Pastoral Stations 1939-1970

The cattle industry experienced difficulties in the two decades after the First World War. Pasture degradation and soil erosion caused by overstocking caused pastoralists to reduce both herd and flock numbers. Low prices for primary produce were cut even further during the Depression in the 1930s, problems compounded by a severe drought in areas south of De Grey which began in 1935 and did not fully break until 1942.  Between 1934 and 1939 sheep numbers on pastoral stations fell from 5.6 million to a little over 3 million.