THE sales of Tony Clift’s Channel Country properties Mount Margaret and Kyee have been finalised, selling to Phil Usher’s Brisbane headquartered Usher Pastoral Company.
Usher Pastoral also owns and Orient and Norley in the Channel Country, as well as land in the Taroom/Wandoan district. The latest acquistions give Usher Pastoral about 1,200,000 hectares in far South West Queensland.
The 634,745ha (1.57m acre) aggregation is estimated to run 18,000 dry cattle: 10,000 cows or 60,000 sheep and 6000 cows.
The sale price is understood to be close to the $20 million asking price sought by Mr Clift’s Kilburnie Cattle Company, which is based at Breeza near Gunnedah, NSW. The sale included some cattle and plant and was negotiated by Dick Allpass from Elders.
Mount Margaret, which includes Berellem, covers 470,504 hectares (1.16 million acres), is described as “naturally organic” country fenced into 43 main paddocks and 15 holding paddocks. It is estimated to run 7000 cows, selling the weaners, and has the ability to fatten cattle seasonally. It is also estimated to run 60,000 sheep including 20,000 ewes and 2000 cows.
The country is described as a strong balance of flooded water course, open and shaded plains, red rolling pebbly country and strong red mulga. About 70 per cent of the area receives beneficial flooding. Water is supplied from 31 bores, 58 dams and large water holes.
Improvements include a large station homestead, guest quarters, two staff homes, staff quarters and a recreational building, sheds, four shearing sheds, and a sealed airstrip and hangar. Mount Margaret has two sets of cattle yards and a large set of portable yards. Water is supplied from seven bores, nine dams and the Brolga ponds.
Kihee Station covers 164,255ha (405,874 acres) is located adjacent to Mount Margaret and surrounds the Jackson oil township. It is described as about 40pc pebbly red rolling downs with prolific Mitchell grass, shaded with gidyea and coolibah. A further 30pc is soft red grazing country with the balance being red, stony hills, with good grazing.
Kihee is fenced into four main paddocks and holding paddocks. It is estimated to run 3000 cows, selling the weaners. It also has the option to fatten cattle seasonally.