IT is among Queensland's most iconic rural properties and, for the Graham family, the connection to Jimbour Station runs as deep as the rich black soils upon which the landmark homestead was built.
Karl Graham followed in the footsteps of his father, Don Graham, to take on the management of Jimbour Station for its owners, the Russell family, who have owned the 4500ha property, 24km north of Dalby, since the 1920s.
Karl has lived on Jimbour Station for most of his life and was delighted when his son, Jake, agreed to be the third generation of Grahams to call Jimbour home earlier this year.
"I have a deep affection for the property," Karl said.
"I have spent most of my life here - it's what I know."
Jake was working in Emerald when he and his partner decided to make the move to the Darling Downs.
"I'm loving it," twenty-six-year-old Jake said. "My girlfriend has moved back with me and she has a job in Dalby.
"I love that there is always a challenge - always something new to learn."
The Jimbour Station story started in 1841 when Irishman Henry Dennis settled in the area and took up the Jimbour run on behalf of the first owner, Richard Scougall. Scougall had come to Australia from Scotland in 1832 and soon established a flock of 11,000 sheep and 700 head of mixed cattle, making it the first fully stocked station on the Darling Downs. More than 150 years on, the sheep have long gone from Jimbour Station but cattle remain very much the focus of the business.
Jimbour Station is largely used as a backgrounding depot by the Russell family, who run a Braford- based herd on their Blackall breeding property, Champion.
Jimbour Station features 3000 acres of cultivation but most of the farming country is leased out to enable a complete focus on beef production.
"We retained a little over 1000 acres (400ha) for summer and winter forage crops," Karl said.
"We get most of the cull heifers and steers as required from Blackall.
"The aim is to value-add to them, which works well given how close we are to feedlots."
This year, Russell Pastoral entered the RNA Paddock to Palate competition for the first time.
Their two pens of Charolais, Braford, Angus-cross steers were placed 11th and 14th.
"We were pretty pleased with that, given it was our first shot," Jake said.