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33-725: Boolardy Station , along with the tiny settlement of Pia Wajarri adjacent to it, are part of the site of the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO). As the MRO lies within Wajarri country, negotiations towards an Indigenous land use agreement (ILUA) have been proceeding for some years. Wajarri lands are located in the Mid West (also known as Murchison) region, encompass an estimated 35,000 square miles (91,000 km). The northern borders range as far as

66-592: A helicopter to check on the welfare of those stranded at the station. Little rain fell at Boolardy over 2012 and early 2013 resulting in dust storms and little green feed being available for stock. The then owners, Mark and Carolyn Halleen, left the area between 2013 and 2015. In 2009 the CSIRO purchased the property for A$ 5.42 million in order to provide the location of the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO), while

99-468: A second zone, effectively extending the license approval governing area from a radius of 70 km to 150 km (93 mi). As of December 2020 , the outer "coordination" zone extends for a radius of 260 km (160 mi). Within the radio quiet zone, there are restrictions on all radio communications equipment, including television transmitters , mobile phones , CB radios , and other devices, so as not to interfere with radio telescopes . As of 2020,

132-455: A verdict on the charge. A second jury found the men not guilty, a verdict greeted with satisfaction in the town of Geraldton where the trial was held. By 1912 the station expected to shear 25,000 sheep using 16 stands in the shearing shed . The station has consistently produced quality wool attracting high prices, at a wool sale in Perth in 1927 a small star lot of super combing sold from

165-779: Is a radio telescope project undertaken by an international working group, beginning in September 1993. In 2012 it was decided that two sites would be used for the telescopes, one at the Murchison site in Australia and the other in South Africa, while the organisation's headquarters would be located in the UK. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) are seen as precursors to

198-505: Is within the Shire of Murchison and situated on pastoral lease no. 3114/406 (Crown lease 146/1966). The area of the lease is 3,467.48 square kilometres (1,338.80 sq mi). In 2009 the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) purchased the property for A$ 5.42 million , in order to provide the location of the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory , while

231-597: The Australian Communications and Media Authority in April 2005, and in July 2011, an enhanced radio-quiet zone was imposed. The initial radio-quiet zone (renamed to the "inner zone") was a protected zone in a 70-kilometre (43 mi) radius around the observatory, in which all radio apparatus licences needed to be made with the approval of the observatory's governing body. The enhanced radio-quiet zone adds

264-484: The COVID-19 pandemic . The Wajarri people are still able to move freely across the land, so long as they respect the radio silence. The MRO was designated a protected radio quiet zone by the Australian Communications and Media Authority in April 2005, and in July 2011, an enhanced radio-quiet zone was imposed. As of December 2020, the outer "coordination" zone extends for a radius of 260 km (160 mi). Within

297-645: The Wajarri language . This telescope comprises 100,000 antennas built across 74 km (46 mi). Bulldozers are expected to start working on the site in early 2023, with the estimated completion date in 2028. Several smaller experiments (CORE, EDGES , PAPER and SCOPE) are being sited at MRO. The Experiment to Detect the Global EoR (Epoch of Reionization) Signature (EDGES) is a radio telescope being developed by MIT Haystack Observatory and Arizona State University (ASU) to make accurate measurements of

330-550: The Australian Government have been working with the Wajarri Yamatji people to enable the projects to proceed while respecting the cultural needs of the traditional owners of the land, and also to deliver some benefits to them, in particular the tiny and remote Pia Wajarri Aboriginal community, next to Boolardy Station. For several years leading up to 2020, negotiations have been taking place ahead of

363-607: The CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory was established by CSIRO , Australia's national science centre in 2009. It lies in a designated radio quiet zone located near Boolardy Station in the Murchison Shire of Western Australia , about 800 kilometres (500 mi) north of Perth on the traditional lands of the Wajarri people. It is one of two core sites for the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project,

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396-507: The CSIRO and the shire council have been investigating and discussing various internet connectivity possibilities with the shire, such as a small mobile network , or the use of optical fibre . The CSIRO purchased the 340,000-hectare (840,000-acre) Boolardy Station for A$ 5.42 million in 2009, then a working cattle station. Then called, the Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory, it was founded by

429-686: The CSIRO in 2009, near Boolardy, a former cattle station in Western Australia. By 2012, it comprised the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and the ASKAP radio telescope. In 2022, the observatory was expanded to become Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory - now 27 times bigger than the initial Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory - to accommodate the SKA-Low telescope. CSIRO and

462-520: The Earth's ionosphere , and to study radio transient phenomena . The MWA is the first so-called large-N array, fully cross-correlating signals from 128 phased tiles of 16 crossed dipoles (each). The field of view is large by the standard of astronomical instruments, being on the order of 30 degrees across. The Square Kilometre Array , commonly referred to as SKA, the SKA Project or SKA Programme,

495-490: The cultural significance of the area, and how to build the infrastructure with minimal disruption to the landscape. Surveys of heritage sites have been undertaken, but the work and negotiations were somewhat disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic . The Wajarri people are able to move freely across the land, so long as they respect the radio silence. With the Boolardy Station no longer in use as a cattle station since

528-456: The first cattle and sheep were taken overland to Nookawarra in 1876, but as the site lacked suitable feed for horses, they moved to the Boolardy site. The lease was later associated with various members of the pioneering Wittenoom and Lefroy families, particularly Edward and Frank Wittenoom and Langlois Lefroy . Aboriginal labour was extensively employed on Boolardy. In 1896, management of

