David Pollock and his wife, Frances, could be described as an unconventional couple. Living on their station, Wooleen, eight hours’ drive north-east of Perth, they are in the midst of the sprawling Murchison region of Western Australia, where stations the size of some European countries have run sheep and cattle for more than a century. But, in 2007, David Pollock did something “really silly”. He destocked his entire half-a-million acres.
It was his first year as Wooleen’s owner after taking over from his father, Brett, who, despite more than 18 years steering it through boom and bust, lost his heart for station life after the death of his beloved wife, Helen. The family had cleverly diversified into tourism in 1993 to cushion themselves against plummeting
