Jimba Jimba Station

Values

The main residence has high aesthetic value for its imposing scale and construction of local stone.

The place has landmark value and together comprises a precinct of pastoral buildings.

The place has associations with the development of the Gascoyne region for pastoralism since the 1870s.

The place has associations with the Phillips and Viveash families, who were prominent settlers of the district.

The place is a good representative example pf a pastoral homestead group in the region.

Physical Description

The place is located on a low rise on the left bank of the Gascoyne River about 5 km west of Gascoyne Junction.

The place comprises a homestead (main residence), kitchen & dining building, store, office, meat house, cottage, men’s quarters and various sheds.

The main residence is of local stone with a CGI roof. Other buildings are of rendered stone, mud brick or concrete block construction. The sheds are clad with CGI.

History

‘Jimba Jimba Station was first taken up in 1878 by G. Hamersley and S. Simms and consisted of 100,000 acres. Over time adjoining leases were taken up and soon the station size had increased to 400,000 acres. The name of the station derives from an aboriginal language and means ‘very small’. In 1885 the station lease was taken over by Samuel James Phillips in partnership with his brother, John Hugh Phillips. Phil Ryan was the manager of the property until 1907 when Douglas Hugh Phillips tool over. The station passed onto brothers John and Douglas Phillips following the death of their father, John and uncle, Samuel Phillips. In 1921 Guy Viveash (nephew of John Phillips) bought into the property eventually taking over the management. Guy Viveash and his wife Jean set about improving the station stock and the homestead, which was extended from a simple mud cottage into a gracious home. By 1934 Jimba Jimba was carrying 20,000 sheep, however the onset of the 1935-42 drought, combined with some health worries, resulted in Guy and Jean Viveash departing for Northam, leaving the property under the management of Edgar and Lorna Bostock. Almost half the sheep were lost to the drought. Following the death of Guy Viveash in 1947, Edgar Bostock continued to manage Jimba Jimba until Guy’s sons, Robert and Don, were old enough to assume responsibility for the station. Subsequently the property, which was restocked, prospered. In 1963 the Viveash brothers bought Landor Station where Don and his wife Gwen lived until Don’s untimely death. Following Robert’s tragic Death in a flying accident, Jimba Jimba Station was sold in 1977 to Martin and Virginia Baston who continue to run the property today [1999].’

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Sound

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.