Argyle Homestead Museum

Kings in Grass Castles

Stone by stone, the Argyle Homestead was moved from its original site,now under the waters of the ‘top dam’ on the Ord River, to its current home on the edge of Lake Argyle. It was the former home of ‘Patsy’ Durack, one of the first people to bring cattle overland from Queensland, to stock the first speculative leases in the Kimberley, in 1884. With shady verandahs and cool interiors, this welcoming museum, complete with tea and muffins, maps the Durack’s epic journey and the genealogy of this pioneering and talented family. Its diverse collection of original objects, saved from the homestead, along with photographs and period objects, interpret life on a remote pastoral lease in the 1890s. The story of the flooding of the original homestead is highlighted with images of Operation Noah, that brought naturalist Harry Butler to the Kimberley to rescue stranded animals.

Address:

Lake Argyle Road
Lake Argyle WA 6743
Australia

Opening Hours
April to September, 7 days 8am - 4pm
A leather legacy

When the centre of government administration lies 3000 km to the south, it was important to keep your legal documents and land titles safe. This satchel was made for MP Durack by an Argyle Saddler in...

Little black box

As robust as the man himself, the box camera - with its handsome cover, thought to be made by Kimberley Durack - survived the heat, tropical storms, floods and the rigours of a cattleman's life in one...

Kings In Grass Castles - the Duracks

Every station has its own cattle brand, and great effort was made by managers to brand their cattle to outwit the rogue rustlers of the area. 7PD was the brand that Patsy Durack brought to the...

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While you're in the area

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Lake Argyle
Attraction
Lake Argyle
Cruise or fish the expansive, wildlife-rich waters of Lake Argyle, near...
via Lake Argyle Road, Kununurra, WA 6743
Crocodile Ridge
Attraction
Crocodile Ridge
Crocodile Ridge, at Lake Argyle was so named due to the uncanny...
via Lake Argyle Road, Kununurra, WA 6743
The Spillway
Attraction
The Spillway
Birdwatchers will be thrilled at the large selection of water birds that...
Lake Argyle Road, Lake Argyle, WA 6743
Argyle Homestead Museum
Attraction
Argyle Homestead Museum
The Argyle Homestead Museum offers a fascinating insight into the lives of...
Lake Argyle Road, Lake Argyle, WA 6743