Meeleebee Downs is currently running 3000 breeders and has an estimated carrying capacity of 9500 adult equivalents.

THE combination of secure and extensive water supplemented by additional income from 22 Origin Energy gas wells is expected to spark significant interest in Freeman Pastoral Co’s Meeleebee Downs near Roma in southern Queensland, which is expected to sell for more than $140 million.

The 24,168ha property located 65km north-east of Roma is being offered either as a whole or combinations of four separate holdings, with each having access to solar and electric powered Precipice bores.

Meeleebee will offer a handy early property value benchmark for quality, large-scale buffelgrass backgrounding/breeding country in 2025.

Comprised of six Freehold titles, The property is currently running 3000 breeders and has an estimated carrying capacity of 9500 adult equivalents.

This stocking rate is supported by an extensive system of watering points from four bores that tap into the Sandstone Precipice, a major aquifer in the Surat Basin, plus 18 shallow bores that together supply 71 tanks to a network of more than 200 gravity-fed troughs. The property also boasts 67 dams, further supported by an average annual rainfall of 560mm.

After being impressed by the quality of Meeleebee Downs cattle seen at a sale in 1959, the Freeman family bought the property and began to implement their philosophy of bringing water to cattle, rather than cattle to water.

“When bought in 1975, Meeleebee Downs was an undeveloped brigalow, bottle tree and belah block and the Freemans set about establishing, on average, four watering points in each paddock, to best utilise available feed,” Kell Freeman said.

The four solar and electric powered Precipice bores are deep and reliable as they tap into the Great Artesian Basin and are capable of watering the entire holding. The property also has frontage to the Slate Hill, Barton and Kangaroo Creeks, and extensive improved pastures of mainly buffel and Rhodes grass, as well as native grasses and seasonal medics.

“The geographical location of the property means we’re often under early storms, and the rain we had in spring has continued, so we’re enjoying a very good season,” Kell Freeman said.

Beyond its cattle operations, Meeleebee Downs receives additional income from 22 Origin Energy gas wells, a communication tower and a Powerlink easement.

The predominantly undulating downs land consists of 10,250ha of improved brigalow belah scrub, 5278ha of poplar box on duplex soils, 3,815ha of brigalow with blackbutt and 1875ha of poplar box on alluvial plains.

The breeder herds are split into three – Hereford, Hereford-cross and a terminal herd joined to Santa Gertrudis and Angus – with cattle finished for certified EU and PCAS markets.

The property has six sets of wet cattle yards and is a short drive from Roma Saleyards, the largest cattle selling centre in Australia. Meeleebee also has convenient access to a network of cattle feedlots and beef processors in south-east Queensland.

A magnificent six-bedroom homestead with large downstairs rumpus room was recently re-roofed and is set in established gardens. There is also significant accommodation options for staff, including a renovated manager’s dwelling, renovated dwelling and numerous quarters.

Operational infrastructure includes machinery sheds, workshops, vehicle sheds, a chemical shed, as well as a steel frame aircraft hangar. The property features bitumen access to trucking yards as well as a strategic fencing plan which links grazing areas to holding paddocks and yards, whilst leveraging various water sources, greatly enhancing productivity.

Speaking on behalf of marketing agents LAWD, senior director Danny Thomas said it was a case of ‘What’s not to like?’ about Meeleebee Downs, as a large-scale holding in one of Queensland’s most secure and proven beef production areas.

“The property is highly developed, it has undergone significant transformation focusing on water infrastructure and reliability, improved pastures and extensive fencing, and there is the considerable ‘set and forget’ income from Origin Energy’s gas wells,” Mr Thomas said.

“We would expect Meeleebee Downs to appeal to a wide range of potential buyers, from institutional investors or corporate farming groups, to high net worth individuals and existing cattle industry operators seeking to expand.”

Meeleebee Downs is being offered through LAWD by Expression of Interest (either as a whole or any combination of separate holdings) closing Wednesday 19 February.