Agent who sold Wieambilla home to cop killing duo speaks of toll

The real estate agent who sold Wieambilla cop killers Gareth and Stacey Train their remote property speaks as devastation over the horrific killings throws towns there into shock. PICTURES

Gareth and Stacey Train bought this property off real estate agent Marg Whip in February 2015.

The real estate agent who sold Wieambilla cop killers their remote property has opened up as devastation over the horrific killings throws western Queensland towns into shock.

Murder suspects Gareth and Stacey Train, who were killed in a police firefight on Monday night along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, bought the 43.51ha estate off Marg Whip of Property Sales and Rentals Chinchilla seven years ago.

The couple paid $95,000 for the property which Ms Whip had listed as a “hobby farm” about halfway between Chinchilla (40km) and Tara (30km).

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The home was virtually off the grid with its own watertanks, solar power and compost toilet.

The Queenslander-style house was virtually off the grid with a two bedder plus sleep-out on steel adjustable stumps, solar power, compost toilet, gas hot water, two dams and 10,000 gallon rainwater tanks.

Ms Whip said her colleagues reminded her Tuesday that she had sold the couple the home.

“All I can remember is they were going to do some work on the house,” she said. “There certainly wouldn’t have been anything suspicious about him or I wouldn’t have sold it to him. I wouldn’t have done it.”

“I do distinctly remember the seller, she loved the property. She did it up herself and it was a nice little house. It was quite private, it was set way back into the property and a big dam in the front.”

Gareth and Stacey Train planned to upgrade the home including this dated kitchen.

She said in all those years there hadn’t been an issue with the property.

“It’s just not normal. I mean, I know there’s pretty ordinary people the way they live here on the real blocks, but there’s some beautiful people too and it’s just a freaky thing, I can’t understand what happened.”

Asked what impact such a tragedy could have on the property market there, Ms Whip said “I think people know that there’s bad people everywhere, no matter where you go. It’s just so unfortunate. It was just like an ambush, you just don’t hear about it. I feel sick for them, I feel sick for their families. They didn’t deserve that those police, not one of them, and those that have survived will never get over it.”

The front of the property had a large dam providing greater privacy to the home.

Property data shows no median property price for the Wieambilla area, which means that not enough sales have occurred there to allow for a good estimate to be made.

“Wieambilla they’re pretty well held there because they’re a bit bigger blocks so people like to hang on to them,” Ms Whip said.

She said the $95,000 price paid for the property might seem “very cheap today” but going back seven years ago it was a lot.

Asked what 43ha in the area would sell for today, Ms Whip estimated it would be around $200,000.

“It depends on how good the house was,” she said.

The home as Gareth and Stacey Train saw it in 2015.

In the short term, the area may feel some impact of the tragedy but calls are still coming in Tuesday, Ms Whip said.

“The whole town is just really, really unhappy about what’s happened. It’s just not fair and we just don’t understand, no one can understand what was going through their mind when they did what they did.”

“I understand the first responders come from Tara and then the second responders from Chinchilla. Everyone was involved, they were as quick as they could possibly get there to help. It certainly won’t be forgotten by the people that live in that area.”

The veranda was closed in on three sides.

Rural property prices have surged since Covid-19, though not as dramatically as the Gold and Sunshine Coasts or Brisbane.

“They’re coming out to the bush from the city,” Ms Whip said.

Only one property is currently list for sale in Wieambilla – Lot 18 Wieambilla Rd, Wieambilla, a 55.85ha lifestyle block which Ms Whip has priced at $200,000. Recent real estate sales include 4 Chinchilla Tara Road ($482,000) in February, Lot 22 Mary Road ($113,000) in July, Lot 45 Chinchilla Tara Road ($115,000) in April, and 6 Treasures Road ($85,000) in January.

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