561-630: The hills above Lyons River headwaters , including Mount Isabella and the Teano and Waldburg ranges. The upper Gascoyne River also forms part of their traditional lands. The western border is around Byro and the Dalgety Downs, and west of the Three Rivers . Erivilla , and Milgun . Wadjari lands extend as far south as Cheangwa and the Roderick and upper Sanford rivers . Boolardy Station,

594-583: The main SKA telescope, with both of these (along with the South African MeerKAT and HERA telescopes) providing useful scientific information while at the same time aiding in assisting the final design, development and testing of the main SKA telescope. The construction phase of the main telescope at this site began on 5 December 2022, celebrated with a ceremony. The site has been named Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, meaning "sharing sky and stars" in

627-402: The negotiations, representing different groups. There are challenges involved in working out how to respect the cultural significance of the area, and how to build the infrastructure (ultimately part of the international Square Kilometre Array project) with minimal disruption to the landscape. Surveys of heritage sites have been undertaken, but the work and negotiations were somewhat disrupted by

660-646: The observatory, at the Murchison Settlement , is one idea under consideration. The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) was built by CSIRO and comprises 36 identical antennas , each 12 metres in diameter, working together as a single instrument. ASKAP's combination of fast survey speed and high sensitivity will allow astronomers to answer some fundamental questions about the creation and early evolution of our Universe, and to test theories of cosmic magnetism and predictions from Albert Einstein 's general theory of relativity . The facility

693-473: The other being located in South Africa. As part of this project, there have been two technology and science pathfinders, both established by 2012: Construction on the main large SKA-Low telescope started in December 2022. Several smaller experiments (CORE, EDGES , PAPER and SCOPE), unrelated to SKA project, are also sited at the observatory. The observatory was designated a protected radio quiet zone by

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726-455: The owners continued running the property as a cattle station until around 2014. An area of 266 square kilometres (103 sq mi) within the station was composed of reserves and crown land . In 2011 a report stated that the soil had a low level of erosion , with 87% of the land being described as nil or minor. The perennial vegetation condition was fair, with 39% of vegetation cover being described as poor or very poor. The property

759-788: The owners continued running the property as a cattle station for some time. Two large radio telescope projects on the Boolardy site, the Murchison Widefield Array and the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder , are precursors to the dual-sited Square Kilometre Array (SKA), with the other two sites being situated in the Karoo area of the Northern Cape Province in South Africa. Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara,

792-415: The owners left the region around 2014, the loss of seasonal work in cattle mustering , as well reduced pest control and reduction in community activities has been felt by the people living in the area. The neighbouring Wooleen Station has facilities for guests, and the owners are working with local governments to develop its tourism potential. An interpretive centre situated 100 km (62 mi) from

825-656: The radio quiet zone, there are restrictions on all radio communications equipment, including television transmitters , mobile phones , CB radios , and other devices, so as not to interfere with radio telescopes . Wajarri is one of the Kartu languages . Boolardy Station Boolardy Station is a remote former sheep and cattle station in the Mid West (Murchison) region of Western Australia , about 194 km (121 mi) north-north-east of Pindar and 200 km (120 mi) west-south-west of Meekatharra . It

858-467: The rich grassy plains of Boolardy and importantly, the Ngatta water hole. However, the potential of the area was not appreciated until 1873 when John Perks and Edward Wittenoom explored the area north of the water hole while searching for sheep grazing country. The water hole is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of the main homestead. Perks and Wittenoom subsequently took up the initial lease and

891-461: The signing of an Indigenous land use agreement between the Wajarri people and the CSIRO, guided by the federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (now the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources). About 15 traditional owners are involved in the negotiations, representing different groups within the Wajarri. There are challenges involved in working out how to respect

924-477: The site of the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, lies on the traditional lands of the Wajarri people. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder office have been working with the Wajarri people to enable the various radio telescope projects located on the MRO to proceed. It is important to respect Wajarri cultural needs as well as to deliver some benefits to people, in particular

957-525: The station was brought into disrepute following the untimely death of an Aboriginal worker on the station, leading to the prosecution of the manager, George Thompson, and two other men, Ernest Waugh, and William Purtell, for manslaughter. In uncontested evidence, the dead man, named Wayinga, known as Micky or Mickey, was shown to have been chained by the neck to verandah posts overnight and then flogged in turn by Thompson and Waugh (Purtell not being involved). He died five days later. The first jury failed to reach

990-552: The station was sold for 28½d per pound, the most expensive at the sale. The station was flooded in 1945 when 8 inches (203 mm) of rain fell in 24 hours with over 100 miles (161 km) of fencing being washed away. When the Murchison River and Gascoyne River catchments were inundated severe floods occurred in 2010, parts of Boolardy were submerged and the State Emergency Service despatched

1023-400: The tiny and remote Pia Wajarri community next to Boolardy Station. For several years leading up to 2020, negotiations have been taking place ahead of the signing of an ILUA between the Wajarri people and the CSIRO, guided by the federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (now the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources). About 15 traditional owners are involved in

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1056-629: Was an important pastoral property in the Murchison region, with the Boolardy Homestead used as offices of the Murchison Road Board for many years. The station's western boundary is bordered by Wooleen Station . The various stone buildings of Boolardy Station were classified by the National Trust of Western Australia on 2 September 1985. Robert Austin and Kenneth Brown explored the region in 1854 , noting

1089-513: Was formally opened on 5 October 2012. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is a joint project between an international consortium of universities to build a low-frequency radio array operating in the frequency range 80–300 MHz. The main scientific goals of the MWA are to detect neutral atomic Hydrogen emission from the cosmological Epoch of Reionization (EoR), to study the Sun , the heliosphere ,

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