Karunjie Station - Chapter 4 "Historic Look Back"

Above Picture: Mr. David Rust (1892-1992)

(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Born in Scotland, David Rust emigrated as a young man and enlisted in the 10th Light Horse Regiment when Australia entered the Great War. On his return from service overseas, he worked in the pastoral industry before taking on his own cattle station, Karunjie - which adjoins Durack River Station to the East and sits Southwest of Home Valley Station.

Above Picture: Mr. David Rust (?) on horse back at Karunjie (1892-1992)
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)





Above Picture: Mr. David Rust left (1892-1992)
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Water pump on Karunjie Station
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Mr. David Rust and aboriginal men surveying Karunjie

(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Stockmen separating the cattle for branding.
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Stockmen on Karunjie Station
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Stockmen at Karunjie cattle pen.
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Stockmen roping cattle in the pen.
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Aboriginal men at Karunjie.
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Horse breaking at Karunjie.
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Driving the cattle to a waterhole.
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Two men on a truck on Karunjie.
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Above Picture: Karunjie workers camp.
(Online picture courtesy of the Picture Australia via National Libraries Australia site)

Karunjie Station - Chapter 3 "Morning"

Above Picture: Lone Eagle pilot Sam's R22 mustering helicopter in the early morning.

Above Picture: Aviation fuel pump at dawn at Kuranjie Station camp.

Above Picture: Karunjie Station camp show.

Above Picture: Craig Hodges' camp spot behind the grader and cattle truck. Away from the camp generator.

Above Picture: Bull catching Toyota provided by Kurt Hammer for Mick Stanley and his musterers to use on Karunjie.

Karunjie Station - Chapter 2 "Camp Welcome"

Above Picture: Broken steering rod on front lefthand side of Old Matey's Toyota.

Above Picture: Karunjie Station sign.

Above Picture: Karunjie Station entrance off the Gibb River Road.

Above Picture: Ben cooks some rice to go with the beef ribs.

Above Picture: Ben serves up tender beef ribs.


Above Picture: (Left to Right) Ben, Tyron and Sam sit down at the camp table to enjoy a beef rib dinner.

Above Picture: Old Matey returns to the camp after being assisted by Mick.

Above Picture: Mick finally returns to the camp and enjoys a light beer after assisting Old Matey with vehicle repairs.

Karunjie Station - Chapter 1 "Meeting Old Matey"

Above Picture: Old Matey (Right) and Mick Stanley (Left) on Karunjie Station 9th Oct 2008

Karunjie Station, formerly known as "Pentecost Downs", was first established by Scotsman David Rust in the 1800s. It is a vast property bordering the Durack River station to the east and the Gibb River Road to the north. The station was for a time abandoned, but has in recent years stirred back into life and is now owned and managed by the Indigenous Land Corporation.

Above Picture: Original dwelling on Karunjie with a more recent station building in the background.

In early October 2008 I was fortunate to pay an unexpected visit to Karunjie Station in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It was unexpected as I was no musterer. I was on a motorbike trip passing through the top end of Australia. My holiday time was running out and I wanted to experience the Gibb River Road on route to Broome. My plans soon changed.

Above Picture: The unforgiving mudflats on the Karunjie Track from Wyndham to Home Valley.

After a tough ride across mudflats from Wyndham to Home Valley Station around the Cockburn Ranges nearly brought me unstuck. Less than a week before I took this track there had been rain. It was not the start of the Wet, but I was taking a risk to see the countryside now famous for the stunning locations in the Baz Luhrmann film 'Australia'.

Above Picture: The Cockburn Ranges off in the distance, as seen from the Karunjie Track.

My introduction to Karunjie Station started when I came across Old Matey, a contract cattle musterer, stopped on the side of the Gibb River Road. Passing his wayward tyre tracks leading off the road, I saw for my own eyes that he had narrowly escaped a fatal accident. He explained that had broken a steering rod on the bull catching Toyota and had suddenly veered of the roadside embankment at over 60 kilometres per hour.

Above Picture: Old Matey's bull catching Toyota where it came to rest on the side of the Gibb River Road.

It was nearing dusk and hearing his story and seeing the damage was not a simple repair I volunteered to get a message back to his mates at the Karunjie station camp. As he gave me directions I soon realised it was not a short 5 kilometre ride. It would be a good 15 kilometre ride along the Gibb River Road before I would see the entrance to Karunjie Station, then it would be another 50 kilometres before I would reach the camp.

Above Picture: Old Matey on the side of the Gibb River Road after the breakdown.