ANOTHER top Central Queensland buffel grass country property has changed hands, following the sale of highly-regarded Theodore breeding and finishing holding Moocoorooba this week.

The well-developed 12,300ha property, southeast of Theodore near Camboon, was sold privately on a bare basis to Central Queensland cattleman Jim Gorman for an undisclosed figure.

David and Scott White with a run of young Santa and Santa cross steers that were offered as part of Moocoorooba’s 1200 head herd dispersal following the sale of the property. The cattle were sold over four weeks on Auction Plus, averaging more than $1000 a head.

Beef Central recently discussed prices for similar Central Queensland developed brigalow country in this article, covering another significant recent Central Queensland property sale in Kooralbyn. Selling agent in both deals was Hourn and Bishop Qld, Moura, a member of the United Property Agents network. Gary Bishop took the lead on the Moocoorooba deal, while John Crerar was principle agent in the Kooralbyn sale.

The sale of Moocoorooba represents the end of an era for vendors, David, Lois and Scott White in the Theodore district. The White family is relocating to the Sunshine Coast hinterland where they will continue their interest in the beef industry, albeit on a smaller scale.

Buyer Jim Gorman has extensive cattle property interests extending from Nebo in the north to Theodore in the south, and west to Springsure. Mr Gorman plans to run breeders on Moocoorooba to supply young grower cattle to his Moura backgrounding and fattening properties.

Moocooorooba has been owned and operated by the White family for many years. David and Lois White did all the mustering together on horseback in the early years. Their children, Amanda and Scott grew up at Moocoorooba and spent much of their time working alongside their parents. Amanda and her husband Andrew and children now run a cattle operation in western Queensland, while Scott now works as a solicitor in Brisbane.

Moocoorooba is a well-balanced property consisting of developed brigalow and softwood scrub country grassed with buffel, green panic and soft natural blue grass. There are also areas of cleared broadleaf iron bark and poplar box country grassed with buffel and soft natural blue grass and timbered narrow leaf ironbark country with blue gum and tea tree along the creeks and grassed with natural grasses and stylos.

The property has consistently carried about 2500 head of Santa Gertrudis and Santa cross cattle including breeders, replacement heifers, backgrounders and bullocks. The Whites have prided themselves on the quality of the Moocoorooba cattle and will maintain a nucleus herd of their breeders on their new holdings in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

The reminder of the Moocoorooba herd was marketed earlier through Hourn & Bishop, predominantly via AuctionsPlus. The cattle were well sought-after and achieved outstanding results selling to local, southern Queensland and interstate restocker buyers.

The property is extremely well watered with twenty dams, seven bores and three wells supplying a comprehensive number of tanks and troughs.

Near-new fences subdivide the property into sixteen main paddocks, twelve holding paddocks and muster/holding squares around the waters. This is complemented by laneway systems leading to three sets of good quality cattle yards.

Moocoorooba also features well-maintained infrastructure including a new low-set three bedroom homestead with an open plan living area. The new homestead overlooks the original homestead complex consisting of a low-set three bedroom home with attached breezeway including cold room, second shower and toilet, laundry, attached two bedroom guest accommodation and 20,000 gallons of rain water storage.

Nearby is a near-new four-bay 18m x 12m steel shed covered on three sides with two concrete bays and a timber-frame workshop, fuel shed, and a five-stable horse complex with feed room, day yards and round yard.

Selling agent Gary Bishop said both parties involved in the sale “knew what they wanted,” making it a seamless transaction process.

“Once again, it was an example of an extremely well-improved Central Queensland grazing property being quickly taken-up by graziers who already had country in the district, and know the value of the reliability of the country,” Mr Bishop said.

“Moocoorooba has served the Whites well, allowing the family over the years to purchase other country in western Queensland.”

The holding has a long history, and David and Lois have been an integral part of the Camboon community for many years. David was president of the Camboon Race Club (which later became the Camboon Campdraft) for 30 years, only retiring in the last couple of years.