Cattle on May Downs

ESTABLISHED local cattle producers the McMillan family have paid $47.5 million to secure large scale Mt Isa district breeding property May Downs, after a spirited bidding dual at auction this morning.

The 233,000ha property located 30km west of Mount Isa was offered with a guaranteed 8000 cattle.

Based at Corella Park near Cloncurry, McMillan Pastoral operates a network of large Northwest Queensland breeding and growing properties stretching from Wollogorang and Calvert Hills in the Gulf region to a collection of downs properties including Mt Roseby and Jessievale closer to Cloncurry and Roxborough in the Channel Country.

Bidding on May Downs this morning opened at $40 million, rising quickly to the finishing price of $47.5m, after lively bidding from multiple parties. Pre-sale inspection interest came from a wide area of Queensland and the Northern Territory, along with international interest.

Vendor James Lord, who has owned and operated May Downs with wife Marjorie for the past 38 years, said he was very happy with the result.

Stockplace Marketing agent Luke Westaway said the continued strength in the rural land sector in the region was evident through the strong inquiry, large number of registered buyers in attendance and spirited bidding.

“May Downs is a quality asset that has positively performed in the current market,” Mr Westaway said.

Veteran guest auctioneer Philip Black said auctioning May Downs was one of the “absolute highlights” of his 45 year auctioneering career. “The strength and energy in the room was dynamic,” he said.

A handover muster of 8000 head of tropically adapted composite cattle were guaranteed for the first round, with an estimated 9500 head expected at the time the asset was listed.

The country features open black soil and basalt Mitchell grass downs offering weight for age production or heifer reproduction options, as well as buffel creek frontages and spinifex-covered ridges.

The efficient, low-cost calf production system is supported by a diversity of quick-responding country known for its grazing security through a variety of browse and resilient pasture species.

During the Lords’ ownership, May Downs was holistically managed as a rangeland system.

“This approach is aimed at creating a sustainable mix of native and introduced pastures, along with extensive ground cover and regenerative woodlands, to ensure a quick response to moisture events and offer quality top browse,” Mr Westaway said.

“The diversity of the property allows grazing to be managed according to the availability of feed and the ability to use pastures when they are most productive,” he said.

In addition, a well-maintained station road network and levy banks disperse water into productive pasture regeneration areas.

May Downs is watered by 23 bores and 24 dams, as well as seasonal waterholes along the Templeton River and the Mingera, Wilfred and Sherrin Creeks, supported by 400mm of annual average rainfall.

Infrastructure includes a home in a scenic elevated position, a number of dwellings, numerous sheds and multiple cattle yards.

Stockplace Marketing’s Luke Westaway and James Coates handled the sale.