Yarram Park is one of Victoria’s largest working sheep and cattle stations and has remained in the hands of the Baillieu family for the past 75 years. 

Originally called ‘Yarram Yarram’, the property was pioneered from 1844 to 1852 by Robert Muirhead and Edward Parker.  They held title of 12,900 hectares until forced to relinquish it in 1860 by government proclamation.  In 1864, the property was sold to the Robertston brothers, who built the still-standing homestead.  They then sold it to Sir John Duncan in 1908 who renamed it Yarram Park.  He then sold the now 10,500 hectare property to FE Cobbold in 1914.  He on-sold it a year later to his nephews the Cain brothers, who held it until 1948, when John Baillieu’s Western District Pastoral Company bought it. 

At that time the 9,700 hectare station was almost derelict – its few pioneering improvements in disrepair.  There was no pasture improvement, a totally inadequate water supply and a serious rabbit problem.  Under John Baillieu, the property increased its carrying capacity sixfold to 9.5 dry sheep equivalents to the hectare. The staff numbers and houses needed, grew substantially. 

Today Yarram Park runs 23,000 ewes and 1500 cattle, including the 73 year old Hereford Stud.  Yarram Park today is a commercially run property with seven employees. 

The original homestead has been restored and is now occupied by Antony and Sybil Baillieu and their family. 

Yarram Park is also the setting for Sir Arthur Streeton’s three versions of the classic painting ‘Land of the Golden Fleece’ that hang in the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Gallery of Australia and the private collection of a Sydney club. 

According to the story handed down by station hands and shearers the famous Sir Arthur, then 59, visited Yarram Park in 1926 as the guest of owner Walter Cain.  In letters to friends Streeton was not specific about his whereabouts, telling them ‘I am away here painting among the sheep and the red gums, with the grand mass of the Grampians towering up behind.’  He then mentioned a vital clue: Walter Cain. 

Sir Arthur inscribed the three versions of ‘Land of the Golden Fleece’ with the name of the local township Willaura – and not the property name.  However it is now clear that Streeton indeed painted the iconic work at Yarram Park. 

Ref – Outback Magazine, The History of Willaura and District 1835-1985