The Land

Guy and Davida’s ties to this land run deep. As a child, Guy lived on the other side of the lake at Benwevis Station where, in 1922, Archibald Mead built a tent camp on the shores of the lake at Meads Landing. In 1954 it was amalgamated with Hunter Valley Station, and the family left the district.

But in 1988, Guy returned to the area with his wife Davida to purchase Dingleburn Station, and they moved with their teenage daughters, Nicky and Brigitte.

Until the early 1960s, Dingleburn Station was only accessible by a stock-track, water and later by air. In the early days, the only access to the wool shed was by horseback. Wool, heavy equipment and supplies were boated back and forth from Mead’s Landing across the lake.

In the early 1960s the then-owner, Ian Sarginson, blasted out the road due to the lake level rising 63 feet in 1959. The road went around the treacherous Rocky Point, a most amazing feat.

Mustering sheep off the high tops each autumn is one of the highlights of the working year. Traditionally it took gangs of up to six men and their dogs five to six weeks to muster this country, but today with the use of helicopters, the mustering can be completed in days, often with only two musterers.

The family still choose to camp out in the mustering huts after a day’s mustering, cooking over the open fire whilst enjoying a beer, and recalling tales of the high country from days gone by.

Guy and Davida still live at ‘the Dingle’ as it’s affectionately known by friends and family, and their grandchildren grew up and lived on the shores of Lake Hāwea. The Mead family have constantly developed the property and the production of superfine merino wool and quality Angus beef cattle.

The Mead family love this environment of snow-capped mountains and shadowed valleys, of bush-clad hills spidered by clear flowing streams. This is the tapestry of life that is etched in their souls. They are dedicated to protecting this pristine environment, using a holistic approach to managing the land, plants and animals.

Today, this station and accommodation are managed and hosted by sisters Nicky and Brigitte Mead.

The journey of the Mead’s is one of the purest kinds – to care for the land and those who enter it, with honesty and authenticity. The work is real, and it is hard. The rewards are stunning vistas, laughter, family & friendship, and growing beautiful merino wool.

This land is defined by the strength and kindness of its custodians. This is an experience built by their story.

As Guy and Davida transition to retirement from the active running of the Dingleburn, their daughter Nicky is the station Manager, assisted by her sister Brigitte, plus seasonal shepherding and mustering work by their daughters Brooke and Georgie. Casey, Nicky’s eldest daughter, visits the station, bringing her daughters, Louella, Poppy, Maisie and son Beau to visit – the sixth generation since Archie Mead bought the land at Benwevis on Lake Hāwea in 1923.

Guy and Davida’s grandson Ben Dickson (Brigitte and Greg’s son) has trained in all facets of engineering, is a talented mechanic and also has his pilots licence.