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Alpana Station's rich history began in 1878.
Beginning with 130 acres (53 Hectares), Paddy Henery, an immigrant from Ireland,
calculated that he could make a living by growing fodder crops. The crops were
to provide supplementary feed for the bullock teams hauling copper ore from
Blinman Mine to Port Augusta for shipment.
His business flourished until the introduction of the North -
south railway in 1882, after which trains then carried the ore.
Today, 120 years later, the Alpana Station property is managed
by John and David Henery and spans 51,000 acres (20,600 Hectares) and carries a
flock of 3000 merino sheep.
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Blinman began as a copper mine discovered in 1859 by a shepherd,
Robert Blinman, who noticed a great mineral outcrop on a hill above a creek in
ANGORICHINA Station. Blinman took out a mining lease for the area and later sold
his rights to the Yudanamatana Copper Mine of South Australia. This company set
to work immediately, sinking five shafts by the end of 1862.
In 1864 the town of Blinman was surveyed by Thomas Evans and in
1878 Carr surveyed approximately 100 square miles into 150 or so farmlets around
the town to provide food for the townsfolk and fodder for their animals. This
surveyed area is known today as "The Hundred of Carr".
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