Our camp kitchen has got a stove, plenty of utensils and space for chopping up all your dinner needs.

Please come along and test it all out. We hope to see you soon!

Gascoyne Murchison Outback Pathways

The Gascoyne Murchison Outback Pathways is the best way to explore and travel the wonders of this region. Providing ready access to the brilliant red landscape each pathway has interpretive sites which offer travelers information, history and photographs to enrich the experience.

The pathways consist of three routes, The Wool Wagon Pathway, The Miners Pathway and the King Ford Smith Mailrun each offering a unique experience through out different areas of the Region.

Full of interesting information the Wooleen Wool Shed features as site number 6 on the Wool Wagon Pathway with 2 interpretive sites explaining the shed, its history and its fate. 

The pathways come with a full colour 175 page guide book and CD. The book offers further stories and history plus stunning photography by Samille Mitchell Grab a copy to assist with your holiday and then keep the book as a beautiful momento of the trip. Books can be purchased from the Department of Environment and Conservation here or from Visitor Centres in the area. Visit The Outback Pathways for more information.

ContactWooleen Station for further information or to purchase a copy of the Gascoyne Murchison Pathways.

Location of the Pathways in WA

The 1930 A Model Phaton Ford

On the 25th of April Brett Pollock and his team will begin The Slow Drive in an A Model Ford across Australia to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctors Service and create awareness of outback tourism.

The drive will start in Gladstone, Qld and finish in Perth, WA. Brett purchased the A model (pictured left) earlier in the year from Graham Wilson in Gladstone who has restored and looked after the car for many years. Brett has been on the look out for an A model for some time as it was the first car owned and driven around Wooleen Station in 1928.

The trip is 4700 kilometres through outback regions and will hopefully be completed in 14 days. Working with Dessert Knowledge Brett hopes to promote outback travel – If he can do it in an 80 year old car, SO CAN YOU!

The trip is dedicated to the RFDS and all the help and support they give to saving lives everyday. You can donate to the cause online or if your lucky enough to see Brett on the road you can donate then. You never know when you may need their help!

So visit The Slow Drive and support a great and exciting cause. You may even see the car at Wooleen one day soon!