TopX Australia celebrates 30 years + PICTURES

Sue and Cyril Close from TopX Roma, Tom and Belinda McLeish from TopX Longreach. (Supplied: Bush Journal)

IT STARTED with a meeting in Hughenden in 1994 where a group of cattle producers in North Queensland, frustrated with the status quo, wanted to find a more collaborative marketing approach for their livestock and property.

They wanted more knowledge, more control and more money in their pockets, so in June 1995 Topex Pastoral Pty Ltd was established, based in Charters Towers.

The nine founding members and shareholders were: Henry and Jennifer Slaney, Ardie and Kacie Lord, James and Margorie Lord, Tony and Mandy Mott, Jim and Terry Lindsay, Lux, Linley Russel and Donna Lethbridge, Dan and Susan Lynch, Stuart and Carol Ross, Ninian and Anne Stuart-Moore.

“In 1995 we could manage what was happening inside our fences but had no clue what was going on outside of that, there wasn’t communication like there is now,” Ardie Lord said.

“Henry Slaney wanted a client base, and we wanted someone who was working for us, working with us, someone who we trusted because a lot of agencies then were based on the first person through the gate with a loaf of bread trying to get a sale at whatever price.

“Henry was the master of giving some very good direction, telling us when to hold and when to market and he had a feel for the market, and we really needed that person who knew what was going on to guide us.”

One of the other founding members James Lord said it was really important that the people who were selling their cattle and properties were actually working for the people paying the commission.

“We wanted good people with good values and integrity, and it is great to see you still have that, because that was an important part for me and I can see that you have carried that on,” James Lord said at the 30-year celebration.

TopX has since its inception always focussed on its people and their integrity and commitment, said Carl Warren from TopX in Roma.

“The statement – an organisation is only as good as its people – is the cornerstone of TopX Australia’s success,” he said.

After 10 years of operating the directors decided to franchise the business.

“Now we had good people working in our business, we had to give them opportunity to grow within the business and that is how we ended up with the franchise model,” James Lord said.

In August 2010 Cyril Close at Roma, Tom McLeish of Longreach and Luke Westaway of Richmond formed a new partnership and purchased the company, re-branding it as TopX Australia. In June 2016, Luke Westaway sold his share to the two remaining partners.

“We are successful because our franchise model allows the people who are on the ground to be the owners,” Tom McLeish said.

“The company motto ‘Old Values, New Ways’ is a direct reflection of our approach to doing business.”

Currently TopX has 8 branches in Queensland:

Cloncurry
Central Qld
Central Qld east
Gracemere
Longreach
Roma
Taroom/Wandoan
Goondiwindi

Future of TopX Australia

Mr McLeish said TopX is looking to expand in the future with the option open to both internal and external candidates to invest.

“We are looking for youth and experience, we want people who have a plan to go forward and want a run a business,” Mr McLeish said.

“Don’t come to us telling us how much money you’re going to make and how much it will cost, come to us and tell us how you are going to set the world on fire as an agent – that’s what we want to know.

“We want good solid operators who are going to be good at what they do, who hold themselves high in society. You have to have skill, have values and have something to offer.”

TopX Australia Team 2025. (Supplied: Bush Journal)

Carl Warren, Tom McLeish, James Lord, Tony Mott and Ardie Lord deliver a Q&A on the history and future of TopX Australia at its 30-year celebration. (Supplied: Bush Journal)