Wooleen Station - Murchison, Western Australia

Yole D.

We were privileged to spend two days and nights at Wooleen during a spectacular wildflower season in September 2024. We greatly enjoyed our time there. The key highlight for us was the opportunity to meet Frances and David Pollock - quite inspiring people. The homestead is very comfortable, spacious and welcoming. The meals were excellent quality and the cellar offered great choices of likewise excellent WA wines. There were many other highlights including the Sunset Tour guided by David; the DingoTalk and Encounter with Zali Jestrimski and resident dingoes Eulalia and Steven; and David’s Bower Bird Museum. Unforgettable experiences! We always felt welcome and free to enjoy the property, its history, and its natural environment being so ably regenerated by David and Frances. Thank you both. Yole & Bill

Michaela M.

I have wanted to visit Wooleen for a long time and it did not disappoint. Staying at the homestead was a special treat. We were very well looked after by Francis, David and the team and it was a great opportunity to get a little closer to the running of the station and to understand the obstacles and challenges within the pastoral industry and the important and valuable work that they do at Wooleen. They demonstrate that a better way is possible and vital to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the pastoral estate.

Daren

We stayed 4 nights and found this place as being one of the best stays so far. Met Frances (host) and a few of the staff (plus Pippa the kelpie 1 of 4).
Very polite and enthusiastic to share the place they call home.
The work this team is doing on the land is commendable.
Rocky Outcrop camp is excellent and the view from the loo is amazing.
Staying here we felt remote and private in camp, yet the facilities are 1st class.
Hope to return again and again.
Daren & Vic

Peter B.

Wooleen is worth every cent. Hosts are welcoming, generous and very positive - in fact Frances and David are wonderful people, full of grace, humour, and a willingness to engage with all sorts of questions and discussions; what I am sure at times must seem like annoying interruptions - didn't bother them though. We loved the experience. Meals are fabulous - way above restaurant quality, good sized portions, and better than we cook at home! The homestead itself is open, welcoming, with plenty of space to chill out, play pool, talk to others, or be by yourself. Loved the atmosphere, and the whole outside experience. Only two regrets. 1) Didn't see many birds - might have to return for a bird photography experience 2) we live too far away, otherwise would be back often and regularly. Thank you

David K.

Camped at Wooleen. Wooleen is a wonderful experience. The campgrounds are spacious and well situated. The showers for campers is at the reception centre. Lots of hot water. The recption/cafe/ gift shop is very good and the staff are most helpful. We are birders, and there are plenty to see. We saw 43 spices in one day. Many at our camp site at "Flowers". Thoroughly recommend it, but book early.

Sylvia R.

We enjoyed our three night stay in Guest House 1. Unfortunately due to the owner having Covid, we were unable to do the station tour. Although we were given info and did self drives, we missed out on a lot and missed hearing the history of the station. Of course we have read the history but that's not the same as hearing it and being able to ask questions. It would be good if there was someone else able to do tours in cases like this. We feel it would have added so much to our stay. We were disappointed to not have interaction with the owners.
Perhaps this was due to us staying in the guest house and not in the homestead, a bit like out of sight, out of mind.
The Dingo talk was very informative.

Update,
Thank you Frances for your response. I think you missed the point re the tour. We realise David was unable to do it due to Covid, my point was that perhaps another staff member could have done it. Our reason for coming to Wooleen was to see the regenerative work you have done and to hear more about your work and future plans.
Also, I correct you re seeing you in reception, the only time we saw you was when you delivered some fly spray to our guest house because of ants. We went to the reception area at least four times and you were not present any of these times. Naomi was very pleasant however she had only been working for you for a short time.

Jonathan S.

This a difficult review to write because I feel the experience could be so much better with some attention to detail, cleanliness and orderliness. First off, the food prepared by French/Canadian Chef, Nickie, was fabulous and so creative and imaginative as well as being beautifully presented and tasting delicious. The hosts, David and Frances, are wonderful as are the delightful and helpful staff. However, the whole experience is let down by the fact that in the Homestead there are no en suite rooms, so you have to wonder around without a bath robe as none are provided, hoping a toilet/bathroom is free. Two bathrooms are of acceptable standard but the outdoor one is not. Some investment in creating en suite rooms would pay itself quite rapidly as Wooleen Station is deservedly renowned for what they are doing and can attract an affluent clientele. The other major disappointment was the cleanliness of the verandahs, outdoor furniture, fly screens etc. The pool was unusable snd filthy. The Sunset Tour, when David explains what they are doing on the station, is wonderful. David and Frances need to take on a hospitality professional for a short time or use s consultant to help them realise the full potential of the Homestead Stay. There is nothing that cannot be remedied swiftly, such as having a thorough deep clean of all guest areas and polishing the family silver in the dining room! Better organisation of the so-called “Museum” would also not go amiss. The potential is enormous.

Bernard

Just wanted to say this place is amazing. A beacon of doing things the right way for nature AND people. Despite the backwards local council Murchison Shire being a pack of backward environment hating clowns. I'm so sorry you've lost your lovely dingoes to this feral "death cult" of a council.