The Muralgarra story: modern merino with a 180-year legacy
Muralgarra is a Western Australian merino-wool ethical clothing label established by Neil Morrissey.
The Muralgarra brand rests on a deep family connection with merino sheep-breeding in Western Australia that stretches back in a continuous line to almost the beginning of European settlement in the State.
Arriving in Fremantle on the HMS Ganges in 1841 from the Irish city of Waterford, Michael Morrissey initially worked as a shepherd in the York region and, showing true entrepreneurial spirit, opted for sheep as payment in lieu of wages.
Nine years later Michael had accrued enough stock to establish Mt Erin Station on the Chapman River north of Geraldton, bringing out family members from Ireland including his brother, William and nephew, Patrick, to help run the rapidly growing merino enterprise.
Despite an inability to read or write, Michael expanded the holdings east beyond Tallering Peak to Yalgoo.
Continuing the family tradition, his son, John Morrissey, took up land around Melia Spring south of Yalgoo to establish Muralgarra Station in 1873.
Five generations of the Morrissey family have owned stations in the Murchison region including Weradjaminda, Badja, Nallan, Meeline, Mumbinia, Noongal, Bunnawarra, Thundelarra and Windimurra.
Muralgarra had slipped out of family control until John Morrissey - great grandson of Patrick - bought back the property in 1988.
John previously co-owned and managed the neighbouring Morrissey legacy station, Thundelarra, along with his father, Jack, and brother, Tom.
For the next 30-odd years, John and wife, Judy, stayed on as owners - and later managers of Muralgarra until retirement in 2021, bringing up their three children, Simon, Jacinta and Neil along the way.
The Muralgarra products tap into the more than 180 years of Morrissey knowledge and appreciation of the unique natural, sustainable qualities of Merino wool.
All garments in the Muralgarra range are designed and manufactured in Western Australia using certified ethically sourced superfine merino wool to create everyday clothing out of a luxurious fabric.
Sustainability may not have been a fashionable word back then but when he swapped wages for sheep in 1841, Michael Morrissey clearly knew that some things are made to last.
Patrons
John Morrissey
John is a fourth generation Murchison pastoralist initially growing up on Nallan Station near Cue before moving to Thundelarra Station, Yalgoo, with his family in 1963. Before being sent to boarding school John learned bush skills and stockmanship from his father and aboriginal stockmen such as Bert Cameron, Alec Barnard and Charlie Mongoo. The pull of the land and station life was so strong that John left boarding school at the end of his sub-leaving year to take up a position as a Jackaroo at Mellenbye and then later Nangetty stations before returning to the family property, Thundelarra. In 1988 John and his wife Judy purchased Muralgarra Station (next door to Thundelarra) where they remained as owners and later managers until retirement to Toodyay in 2021.
John has a deep passion for breeding high quality Merino sheep and combined bloodlines from different Peppin breeders to create a sheep capable of producing high quality wool yet tough enough to survive in the semi-arid red dirt Murchison country.
Patrick Simpson
Patrick is a Yamatji elder and was brought up in the Murchison district. He followed in his father’s footsteps working as a stockman on various stations and has fond memories of mustering by day and gathering around campfires “in the middle of nowhere” at night before falling asleep under the stars. An accomplished station man, Patrick worked with John and the Morrissey family at Muralgarra for many years.