Nookawarra Station

Nookawarra Station is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on a pastoral lease in the remote Mid West (Murchison) region of Western Australia, approximately 350km northeast of Geraldton and nearest to the mining and pastoral towns of Cue and Meekatharra. Registered in September 2021, the project spans a massive 243,870.56ha. The broader Murchison region's land use is largely dedicated to large-scale pastoralism and mining, though many stations are increasingly operating under a dual "carbon and cattle" model.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests on land where vegetation regrowth was previously suppressed for at least 10 years. At Nookawarra Station, this is achieved by managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing. By controlling or reducing grazing pressures, local native species such as Mulga (Acacia aneura) are allowed to naturally regenerate from in-situ seed sources, which includes existing rootstock and lignotubers.

The local environment is characterised by an arid climate with highly variable rainfall, averaging around 250mm annually and falling predominantly in the winter. The landscape is made up of open broad alluvial plains, granite outcrops, and laterite breakaways. The soils consist predominantly of typical strong red clay loams, red earths, sandy loams, and shallow stony soils. These soil types naturally support Mulga woodlands and saltbush shrublands.

Originally registered under the name "AIC HIR WA2 NOOKS," the project name was officially varied to Nookawarra Station in August 2024 to better reflect its integration with the property's ongoing operations. The property has a rich pastoral history; it was taken up as a sheep station in 1875 by the Wittenoom brothers and at its peak ran up to 24,000 sheep. Due to wild dog issues, the station transitioned to a more conservative cattle operation in the late 1990s. Nookawarra Station was listed and subsequently sold in August 2025, heavily marketed for its excellent future value in carbon offset opportunities. A unique feature of the station is its homestead, built in 2000 from locally sourced rammed earth and granite rocks, featuring furniture made from local Mulga and Beefwood.