A large-scale grazing property in south-west Queensland offering proven returns from goats and Dorpers, but equally well suited to Merino sheep or cattle breeding, will go under the hammer next week.
Middleton Station is a 32,561 hectare (80,459 acre) property of mostly freehold country located about 160 kilometres south-east of Cunnamulla, putting it just 60km north of the NSW border.
It is owned by Evie Saragossi from Brisbane and is managed as a profitable Dorper breeding and goat harvesting operation by her partner, Mike Lennon.
The couple recently bought “Victo” and “Murrumbah” stations between Cunnamulla and Charleville, formerly owned by Western Grazing, and “Middleton” has become surplus to requirements, hence being offered for sale.
It has been listed with Elders’ Brendan Devine and Dick Allpass and will go to auction in St George on October 11 with a reserve expected to compare favourably with recent district sales.
Prices obtained for other properties sold recently in the area – including “Clover Downs”, “Avondale”, “Weona” and “Waggan” – have been in the vicinity of $200/ha ($80/ac).
Times have thus moved on from 1937, when “Middleton” – then a property of 138,000 acres (55,000ha) – made national headlines after selling post-auction for 70,000 pounds, or about 10 shillings ($1) an acre!
It was sold at that time by the Keenan family, who had held the property for 18 years, regularly turning-off woolclips of 800 to 1000 bales.
The property was divided in two as a result of that sale, with one portion bought by the Thompson family from Sydney and the balance to the Cotter family of adjoining “Warrambah”.
Today “Middleton” has an estimated carrying capacity of 10,000 dry sheep equivalent, equivalent to 800 cows and followers (with calves sold as weaners) or a Merino flock with wool-producing potential of up to 250 bales.
Situated 160km south-east of Cunnamulla and 240km from St George, “Middleton” is a property of open to lightly and medium shaded country of black, red loam and sandy loam soils.
Original timber comprised gidyea, brigalow, coolabah, supplejack, whitewood, beefwood, sandalwood and cypress pine.
A wide variety of native grasses including Mitchell, bluegrass and neverfail is supplemented by saltbush, bluebush, salines and herbages. Introduced buffel grass is also evident and spreading.
Average rainfall is 400 millimetres and the property is watered by a capped bore piping to tanks and troughs, and dams.
Despite the prevailing dry season, the property is reported to be performing well with its existing Dorper and goat enterprises, while offering ample scope for further development.
The main homestead, which has been recently renovated, is of clad timber construction and low-set design, set in shaded surrounds with five bedrooms, open and enclosed verandahs and air conditioning.
Other structural improvements include a four-bedroom air-conditioned staff residence, machinery and storage sheds, garages, a new workshop, shearers’ quarters and an aircraft hangar.
A general-purpose shed incorporates a four-stand shearing facility, and other livestock infrastructure includes seven sets of sheep/goat yards and a set of cattle yards.
The property is subdivided into 17 main paddocks, plus holding paddocks, with much of the fencing renewed by the present owners.
