Rolleston has just become the newest venue for bull sales, thanks to Acres Rural Supplies business partners Jeff and Alexandra York and Jason Simmons.
After purchasing Rolleston's clearing dip in December 2019, the trio replaced the old yards, doubling the size in the process, and added a fully automated 36m weighbridge and newly completed stud selling complex.
They now have three bull sales booked for September, encompassing four different breeds, and Mr York said he was confident that was just the start of things.
"We're in the best cattle area in the state but at the moment people are travelling away to buy bulls - I thought, why not bring the bulls to the people," he said. "The studs I approached jumped at the chance."
They include the inaugural Carnarvon Classic Droughtmaster sale with Huntley, Medway, Karragarra, Calco and Oasis studs, a joint sale involving Broadleaf Santas and Callandoon Angus, and another for Meldon Park Simmentals.
It caps off an expansion plan Mr York hopes will boost the local economy.
He's operated the rural merchandise business in Rolleston in partnership for 11 years but a desire to give his young family a more rural lifestyle saw them invest in the clearing dip.
Because rules have changed and people can now dip their cattle on-farm, Mr York knew that to make the purchase work, they would have to make it a multi-purpose hub.
"It's giving the community a service, and people might send cattle in to be weighed and then dip them as well," he said. "If I didn't do it, the complex would have eventually died, so it helps the community and the local economy."
Mr York has worked for Primac and Elders at Springsure, Moura, Toowoomba, Dalby and Kingaroy in past years, and said he thought Rolleston was a good spot in the middle of it all to settle in.
"There used to be an annual cattle sale here - there was no trouble selling cattle here for record money - but the last sale was about eight years ago," he recalled. "I'd like to eventually get them going again too."
The revamped complex can cater for spelling and selling, and the yards have been designed to cater to three or four-deck pens.
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Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
