AS SIDNEY Kidman well knew, the most judicious time to buy a pastoral station is not when it is knee-deep in feed, but when it is looking at its worst and people are saying it will never rain again.
Such a time, as we all know, is right now in western Queensland which remains in the grip of the worst drought anybody can remember, but every passing day brings drought-breaking rain one day closer.
And when that day comes, the person who seized the opportunity to buy Middleton Station at Cunnamulla when things were crook in September 2015 will have reason to reaffirm their faith in seasonal cycles.
Middleton Station, which goes under the hammer on September 25 through Elders St George and Dubbo, is being sold to wind up an ownership partnership of Alan Clarke and Stephen Mazoudier.
The 23,827 hectare (58,878ac) grazing property, located 130 kilometres south of Bollon and 90km north of Weilmoringle, was part of a larger aggregation of 55,000ha under its previous Keenan family ownership.
It made headlines across eastern Australia when sold bare in 1937 for 10 shillings ($1) an acre or about 70,000 pounds ($140,000), ranking as "one of the best station sales in Southern Queensland in recent times".
The buyers then were Thompson and Cotter, the Thompson being Henry Thompson - Alan Clarke's grandfather - who later split the property between his children, Alan's parents taking the "Middleton" portion.
Alan took over the property in 1974 and ran it as a successful Merino breeding enterprise, shearing 7000 to 8000 sheep every year and lambing 2800 ewes, before leasing it to his daughter in 2007.
He sold a half share to Stephen Mazoudier in 2012, and today under the prevailing dry conditions the property is lightly stocked with 3100 Dorper ewes and lambs, plus cattle.
The country is typical of the Cunnamulla district, comprising a mix of grey and red soil types and areas of sandy loam, timbered by gidyea, brigalow, pine and coolabah.
Originally supporting dense stands of saltbush, the country now carries a variety of native grasses, salines and burrs, underpinning a normal stocking capacity of 8000 dry sheep equivalents.
Annual harvesting of feral goats provides another useful income stream.
The property is fenced into 21 main paddocks, watered by tanks and troughs fed by a capped and piped bore.
Cypress pine milled on the property was used in the construction of buildings on "Middleton", including the main homestead and cottage, the original woolshed, workshop, storage sheds and quarters.
Although the present Dorper flock has no need of such a facility, a new five-stand shearing shed will be erected by the owners prior to delivery.
Bidding for Middleton Station is expected to kick off about $1.3 million, providing an affordable entry-level buying opportunity for anyone not deterred by dust and doomsayers.