EVENTS
The Cattle King's centenary
... guests put on the nosebag for a slap-up dinner put on by the Innamincka pub
Story: Jill Bowen
Photographs: Martin Brannan
There
was definitely movement at Innamincka Station when family members and staff
gathered to mark 100 years of the Kidman empire.
Leading the celebrations was John Ayers, chief executive of Kidman Holdings and the great grandson of Sir Sidney Kidman, Australia's legendary "cattle king."
Sid Kidman took over total control of the family properties on the death of his brother, Sackville in 1899 - hence the choice of 1999 to mark the centenary of the family company.
John democratically asked the managers of the 15 present-day Kidman properties how they felt the occasion should best be celebrated.
They answered universally: "Back in the bush where it all started and featuring a competitive sporting program."
The centenary celebrations were similar to the rodeo held in Adelaide in 1932 to mark Sir Sidney's 75 th birthday when 50,000 people attended.
Kidman's Innamincka Station in far north-east South Australia was chosen for the centenary because it offered good facilities to accommodate the 500 guests, including 15 family members from England, as well as others from many parts of Australia.
They were joined by friends of the family, Kidman employees, and other
visitors, who camped in the sand at the Innamincka racetrack for three days. 
Full story: Issue 6, August-September 1999
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