A QUIET confidence is sweeping through Queensland's rural property market with buyers primed to take advantage of a surge of outstanding properties coming on to the market.
Encouraged by the break in the season over much of Queensland and NSW, record low interest rates and an expectation that the property cycle has bottomed, agents report interest that has not been seen in the past four or five years.
Central Queensland is the hot spot but agents around the state report a market mood change, with buyers looking to secure value-for-money assets.
The Hicks family's well-developed Moura properties, Mt Aldis and Sandra Downs, sold significantly above pre-auction expectations, demonstrating the newfound confidence.
The properties had 24 inspections, resulting in seven bidders trying to secure the prized Bauhinia Downs country. The 3647ha Mt Aldis sold for $7m to a Springsure grazing family and the 4000ha Sandra Downs sold for $6.7m to Capella grazier David Staal.
Significantly, both properties sold to established cattle producers.
Marketing agent Gary Bishop, Hourn and Bishop Qld, said there had been a noticeable change in the attitude of buyers in recent months.
"There is now a real buzz going around the auction room and numbers of genuine buyers," Mr Bishop said.
"A couple of hundred people are turning up to the auctions. We have not seen it like this for quite a few years."
The sales of Mt Aldis and Sandra follow the recent auction of 5480ha Moura property Rangeview, which was bought at auction by the Nobbs family for $9.3m on March 6.
With grass holding obvious appeal, a number of auctions have been rescheduled to take advantage of the wet weather. The focus is on the outstanding 11,572ha (28,595 acre) Middlemount property Inga Downs, which will be auctioned by Elders in Rockhampton on May 11.
The property has well-developed water improvements and is estimated to run 3500 to 4500 cattle.
The Hicks' Moura property Billabong will be auctioned on June 5.
The top Acacia Valley blocks Rainbow (5122ha), Leeora (3560ha) and Lotus Vale (3500ha) will be auctioned by Colliers International and Peter Etheridge Properties on April 30. The irrigated Yelarbon properties Keetah Downs (2140ha) and Riverlands (517ha) have been put back to April 29 by Leonard and Co, Raine and Horne. Elders has also put back the 1391ha Moura irrigation property Kelinda to a date to be advised.
Interest in north Queensland is strong, with a number of big-name pastoral holdings hitting the market.
Henry Slaney, Slaney and Co, Charters Towers, said there had been good interest in Niall (43,200ha) and Maryvale (67,200ha) at Charters Towers that had both been put to tender.
"Freehold country, buffel grass and mine money are powerful motivators," he said.
In western Queensland the focus will be on the 8972ha Isisford property Mons, which goes to auction today. Mons will be followed by the Landmark Harcourts auction of the Evans family's Woodbine at Blackall on May 5. Located 10km north of Blackall, Woodbine is estimated to run 2000-2500 breeders or 3000-4000 steers.
Marmboo, 92km west of Longreach, is also generating plenty of interest in the run up to its May 8 auction. The 38,558ha freehold block is estimated to run 18,000 DSE or background 2500 cattle.