In the North West of Western Australia some 35 kilometres south of Roebourne on the Harding River lies the once sheep

station of Cooya Pooya.  The operation as a sheep station ceased in the late 1970's when development of the Harding

Dam water catchment  commenced which would eventually put most of the property under water.  Cooya Pooya Station,

consisting of a single-storey stone and iron homestead, detached kitchen and shearer’s kitchen, has a cultural heritage that

has associations with the development of the pastoral industry in the Pilbara district which dates back to the evolution of a

pastoral settlement since 1882.  The place also has close associations with W. S. Hall, and the Lockyer and Stove families,

early pastoralists in the Pilbara who were prominent in the development of the North-West pastoral industry. The place also

has associations with the Aboriginal people who worked and lived on the property.  It also demonstrates design features

responsive to the North-West climate, innovative concrete work and fine stone work, executed in local materials.  Other

buildings nearby, including the meat house, poultry shed, stables, shearing shed and shearers' quarters, which are

considered to have heritage significance and contribute to the understanding of the place. 

It was placed on the Western Australian Heritage Listings in 1998.

The original Afghan Camel Route where camel trains once supplied goods to the North West Pilbara, passed through this

station on their way to Roebourne. Signs of the track can still be seen in the south east portion of the station towards

Python Pool near Mount Herbert.

I have visited Cooya Pooya twice. Once in 1985 before commencement of flooding the Harding River  & you could still use

the original entrance road from Roebourne to gain access & again in 1987 when the Dam was in operation & water levels 

prevented using the original road.  This time access was via the Roebourne-Wittenoom Road, following a track at the south

east part of the station, which led up to the the homestead.

Entrance Cooya Pooya	Homestead	Homestead	Homestead
Shearing Shed	Shearing Shed	Shearer's Quarters	Harding Dam (Background)
Outstation Ruins Spring Creek		Meat House &                                                 Poultry  Shed	Cookhouse