Todmorden Station (pastoral lease)

[3] Todmorden currently occupies an area of 7,169 square kilometres (2,768 sq mi) sub-divided into 32 paddocks, and supports between 5000 and 7000 head of cattle.

[1] The first European to travel through the area was John McDouall Stuart, whose expedition pushed northward past present-day Oodnadatta and the waterholes along the Neales River in 1860.

The Overland Telegraph was constructed in 1872, passing right through present-day Todmorden; this in turn led to the first pastoral leases being issued in the area, most being held by land speculators.

[6] The Great Northern Railway was completed to Oodnadatta in 1891, which allowed easier transportation of stock to markets in Adelaide and made pastoralism in the area far more attractive.

[10] The area was then flooded in 1908 after 6.5 inches (165 mm) fell over a couple of days, submerging Todmorden and many surrounding stations.

[14] In 2011, five people including the manager Douglas Lillecrapp were stranded at the station following heavy rains and subsequent flooding.

Lightning strikes initiated the fire which burnt for nearly two weeks before a 40 kilometres (25 mi) backburn helped bring it under control.